Modern tropical destination Wedding at the Rosewood Mayakoba, Mexico

Diana & Rahul met on a beautiful summer day on the rooftop of the Rosewood in Georgetown on a Bumble date. Diana was immediately struck by his wit, sincerity, and effortless charm telling us, "We fell in love over many long, glorious dates. Whether we were all dressed up at the Kennedy Center or eating ice cream at a street corner, it all felt magical and time always flew by. We knew very quickly it was forever. That Christmas, after six months of dating, we decided to get married! Rahul got down on one knee to propose with my favourite chocolate cake. A few days later, just before the new year, we were married in a romantic – and rather spontaneous – courthouse ceremony with just a handful of loved ones. Then we all went to lunch with a “Just Married” sign. A few weeks later, Rahul got down on one knee again, with a beautiful ring this time! It was in one of our favourite restaurants and he had them play my favourite bossa nova song, “Baby,” by Bebel Gilberto. In the months that followed, we loved planning wedding number two as a married couple having already started a wonderful life, and bringing our families and friends together to celebrate."

South Carolina wedding photographer ELIZABETH LANIER captured this second celebration at the ROSEWOOD MAYAKOBA – a luxury property surrounded by lush jungle and the stunning coastline of Mexico’s Riviera Maya. The couple share with us, "Hosting a destination wedding is a journey, no pun intended. We knew we wanted lots of quality time on a beach with our nearest and dearest so Mexico was the perfect locale – it’s gorgeous, easy to get to, and the Mexican people take such pride in hospitality. We chose the ROSEWOOD MAYAKOBA because not only do we love its beautiful design, but we also first met at a Rosewood hotel so we loved the symbolism of coming full circle. With a stunning resort in an exquisite locale, we wanted that to shine throughout our design. Since we both like a minimalist aesthetic, the event design was modern and glamorous with a touch of tropical flair. The end result was Victorian chandeliers, beautiful orchids, lush white drapes, and lots of candles everywhere.

The photographer was one of the most important elements of our wedding weekend. When all the food, wine, and music are long gone, all you're left with are the photographs. Just like with my husband and the dress, I just knew ELIZABETH LANIER was the right photography team for us. I came across Elizabeth's work online and was struck by the poetry of the images. They were beautiful and lush and refined and timeless – everything I wanted my wedding photos to be. We quickly adjusted our photography budget to accommodate them because I knew in my heart of hearts – without hesitation – that working with Sarah Elizabeth and her team would mean we would have the beautiful photographs of our special day to treasure. Sure enough, it was an absolute joy working with them and we have the most exquisite photos that make me smile every time I see them. Sarah Elizabeth and Will captured us looking like the most radiant versions of ourselves in front of gorgeous backdrops and I still pinch myself that it is us in these photos because they look like they are straight out of a magazine. Hiring the Simply Sarah team was the BEST decision I made in wedding planning!

The biggest piece of advice I have for the bride's planning destination weddings is to try to enjoy the planning process! You will plan a wedding just once in your life (hopefully)! Yes, there will inevitably be moments of frustration (usually about two months before the big day) when you will question why you chose a destination wedding, with a whole weekend of events to plan and travel itineraries to help manage, instead of a (much simpler) eight hour thing at a local venue. But, you will persevere and in the end, it will all be SO worth because you will have an unforgettable four day weekend with your nearest and dearest all in one place. And, when it is over, you will look back and wish you could do it all over again!"

A huge thank you to South Carolina wedding photographer ELIZABETH LANIER for sharing this absolutely gorgeous wedding with us. Specialising in destination weddings, Sarah and Will of Elizabeth Lanier Photography, capture sophisticated, adventurous, and wildly in love couples all over the globe. Their passion for documenting authentic love stories and genuine relationships between the clients they photograph inspires discerning couples worldwide to entrust their most cherished memories to Elizabeth Lanier Photography. Head over to their portfolio to see more and be sure to check out this The most chic, stylish South Carolina wedding at Montage Palmetto Bluff.