SHEA + MELISSA

Sayulita, Mexico // Nov 3rd 2017

 

Imagine this: a hot salt breeze whips through your hair as you walk cobble streets lined with taco stands and giant dream catchers hung for sale. The colors are bright, vivid, and bold. Your friends run up to you with a cold beer in one hand and their swim suit in another. Life seems slower here. Your closest family and friends are all staying in multiple houses close by with only your two feet or a rented golf cart to get you into town. The jungle sways with sweaty leaves and the ocean roars as it crashes against the rocks ushering in a sunset from afar. The food, the smells, the sounds, and the people are all tell you to slow down, laugh, and drink a margarita or… four.

That may be the very reason Shea and Melissa decided to take have a destination wedding in the small hip surf town of Sayulita, Mexico. I mean who wouldn’t want all their favorite people in one place, eating delicious mexican food, and swimming in the Pacific Ocean??

Melissa is very very creative, spunky, generous, and wild.

Shea is very very funny, inviting, genuine, and intentional.

They met years and year ago while going to school in San Deigo, California. They met one night going out with friends and the rest is well…history! From grad school all over the country to their new home in Phoenix, Arizona, these two have a friendship and partnership that has been tested and tried. Each time they come up even stronger then before.

From the gem colored florals, to the geometric details, and the bridesmaids polka dotted dresses this wedding was not lacking in the creative elements. The venue…WOW…Don Dedros Palapa had all the right feels. Cliff ocean views, lush green lawn, and a palapa for dinner! This space set the scene for an ideal experience in Mexico. Every detail was done with excellence thanks to the amazing wedding coordinator, Somer. Each vendor at this wedding I need to add, was amazing. They help to create a beautiful atmosphere for a good freaking party!! I can’t even talk about the food or I might go jump on a plane back down and not come back (i’m not kidding). I think it takes a certain type of couple to have a destination wedding. They must be ok with a lack of control, chill about the end goal, and be mostly excited for friends and family to come from afar. Shea and Melissa made this wedding about their people. The people who have supported them, carried them, loved on them. Let’t just say they have an amazing support system around their new marriage.

Their wedding weekend was also a over a Mexican holiday, Dia de los Muertos. The whole town came out to celebrate with flags of color, candles, and pictures of loved ones day came before. Melissa, having Mexican roots, was able to celebrate this holiday along side of her wedding day. They even had a whole table honoring the deceased at the wedding with photos and candles. It was a beautiful additive to the wedding celebration. 

I cannot express to you HOW FREAKING amazing and beautiful this wedding was. I could try…but I think the photographs help tell the story better. So go ahead look for yourself and imagine yourself there with the breeze whipping your hair and a margarita in your hand.

Vendors:

Wedding Dress: Shareen // Florals: Flor Mimo // Venue: Don Pedros // Wedding Planner: Somer Studholme with Vida Bonita Events //DJ: Sayulita Musica – DJ Jess // Videography: 3rmemories // Invitations: Made by the Bride herself. Second Shooter who helped me photograph this beautiful wedding: Karlie Colleen Photography.