WEDDING BLOG

Stunning and Luxe San Miguel Destination Wedding

May 28, 2022 | riley

Spectacular colonial views of the towns, the best highland sunset, lavish decor, and opulent florals—Caroline and Philip’s picture-perfect San Miguel destination wedding will sweep you away. Captivated by the bride’s hometown, the couple wanted to return with all their loved ones to experience the magic on their big day together. And with the help of their planner Lucero Alvarez, they pulled off the luxurious wedding theme like a dream!

The couple exchanged vows at their beautiful traditional ceremony in Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel before heading to their grand marquee reception at Rosewood San Miguel De Allende. There they danced the night away underneath a decadent ceiling filled with lush florals and fairy lights.

To top it all off, they tied the show-stopping elements together with their stunning wedding fashion. The groom looked perfectly dapper in a classic tux, while the bride made a statement with her floral wedding gown and matching embroidered veil. One look at these breathtaking images by Junebug member Ana Hinojosa, and we guarantee you’ll be inspired to start planning your own luxe faraway fete.

The Couple:

Caroline and Philip

The Wedding:

Rosewood San Miguel, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

Why They Chose A San Miguel Destination Wedding

I grew up going to San Miguel as a little girl, and my family is of Mexican heritage, so it just made sense that we get married in my hometown. We’ve always described San Miguel as magical, and that’s how I feel every time I see the cobblestone streets and colorful doors.

The First Look And First Dance Are The Bride’s Most Cherished Wedding Memories

The first look and first dance are a tie for my favorite moment of the day. All I wanted to do was be with Phil that day, so seeing him for the first time brought me the greatest sense of peace. I knew the rest of the day would be okay no matter what. Our first dance was to “Young and Beautiful” by Lana del Ray and was a truly magical moment for me. It felt like time was suspended at that moment for us.

Working With Photographer And Junebug Member Ana Hinojosa

Ana is an amazing human and photographer. She is so fun to be with that you forget she’s taking pictures. She was able to capture all the raw emotions throughout the day.

Thoughtful Welcome Bags That Tied In The Mexican Culture

We had amazing welcome bags that my mom put together. The bag was from Oaxaca and filled with Mexican candies, a wedding map, and a Mexican keychain.

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Ana Hinojosa
Event Planning – Lucero Alvarez
Ceremony Venue – Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel
Reception Venue – Rosewood San Miguel
Live Music – Liquid Blue Band
Invitation Design – Momental Designs

Congratulations to Caroline and Philip on their stunning and luxe San Miguel destination wedding. And big thanks to Junebug member Ana Hinojosa for capturing every meaningful moment and thoughtfully crafted detail. To see more of her work, check out Ana’s profile in our directory of talented photographers from around the world.

There are so many moving parts involved when planning a successful destination wedding. Like Caroline and Philip’s wedding, it’s all about the team behind it. From curating the perfect group of vendors to tips on communicating your vision—check out our destination wedding planning guide for everything you need to know about pulling off the getaway wedding of your dreams.

The Ultimate Wedding Planning Guide

May 27, 2022 | kailey

Image by Jamie Y Photography. Keep scrolling for our ultimate wedding planning guide.

No two weddings are alike, but there are many similarities when it comes to the planning process. Regardless of your wedding size, budget, or destination we’ve rounded up the best practices you’ll want to follow when planning your big day. From hiring your dream vendors down to the last minute details, we’ve got you covered every step of the way. Whether you’re planning your wedding in two months or twelve months, we’ve created this step-by-step wedding planning guide to help you organize your thoughts. Use our guide to make sure you don’t miss any details or steps.

1. Determine What’s Most Important

You’re engaged, you just followed a bunch of wedding vendors on Instagram, and…now what? After shouting your engagement from the rooftops and celebrating with those that matter most, take a deep breath. You have a long wedding planning road ahead of you.

We’ve seen many couples rush into making decisions that haunt them later on. To ensure this doesn’t happen to you, kickstart your planning process by compiling a list of things that are most important to you and your significant other. These priorities will have a large influence on the rest of your pre-wedding decisions. Then, create a mood board that’ll help communicate your dreams and vision to potential wedding vendors. Next, get started on your wedding website with Lovebird, an innovative platform streamlining wedding guest communication from save the dates, to digital wedding invitations, to RSVPs and more.

Must-read blog posts for determining what’s most important:

Image by Paola Lattarini. See more of this real wedding here.

2. Evaluate Your Budget

You might be wondering why we didn’t start with money talk. That’s because we want to ensure that all of your large wedding choices aren’t solely based on your budget. Dream your wildest dreams, then figure out how to make it happen or where to scale back around the elements you’ve already prioritized.

We often hear that couples don’t know how to get started creating a wedding budget. If this sounds like you, check out our guide for creating your perfect wedding budget.

Must-read blog posts for budgeting:

3. Assemble A Rockstar Vendor Team

Now we’re getting to the fun part—assembling your dream team of vendors. Again, we know it’s exciting to follow all the vendors your heart desires, but you should start with a wedding planner first. They play an important role in every stage of the planning process, including helping you find your vendors. They’ll even help your budget stay on track.

After choosing a planner, a wedding date, and destination then you can hunt down your dream photographer and videographer.

Must-read blog posts for assembling your vendor team:

Image by Tahnee Jade Photography. See more of this real wedding here.

4. Figure Out The Logistics

Logistics are what make your day run smoothly. These aren’t as fun but you don’t want these details overlooked when your big day arrives. We’re talking about your wedding day timeline, guest list, and seating chart. But don’t worry, you’re not alone. Your vendor team will be able to help with many of these stressful elements.

Must-real blog posts for nailing down the logistical details:

5. Purchase Your Wedding Day Attire

A wedding dress, a colorful suit, or even a wedding jumpsuit—no matter what you decide to rock on your big day, shopping is sure to be a good time. Or a little daunting. Because you’ve already determined your vision and budget you already have a starting point. Grab your vision board and head to your local bridal boutique or tailor to get started.

Must-read blog posts for choosing your wedding attire:

Image by Epic Love Story. See more of this real wedding here.

6. Enjoy Along The Way

No one said wedding planning would be easy, but it can be fun with all of the right resources like this wedding planning guide, your loved ones, and trusted vendors. With all of these tools you’ll limit your wedding planning stress and give yourself the freedom to enjoy the process. Shopping for the dress, taking engagement photos, assembling your registry. Soak it all in!

Must-read blog posts for enjoying along the way:

7. Plan Wedding Party Festivities

If you and your significant other have decided you want your crew by your side, it’s time to plan the pre-wedding festivities. You’ve probably already asked the gang to be a part of your day, but now’s the fun part—your bachelor and bachelorette party.

From the destination to gear, make sure you’re sticking to everyone’s budgets when it comes to these festivities. We know you want to pamper your crew, but this is an easy area to overspend.

Must-read blog posts for planning your wedding party festivities:

Image by Tews Visual. See more of this real wedding here.

8. Personalize Your Wedding Ceremony

Once your timeline is set and all the larger logistical details are figured out, you’ll be able to focus on personalizing your ceremony. Your officiant, hand-written vows, and music are all opportunities to add personalized touches to your ceremony.

These special touches end up being some of the most memorable moments from your wedding. Moments that’ll bring tears to your eyes and that you’ll hold close forever.

Must-read blogs about personalizing your wedding ceremony:

9. Coordinate All The Pretty Details

Have your Pinterest boards handy, it’s time to plan the wow decor for your ceremony, reception, and everything in between. This is where your inspiration photos and mood board play an important role. Your color palette, floral installations, and lighting are just a few of the little details that’ll transform an ordinary space into the wedding venue of your dreams.

Must-read blog posts for planning your decor and entertainment details:

Image by Jennifer Blalock. See more of this styled shoot here.

9. Create Your Food And Drink Menu

Catering options, reception bar, and wedding cake—our mouths are watering just thinking about it all. Sure food and drinks may seem simple. But don’t underestimate the amount of choices you truly have for each. When it comes to catering you have to hire a caterer, pick your meal style, and decide on what food to serve up.

Your reception bar is another element that may seem easy but requires a lot of prepping. From stocking to staffing and even decorating, there’s a lot that goes into bringing your cocktail bar to life. To add an extra personalized touch, work closely with your hired bartenders to create a signature cocktail that represents you. Whether it’s one cocktail with your wedding hashtag, two that are named after you both, or even extra options named after your pets, the options are endless.

Lastly, it’s time to talk about dessert. Yes, we saved the best and tastiest for last. If you’ve decided to stick with a traditional wedding cake, you’re in for a real treat. Finding a trusted bakery, scheduling tastings, and designing the cake—the wedding cake process is sweet all around. These details may seem small and insignificant, but are sure to make a lasting impact come wedding day.

Must read blog posts for ironing out your food and drink details:

Image by Igor Demba.

11. Orchestrate Your Reception Entertainment

Celebrate good times, c’mon! It’s time to celebrate, and for many of you that means dancing. all. night. long. If there’s one thing we can’t stress enough, it’s the importance of a DJ or band to help keep the party going. Music is the soundtrack for memorable moments—like the first dance, mother-son dance, and the father-daughter dance—so entertainment choices shouldn’t be taken lightly.

Must-read blog posts for orchestrating your reception entertainment:

12. Remember The Last-Minute Wedding Planning Details

If wedding week is getting close, we’re doing a happy dance for you. The day you’ve been preparing for is almost here! But, before your big day there’s sure to be last minute, mini emergencies to take care of. From packing your honeymoon bag to sending those last vendor checks, make sure you have everything crossed off your list so you focus on soaking up those soon to be memories.

Must-read blog posts for your last-minute details:

Image by Anais Possami Photography.

13. Check Off Your Post-Wedding To-Do List

You did it! First thing’s first, take some time to enjoy being married. But before jet-setting off for your much needed honeymoon, use this time to clear up any last minute details. From vendor tips to thank you cards, post-wedding tasks are a great way to distract yourself while anxiously awaiting your photo gallery and video sneak peek.

Must-read blog posts for your post-wedding to-do list:

Image by Julia Garcia-Prat Photography. See more of this real wedding here.

The wedding planning process looks similar across the board. But, lucky for us, every wedding doesn’t. If you’re looking for ways to create a personalized, never-before-seen celebration that authentically celebrates your love, check out our guide for creating a unique wedding.

Then, hire a team of talented vendors that can bring it all together.

Image by Lora Photography.

ManiMe Has At-home Manicures for the Busy Bride

May 27, 2022 | marissa

La Perle mani

That feeling of leaving the salon with a fresh set of nails is an unmistakably powerful feeling. But the extended time in the chair and high price tag aren’t always as satisfying. When considering all of the events surrounding a wedding–engagement parties, bridal showers, and bachelorette parties–the amount of time and money needed for a fresh manicure for each event can be overwhelming. Thanks to ManiMe’s stick-on gels, you can skip the time and cost and still get that dreamy, salon-quality manicure. And, not to mention, have a set of custom-designed nails for each and every important event of your engagement. Yes, please!

ManiMe’s Wedding Edit Has You Covered

ManiMe has manicures perfect for brides within their curated selection of nails called the Wedding Edit. The Wedding Edit is full of subtle, neutral nail designs, mostly with sheer opacity, that will easily complement your wedding gown and party looks. From 3D daisies to metallic dots, the Wedding Edit nails are cute and unique yet still minimal and understated. You won’t have to worry about viewing your wedding photos ten years down the road in regret saying to yourself, “What was I thinking with those nails?”

Some bonus points to remember about ManiMe:

ManiMe manicures are custom-fit to your own nails using their patented 3D model rendering technology
They’re not just for the gals blessed with long nails. ManiMe designs look great on short nails, too
Each mani comes with 15 gels–just in case anything happens to a nail during or after the application process

ManiMe has Quality At-home Manicures for the Busy Bride

Good Intentions mani

Sweet Lullaby mani

Baby You’re Golden mani

Bring Manicure Night to Your Bachelorette Party

Sharing ManiMe with your best friends is an act of love. What better way to kick off your bachelorette party than with a group manicure session? Have all of your attendees pick out their favorite nail designs and do a group order before the big weekend.

Then you can apply your damage-free, long-lasting gels together before a night out, or as a fun activity for girls night in. Either way, sip some rosé and sing along to your favorite girl power jams—cue “Good as Hell” by Lizzo—while applying these super easy stick-on gels. You and your crew will have picture-perfect manicures you can’t wait to show off.

Mother of Pearl mani

24K mani

Don’t Forget Your Toes!

Whether or not your toes will be making an appearance on your wedding night, chances are you’ll still need a fresh pedicure for your honeymoon. We know ManiMe has manicures perfect for brides, but what about your toes? ManiMe has over 50 designs that are also available as a pedicure. The same patented technology that creates custom-fit manis can do the same for your toes.

We hope ManiMe can supply one checkmark on your long to-do list. Just remember to take the time you need to relax and pamper yourself during the planning process—you deserve it!

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