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Dazzling and Unique Destination Cenote Wedding

April 17, 2022 | riley

When two spiritual and artistic souls from the Big Apple travel all the way to the jungles of Mexico to get married, you know it’s going to be a unique celebration. From the ancient native traditions to incorporating disco balls in the decor, James and Erin’s eccentric style beautifully contrasted with the Tulum wilderness. With Junebug members Mango Weddings & Events by their side, their destination cenote wedding was nothing short of spectacular.

Instead of having a traditional beach wedding that the Riviera Maya is known for, the couple chose to have an intimate early morning cenote ceremony surrounded by only a few of their loved ones. With a Shaman performing the sacred rituals that included all the elements of nature, their jungle “I do’s” were both mysterious and enchanting. 

Featuring a lush jungle setting and bold florals by KL Design Events and lots of candles, lanterns, and disco balls for some added sparkle and fun, their wedding reception at WILD was just as magical. And as if the day’s festivities weren’t enough, the celebration continued all night with an epic after-party of dancing and late-night snacks of churros and street corn.

From the special ceremony in the heart of the jungle to their otherworldly beachfront reception, these beautiful photos captured by Andre Gouin will surely have you dreaming of an exotic destination wedding.

The Couple:

Erin and James

The Wedding:

WILD, Tulum, Mexico

Why A Destination Cenote Wedding

James and I wanted our guests to have a unique and memorable experience in Tulum. We are not traditional in any way and wanted our wedding to really embody who we were as a couple.  That was definitely captured in our wedding with our small spiritual ceremony and an immersive food and drink experience at our reception at WILD. We danced, played the congos, smoked cigars, and ate churros and esquites into the morning. We were very close to eloping, but our families and friends mean the world to us. So we opted for an intimate destination wedding instead. 

A Same-Day Edit Video For Guests Who Were Unable To Attend The Ceremony

We had to have a videographer who could do a same-day edit video, and Carlos Gallardo’s style matched what we were looking for. The video turned out amazing and was shared at our reception for all of our guests to experience that magical morning.

Why A Local Planner Is Crucial When Planning A Destination Wedding

If you are planning to do a destination wedding in another country, make sure to hire a planner who is knowledgeable about the area and really can hone in on your vision. Mango Weddings & Events curated the most perfect day for us. It encompassed everything that we wanted and more. Also, if you can travel to meet your planner prior to your wedding, definitely go see your venue and taste the food and drinks. Also, while you are there, meet with your photographer and schedule your engagement shoot so that you are comfortable shooting with them on your big day.

Incorporating Their Crystal Business With Agate Wedding Favors

James and I own a crystal and metaphysical shop, Crystals in the Raw. We wanted to incorporate crystals in some way. We decided to use agate slices as name cards. Our guests loved them and took them home as a gift from us.

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Andre Gouin
Event Planning – Mango Wedding Events
Ceremony Venue – El Buho
Reception Venue & Catering – WILD
Floral Design & Rentals – KL Design Events
Officiant – Flor y Canto
DJ – Plug-In Audiovisuals
Videography – Gallardo Films
Makeup Artist & Hair Styling – Angye Abarca
Wedding Dress – Enzoani
Bridal Accessories – Loeffler Randall
Groom’s Apparel – Suit Supply
Photobooth – PICME Photobooth
Cigar Roller – Puros C E Fine Tobacco
Lighting and Disco Balls – Event Technology
Favors – Crystals in the Raw

 

Congratulations to James and Erin on their dazzling and unique destination cenote wedding. Many thanks to Andre Gouin for taking such beautiful photos of the best day of their lives. And of course, a special thank you to Junebug member Mango Weddings & Events for planning and curating their big day. To see more of the incredible weddings they’ve planned, check out their profile in our directory of expert wedding planners from around the world.

If you choose to have a destination wedding like this one, an experienced local planner is an invaluable resource. They will have the connections and resources to find the perfect venue and assemble an awesome vendor team, making the planning process and executing your vision flow smoothly and remain stress-free!

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Stop Searching—We Found Affordable Personal Training

April 16, 2022 | riley

image by Elizabeth Grant Photography. See more of this real wedding here.

Wedding planning can feel like you’re running a twelve-month marathon. Processing the stress of planning your wedding day—whether it’s a 300-guest affair or an intimate elopement—is better when you’ve got a personal trainer by your side. Finding and partnering with a personal trainer who is invested in your goals and health is within reach with our friends at HipTrain. 

If you’ve been looking for a great workout to help you release all the stress and tension you’ve built up while working on your wedding plan, look no further. HipTrain offers affordable personal training sessions for less than the price of your lunch. Their mission is to make fitness more affordable, accessible, convenient, and—most importantly—fun. 

We partnered with HipTrain for a giveaway a few months ago and we checked back in with our giveaway winners to hear about their experience being matched with their HipTrain personal trainers. Not surprisingly, everyone had great things to say about getting matched with their trainer, working with their trainers, and the magic of HipTrain.

The Magic In The Match

To start getting matched with a personal trainer they each answered questions about specific training goals, their ideal schedule, and preferred workout styles—options like yoga, weight lifting, CrossFit. Once they filled out their questionnaires they were each matched with their ideal trained fitness professionals from around the world.

Junebug Tip:

HipTrain recently launched an iOS app and you can download it directly in the Apple app store for an even easier experience. 

What It’s Like Working With a HipTrain Instructor

Personal training should be personal and with a HipTrain instructor, it actually is! Once you’re matched, each session you’ll work with the same trainer—not just whoever is available that day. Every personal trainer is friendly, upbeat, energetic, and will motivate you in a personalized manner. 

Your HipTrain trainer will feel like your gym buddy who actually knows what they’re doing. Because you’re working with someone who is invested in your goals, they can also give you extra stretches and exercises that you can do on your own outside of your sessions.

You don’t need any equipment to work with HipTrain coaches. If you’ve got dumbbells or other equipment available, they can incorporate it into your workouts. But it’s not required. Remember, these folks know what they’re doing. You’ll build muscle and break a sweat without swinging a single kettlebell—unless you want to.

HipTrain Trainers Are Real People

One of the winners of our giveaway told us that her trainer’s dog will sometimes make appearances during their workouts which helps reinforce the human side of your sessions, too. Sometimes a cute dog is all the motivation you need for one more set—right? 

photo by Jessica Amber. See more of this real wedding here.

What HipTrain Customers Are Saying

HipTrain users don’t just love their experience for their great workouts. They also love how affordable personal training is on any budget—which is especially great when you’re already budgeting for your wedding!

Lauren and Steve Love Working Through Their Wedding Planning Stress

We signed up for HipTrain to get ready for our wedding this summer. While we wanted to feel and look our best, we’ve loved HipTrain for the stress relief. Planning a wedding (especially during Covid) has been so, so stressful. Our wedding was canceled twice and the two workouts a week we have with our trainer are literally highlights for us. It’s also become a fun date night activity where we work out together with our trainer and get a little escape from wedding planning.

Tina F Loves How Convenient HipTrain Is

HipTrain is amazing! I’ve always wanted a personal trainer but never had the money to hire one or the time to drive to a gym. Now that I’ve raised a family and am semi-retired from teaching, it’s finally my time. I’m so excited to have the opportunity to work out with a trainer who is committed to me and my goals in the comfort of my own home. HipTrain is both affordable and convenient and I look forward to the impact it will have on my life.

Jennifer Loves Affordable Personal Training And Sharing It With Bridesmaids

I started HipTrain in December of 2021 to prepare for my wedding with just one session a week. Now I do three a week with my trainer Demian. I never thought I could afford a trainer, but HipTrain is an affordable personal training option and it’s been so nice to not have to think about or plan my workouts in advance. I’ve been so busy with my job and studying and now wedding planning, that I think I probably would have just stopped working out if it wasn’t for HipTrain! I’ve recommended HipTrain to all my bridesmaids and three of them have already signed up and started working out with their own trainers.

Keerthi S Loves That The Trainers Are Knowledgable 

Today had my first class with Matilde. She is extremely knowledgeable and excellent at form correction which really helped me. She tailored workouts based on my needs and provided a detailed training plan for the upcoming days. I would definitely recommend her and will always be thankful to HipTrain.

Lucy J Has Been Using HipTrain for Months!

I’ve always wanted to have a personal trainer but have never been able to afford one. I found HipTrain and couldn’t be happier. I have been working out twice a week with Demian for just over 3 months and pay just $12 a week. I’m not sure why everyone doesn’t have a trainer with HipTrain. Highly recommend!

Aya A Loves How Affordable Personal Training With HipTrain Is

HipTrain was fast to respond and matched me with a trainer right away. I loved that they offer a free week to try the app and see if you are compatible with the trainer. Now, I train three times a week with my trainer Ayelen. She is very professional, punctual, friendly and just an amazing person and a trainer. I am absolutely comfortable training with her and will continue doing so for a long time! I would highly recommend the app, and the price is unbeatable.

Kelly S Loves That HipTrain Is Effective, Efficient, And Fun

I was blown away with how effective, efficient, and fun it was working out with HipTrain! Living in New York City, a similar workout would cost me 5x for a group class or 10-20x for a personal training session. I strongly recommend and will be adding HipTrain as an integral part of my workout schedule.

Try HipTrain For Free For One Week

Getting through wedding planning is stressful and expensive. HipTrain is wedding budget friendly and will help you kick the stress without breaking the bank. You can try HipTrain for free for one week, no commitment is required. Then, you can choose a membership plan that works for you and your budget. 

couple in the ocean on an affordable personal training graphic

image by Raw Shoots Photography. See more of this styled shoot here.

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Gorgeous and Glam Modern Renaissance Wedding

April 16, 2022 | riley

Looking forward to post-pandemic life, Julia and Brian wanted their wedding to be marked by the creativity, color, and radical change of the Renaissance. Their modern renaissance wedding was overflowing with spectacular details of fine art and old-world glam beautifully blended with modern elements. And what better way to host a weekend-long celebration with their closest loved ones than at the historic Villa Gamberaia. 

Perched on top of a hill overlooking the city and the Tuscan countryside, their garden ceremony was brimming with lush florals by Tuscany Flowers, giving it a romantic and whimsical vibe. Showcasing a long table with a perfectly styled tablescape filled with colorful flowers, bowls of fruit, candlesticks in glass displays, and hanging chandeliers, their reception struck the perfect balance of opulence and quintessential Italian charm.

To top it all off, the celebration kept going with a post-reception after-party. With an incredible vendor team, stunning venue, and swoon-worthy color palette, this gorgeous destination wedding in Italy is one for the books. Scroll down to see every detail and precious moment captured by David Bastianoni. This is one of those dreamy weddings you’ll definitely want to pin to your mood board.

The Couple:

Julia and Brian

The Wedding:

Villa Gamberaia, Tuscany, Italy

Junebug Members White Emotion On This Reimagined Modern Renaissance Wedding

The pandemic has changed the wedding landscape, but it’s also given people time and space for a greater appreciation for travel, culture, and creativity. As a wedding planner, I loved the theme “A Modern Renaissance.” Just like the creative change that happened during the Renaissance period, which was marked by major artistic developments, this wedding embodies that. 

How A Romantic Vacation Led To Their Destination Wedding

We went on a couple’s vacation to Italy, and there we hit a point of clarity in our relationship. We were driving through the rolling hills of Tuscany, the sun was rising, the fog was lifting from the vineyards, and of course, we were blasting Andrea Bocelli. At that moment, we looked at each other, and we just knew, “You’re the one I want to do this with forever.” So naturally, we wanted to go back to that place in Italy to share that love and moment of clarity with our closest friends and family.

Using Their Wedding As An Excuse For A Three Day Vacation With Family & Friends

We loved that our wedding was not just a one-day affair but rather a three-day mini-cation for our closest friends and family members to meet each other before celebrating our love together. After the wedding, we had many people who didn’t know each other before exchanging numbers and making plans for future travels beyond the wedding.

Supporting Local Business and Women-Owned Companies

We wanted to support local businesses and small women-owned companies in the United States for our save the dates, invitations, and gifts. Etsy and word-of-mouth were helpful in finding vendors who understood our ideas.

Wedding Advice: Hire A Planner And Leave It To The Pros

We wouldn’t have been able to plan our wedding without a planner. Both Brian and I were very busy with work in New York City. We are very creative people, but planning an event was not our forte. We relied heavily on our wedding planner’s recommendations for the flowers and the venue. Having a vendor who lived in the country of our destination wedding and worked with the local vendors was key for us.

The Wedding Team:

Photography – David Bastianoni
Event Planning – White Emotion
Venue – Villa Gamberaia
Floral Design – Tuscany Flowers
Catering & Cake – Galateo
Live Music – Blu Notte Band
Videography – Varna Studios

 

Congratulations to Julia and Brian on their gorgeous and glam modern renaissance wedding. Big thank you to David Bastianoni for capturing all the happy memories the couple can look back on for years to come. And a special shoutout to Junebug members White Emotion for sharing this stunning wedding with us. To see more of their work, check out their profile in our directory of wedding planners from around the world. 

For Julia and David, hiring a wedding planner was critical to the success of their destination wedding planning journey, making it a seamless and smooth process. With the expertise of a local planner and the right team, you and your partner will have all the support you need.

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