WEDDING BLOG

In San Miguel de Allende, a Fashion-Forward Wedding Weekend Honored Indian and Jewish Traditions

July 30, 2025 | justine

When fashion, culture, and intention come together, the result is something truly unforgettable. That was exactly the case for Sonika and Stone’s fashion-forward wedding weekend in San Miguel de Allende. Set against the rich textures and golden light of central Mexico, their multi-day celebration blended bold style with meaningful tradition, honoring both their Indian and Jewish backgrounds in ways that felt personal, joyful, and deeply them. From a sunset-hued sangeet to a ceremony beneath a floral-covered chuppah, every moment told a story—styled to perfection, yet grounded in love.

What We Love About This Fashion-Forward Wedding Weekend:

A welcome white party that let San Miguel’s terracotta beauty shine
A sangeet with a painted poppy dance floor to match the bride’s custom lehenga
Symbolic Jewish and Indian cultural elements seamlessly woven throughout
A modern-meets-timeless bridal wardrobe featuring two Vera Wang looks and Jimmy Choo heels
A candy bar and French-inspired reception design

Featured Vendor:

Meraki Weddings

A White Welcome Party

Sonika and Stone’s wedding was more than just a weekend in San Miguel, it was a journey through style, culture, and celebration. They kicked things off at the Rosewood San Miguel with a white welcome party, where guests dressed in all-white to contrast the venue’s terracotta color palette. A clear tent offered skyline views while papel picado in Rosewood’s signature colors fluttered overhead. Sonika’s orange Rachel Gilbert dress—a bold, floral nod to the venue—set the tone for what would be a weekend of unforgettable looks.

Shop Sonika’s Welcome Party Look:

A Sunset Sangeet With Indian and Mexican Flair

One of the most vibrant moments of the weekend was the sunset sangeet at Instituto Allende. Guests wore traditional Indian attire in bold sunset shades, echoing the bride’s custom Rahul Mishra lehenga covered in oversized poppies. A hand-painted dance floor mimicked the same floral motif, creating a beautiful connection between fashion and setting.

The night was filled with color, culture, and joy: from a Mehendi and bangle station to lively Indian dance performances. A mariachi band added a distinctly Mexican flair during cocktail hour, as well.

High Fashion With a Personal Touch

On the big day, Sonika wowed in not one, but two Vera Wang designs—starting with a romantic lace gown for the ceremony and switching to a playful bubble dress for the reception. Styled by her sister-in-law, Sara Riff, Global Director of Entertainment Relations at Jimmy Choo, both looks were paired with signature heels from the brand. It was the perfect blend of high fashion and heartfelt meaning–proof that this bride knew how to make a statement.

Shop Wedding & Bridal Heels:

Merging Jewish and Indian Traditions in a Meaningful Ceremony

The wedding ceremony at Luna Escondida was a thoughtful fusion of Jewish and Indian influences. Guests were asked to wear all-black, creating a striking contrast that allowed Sonika to stand out in her delicate white gown. The couple exchanged vows beneath a white and green floral chuppah, honoring Jewish tradition with the ceremonial breaking of the glass, an emotional moment surrounded by nature and love.

A Reception Inspired by Nature and French Elegance

For the reception, the couple brought the beauty of the outdoors inside. Towering olive trees framed the space, evoking Luna Escondida’s natural charm. French countryside aesthetics took center stage with custom furnishings, sage green bars adorned with a personalized crest, and oversized crystal chandeliers casting a warm glow. Rather than a traditional black-and-white dance floor, they chose a soft beige and white checkered pattern—an elegant, unexpected twist. And for a sweet personal touch? A fully stocked candy bar, brimming with chocolates and truffles, was a playful nod to the bride’s sweet tooth.

Creating an Immersive Experience for Their Guests

For Sonika and Stone, creating a weekend that was as meaningful for their guests as it was for them was a top priority. From the welcome party to the final dance, each event felt intentional, immersive, and deeply reflective of who they are as a couple.

By combining rich cultural traditions, top-tier fashion, and a setting as charming as San Miguel de Allende, this wedding was not only stunning—it was soul-filled. It’s a beautiful example of how you can weave heritage, personal style, and guest experience into one seamless celebration.

JB Tip: Planning a multi-day destination wedding? Use each event to highlight a different part of your story. Think of it like chapters in a book—each with its own theme, color palette, and vibe. Not only does this create variety for your guests, but it allows you to fully express the many facets of your love.

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Meraki Weddings
Wedding Planner – Lucero Alvarez
Welcome Party – Rosewood San Miguel
Welcome Party Dress – Rachel Gilbert
Sangeet – Instituto Allende
Sangeet Lehenga – Rahul Mishra
Wedding Venue – Luna Escondida
Florist – PS Flower Studio
Wedding Dress – Vera Wang
Wedding Shoes – Jimmy Choo
Dance Floor – Castalia Taller

Choice Award Categories—What We’re Looking For

July 26, 2025 | editorial team

It’s almost here! The Junebug Weddings Choice Awards are nearly underway. There are six categories up for grabs in this year’s Choice Awards and we’ve detailed each category below to better explain what we’re looking for and the types of nominations that we think will do best. The categories are a little different than they were in years past, so be sure to read each description before nominating. As a reminder, only real weddings will be considered. We’re excited to review your nominations and can’t wait to share the nominees with the world during open voting!

1. Best Wedding Choice Award

When considering Best Wedding, we’re looking at every single detail from fashion to the venue to florals. We want to see a distinct, cohesive style that translates from ceremony to reception. These weddings should be chock-full of details, fashion-forward looks on the newlyweds and their wedding party, and keep us dreaming all the way into next year!

Check Out Last Year’s Best Wedding Winner:

Images by Chucho Potts

2. Best Elopement Choice Award

For Best Elopement, we want to see the most epic, inspiring, and heartfelt intimate celebrations from the last year! Wow us with couples tying the knot in amazing locations who put their unique spin on saying “I do” and brought plenty of personality to the ceremony. We want to see couples who broke tradition in style and made the most out of their nuptials and celebration.

Check Out Last Year’s Best Elopement Winner:

Images by Sweet Summer Bali

3. Best Wedding Video Choice Award

We’re stocking up on tissues for the Best Wedding Video category, so bring on the videos that pull at our heartstrings. This category is about artfully telling the story of the couple and their beautiful celebration. We want to see a wedding that blows us away with its beautiful moments, but we’re looking for creativity and artistry when it comes to wedding day coverage. Is your approach to filmmaking a cut above the rest? Nominate your favorite wedding films from the last year and show off your skills!

Check Out Last Year’s Best Wedding Video Winner:

Video by Moc Nguyen Productions

4. Best Floral Design

We like big bouquets and we cannot lie! Did one of your weddings this year have mind-blowing florals? We want to see it all from bridesmaids bouquets to ceremony installation to centerpieces. We’re talking next-level florals that are as unique as they are eye-catching. As with the other categories, we want to see artistry that is cohesive and distinct throughout the day, so the best nominees will be weddings with stand-out florals beyond a beautiful bridal bouquet.

Check Out Last Year’s Best Floral Design Winner:

Images by Light as Gold

5. Best Wedding Fashion Choice Award

If you’ve submitted to this category as part of our Choice Awards in the past you’ll want to pay extra attention—we’ve changed some things up! We’ve combined Best Bridal Style, Best Groom Style, and Best Wedding Party Style into Best Wedding Fashion, which highlights exceptional fashion choices for each part of the couple and wedding party. We want to see fashion-forward newlyweds whose personal style is fresh and unique coupled with on-trend bridesmaids and groomsmen whose looks complement the wedding.

Check Out Last Year’s Best Wedding Fashion Winner:

Images by Meraki Weddings

6. Best Wedding Moment Choice Award

At the end of the day, we all know that weddings aren’t just about aesthetics. There are tear-filled first looks, laughter-filled toasts, and many moments between. For the Best Wedding Moment category, we want to see the single photo that captures an emotion-driven story from the wedding day. We’re looking for Dad-and-Daughter first looks, Grandma squeezing the Groom’s hand at the reception, sentimental moments with the bridal party, or any special exchanges between the couple on their big day that might pull at our heartstrings.

Check Out This Previous Best Moment Winner:

Image by Marla Manes Photography

Nominations for the 2025 Choice Awards open August 1st at 12:01 PM Central Time. We can’t wait to see what you submit!

Header promo image by Meraki Weddings

Unexpectedly Eye-Catching Pink, Red, and Lilac Redwood Forest Wedding

July 15, 2025 | marissa

bright red lavender light pink

Hannah Marie and Darren’s wedding was anything but ordinary. Tucked beneath the towering redwoods of The Waterfall Lodge & Retreat, their day was a kaleidoscope of color and character. From a ceremony bursting with vivid florals to a disco ball-lit dance floor and cherry-topped cake, every detail was delightfully them—creative, playful, and lighthearted. In short, this was a wedding where tradition met quirk, mood met magic, and personality took center stage.

The Waterfall Lodge & Retreat, nestled in the Santa Cruz mountains just minutes from the coast, provided the perfect setting—secluded, peaceful, and naturally stunning. Its rustic charm set a grounded tone, while the couple’s vibrant aesthetic brought an energetic contrast that made the entire day feel alive. Capturing it all was Teri B Photography, a Junebug preferred vendor whose signature blend of photojournalism and fine art brought emotional depth to every frame. With both analog and digital formats, Teri’s lens revealed not only how the day looked, but how it felt—romantic, real, and luminous with meaning.

What We Love About This Whimsical Redwood Forest Wedding:

The unique color palette of red, pink, and lilac
A peaceful, secluded venue tucked into the enchanting Santa Cruz redwoods
Teri B’s dreamy, emotion-rich photography captured on both film and digital
A fun and personality-packed cocktail hour
Al fresco sunset dinner that turned magical with candlelight

The morning began slowly and sweetly among the trees. Hannah Marie wore a sculptural off-the-shoulder satin gown by Watters, complete with a cathedral-length veil for the ceremony and a white orchid tucked into her half-up hairstyle. Her bouquet mirrored the moment: an elegant cluster of white orchids with subtle flashes of gloriosa lilies and cascading green amaranth. Her bridesmaids wore varying lilac dresses, adding just the right touch to the colorful day.

Guests were welcomed to the ceremony with folding wood chairs and an aisle lined with lush florals—poppies, roses, peace lilies, pink baby’s breath, amaranth, and muhly grass spilled onto the path and circled the altar in a vibrant embrace. The couple stood surrounded by color in a semi-circle of blooms, grounded by the forest and each other. The vows were emotional and intentional, bringing laughter and misty eyes in equal measure.

Afterward, cocktail hour brought the whimsy. A red ping-pong table and vintage van photo booth kept spirits high, while a guest book in the form of a recipe journal added a meaningful, interactive touch. Guests sipped and mingled among towering trees, stopping to answer a large-format, couple-themed crossword puzzle.

Next, dinner was served al fresco on long wooden tables, layered with delicate details. Each place setting featured scalloped white plates, bright pink linen napkins, fan-shaped menus, and a single orchid. Lavender tea lights floated beside red pillar candles, and ceramic vases nestled between fresh pomegranates added texture and contrast. The result was striking-meets-romantic, with just the right amount of drama.

As night fell, a suspended floral and disco ball installation signaled the start of the celebration’s next chapter. The couple’s first dance glowed beneath its sparkle, and the energy never dipped. Guests grazed the dessert table, toasted marshmallows at the s’mores station, and were surprised with late-night pizza after slicing into a pink mini layer cake with vintage white icing and cherries on top.

Ultimately, Hannah Marie and Darren’s redwood forest wedding was a technicolor tapestry of personal expression and artistic vision. It was proof that when you trust your instincts, lean into joy, and surround yourself with people (and florals) you love, the result is nothing short of unforgettable.