Finding a location for an eco-chic wedding while also maintaining a reasonable budget can be an interesting combination and one that’s loads of fun to explore. As we approach the 2009 wedding season, I find it refreshing that the priorities for most brides and grooms are shifting so that a large wedding isn’t as desirable as something more int-mate. Couples are focusing more on romance and, as a result, stripping down their wish lists to include only the bare necessities. Usually what follows is an inquiry about which eco-friendly destinations are most affordable, beautiful and, again, romantic.
Airfare is incredibly cheap right now and that makes destination weddings an even more attractive option, especially for California brides looking toward Mexico. You can create an amazing experience for yourselves and you’re your guests, and if you choose the right place, save money in the process.
Verana, an amazing resort in Yelapa, about a 3-hour flight from LA or San Diego, is what you might picture if you close your eyes and dream about a stunning, hand-crafted oasis suspended above the Pacific Ocean, where eco-luxe charm meets mid-century authenticity. The owners are former set designers (one of whom worked at Vogue for years) and they’ve invested almost a decade and untold amounts of effort and love into making this project come to life. To build the resort, they enlisted the help of local artisans and laborers, and each element is eco-friendly through and through. And, unlike many destinations, you don’t have to rent out the entire place to host your event there, which makes it an incredibly affordable option, as well.
Yelapa is filled with beautiful bougainvillea and wildflowers—just take a morning hike and you’ve got your centerpieces and bouquets taken care of! And all of the fresh, local and organic food is prepared by an on site chef, which means it costs much less than it would for a caterer to truck in ingredients and serving pieces. There’s even the option of setting up a super-flavorful, authentic taco bar—ideal for lending an island vibe to a laid-back rehearsal dinner or reception. The only potential downside is the resort’s accessibility—upon arriving into Puerto Vallarta you take a cab for about an hour to a small, secluded beach where you wait for a water taxi and hope a man by the name of Marco arrives—but as long as you bring water-resistant luggage, I think it only adds to the natural charm of the place.
The perfect candidate for Verana is a couple interested in an intimate wedding, somewhere between 20-40 people. The bride might consider being a barefoot, bohemian beauty who, after indulging in a swim or nature walk, slips into a linen dress, grabs her handmade bouquet and walks down a candelit path to say “I do.”
