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CONTENTS JULY/AUGUST 2025
WEDDING PLANNING 16 ASK DAVID TUTERA David has questions, and so do you. 17 BRIDAL INSIDER Pantone’s Color of the Year. 18 PARTY PLANNER Dive into this swimming-pool send-off.
65 TRAVEL NEWS
22 PLANNERS WE LOVE We spotlight some of our favorite wedding geniuses. by Carol Straley
62 WEDDINGS AWAY Charleston is overflowing with true Southern Charm.
26 PARTY TIME Here’s to all that pre-wedding fun. by Elena Donovan Mauer
65 RESORT ROUNDUP Take time to smell the roses (and more) at these garden-centric resorts.
31 PLANNING NOTEBOOK Meet Sandals’ director of weddings & romance.
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32 WEDDING ALBUM A spectacular wedding in Tuscany.
NEWS & FEATURES 6
WEDDING Q&A Etiquette questions and answers.
36 WAS IT WORTH IT? Real brides weigh in on their biggest wedding costs. by Daniel P. Smith
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70 REAL DESTINATION WEDDING This Florida couple’s wedding was held on the sands of the Sunshine State. 74 ALL-INCLUSIVE INTEL What’s really included, what’s not.
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76 REAL DESTINATION WEDDING A California couple’s wedding on Mexico’s western coast. 80 FIRST LOOK A visit to the Hamptons. get more online at bridalguide.com WEDDING-DAY TIMELINE Learn the mustknow tips at bridalguide.com/timeline
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SUMMER CENTERPIECES Get gorgeous ideas for the season at bridalguide.com/ summerflowers HAIRSTYLES FOR OUTDOOR WEDDINGS Find inspiration at bridalguide.com/ outdoorhair
000 BRIDALGUIDE.COM month/month 2010
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Bridal Guide magazine (Vol. 41, No.4, July/August 2025 ISSN 0882-7451) is published bimonthly by RFP Corp., 1333A North Avenue #706, New Rochelle, NY 10804; 212-838-7733. Copyright © 2025 by RFP Corp. All rights reserved. Reproduction or use without permission of editorial or graphic content in any manner is prohibited. Subscription Rates: U.S. and possessions one year $18.95. Back issues $7; prepayment required. Periodicals postage paid at New York, NY 10017 and additional offices. All unsolicited editorial must be accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. We assume no responsibility for returning unsolicited material, including but not limited to photographs, artwork, manuscripts and letters. Postmasters—Send address changes to P.O. Box 16717, North Hollywood, CA 91615 PRINTED IN THE U.S.A.
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HONEYMOON & DESTINATION WEDDING GUIDE
Happy Endings
PHOTOGRAPHY: FOUR SEASONS RESORT PUNTA MITA
The sunshine state’s endless stretch of beach is one Florida couple’s happy place—and where they invited guests to share in their joy. A Bay-area bride and groom swapped vows at a luxury hideaway in Mexico’s Riviera Nayarit. Gorgeous gardens are unexpected delights at some of the world’s prettiest properties…the celeb-favored Hamptons welcomes a new retreat…and we’ve got the intel on the finer points of the fine print when booking into an all-inclusive resort.
Romance in Mexico. July/August 2025 BRIDALGUIDE.COM000 61
REAL DESTINATION WEDDING
Rock Out
“The most romantic setting on the property is what they call ‘the rock,’ an outcropping that’s accessible from the main beach. We took some of our pictures up there.” It’s also available for private dinners.
A perfect perch.
At Sea Adventures
One of the hallmark attractions of Riviera Nayarit is whale season. Tail flapping, breaching and other epic movements can be visible from the beach and are best spied from boat outings. Day trips include wildly popular excursions to the Marietas Islands, a unique group of volcanic islands with a fascinating ecosystem that have been called the Galapagos of Mexico. The collection of islets in the Bay of Banderas is a natural wildlife sanctuary. Once there, guests enjoy snorkeling, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding. A quiet cove called Secret Beach with its golden sands also beckons.
Que vivan los novios, Joey and Ashley!
The welcome dinner was a laid-back affair.
Happy Together “We had exactly 85 guests. I wanted a more intimate setting and it was perfect,” Ashley says. And she and Joey were able to truly visit with each person who stayed and celebrated with the couple. “Over the weekend, there was no reason to leave the resort, because it has everything—pools, lazy river, food, gym, spa.” Part of the charm of the property is the array of amenities, and the couple hosted their events across different outposts. “The ceremony was on their main beach, dinner was at Bahia, the beachside restaurant, dancing was back on the beach and the after-party was in the kid’s game room, which we turned into our own house party/speakeasy.” 78 BRIDALGUIDE.COM July/August 2025
legally wed The requirements for say-
The resort is perfectly positioned for sunset viewing.
ing “I do” in Mexico are quite involved. All couples must be 18 or older and not currently married. You’ll need to present a valid passport, tourist card (issued upon arrival), birth certificate, blood test results (done in Mexico), completed marriage application forms from the local registry and four witnesses. All foreign documents, with the exception of your passport, will need to be translated, apostilled and notarized. The couple and their witnesses must arrive in Mexico four business days before the wedding day for legal ceremonies.
PHOTOGRAPHY: (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT) ANDREA CAMARENA; FOUR SEASONS RESORT PUNTA MITA; ANDREA CAMARENA; FOUR SEASONS RESORT. PUNTA MITA
“We hosted a welcome party the night before the wedding at one of the bars overlooking the resort. It was colorful-cocktail themed and we had live music and a taco cart for our guests.”
travel notes
IN RIVIERA NAYARIT, ON THE EDGE OF A GOLDEN CAPE that juts over the inky Pacific Ocean, stands the aptly named Punta de Mita, a luxurious enclave encompassing some of the world’s most luxe resorts and amenities. Celebrated as much for its postcard-perfect weather as it is for its elevated offerings—golf, surfing, unbeatable cuisine and superlative service among others—the 1,500 acre expanse is a favorite for romance visitors in search of all that, plus spectacular sunsets. Positioned on a private perch, the 177-room Four Seasons Resort, Punta Mita artfully blends the ethos of the surroundings with the pampering sensibility for which the luxury brand is known. Days can be spent lounging on the golden sands or by the pool in private cabanas, beach daybeds and oversized hammocks suspended over the sands. Accommodations are a blend of private villas, casita-style suites—some with private pools—and traditional hotel rooms with amazing views. Golf lessons, outings and rounds are super-popular activities as is the surfing program, FLORIST: VENUE AND CATERING: which includes wave chasing and Four Seasons Resort, Punta Mita basic beginner intel. The property’s
The infinity pool.
Every view is memorable.
PHOTOGRAPHY: FOUR SEASONS RESORT, PUNTA MITA
wedding details
private yacht is available for exclusive day outings complete with loads of opportunities to catch some fish for dinner, and memorable intimate sunset sails (room rates start at $965 a night; fourseasons.com). From on high.
PHOTOGRAPHER: Andrea Camarena
WEDDING COORDINATOR: Kelley Kahroff, Younique Events by Kelley BRIDE’S WEDDING GOWN: Lela Rose BRIDE’S WELCOME-PARTY DRESS: Zimmermann BRIDE’S AFTER-PARTY DRESS: V. Chapman
Romance rules.
Spectacular accommodations.
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