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Tulum Vegan Destination Wedding: A Tropical Love Story

Happy bride and groom pose for wedding photo

Steven and Lindsay are a genuine wanderlust couple. After college, they lived in China and Mexico and traveled through every country in Central America. For a well-traveled couple, it was the natural choice to have a destination wedding, and they selected Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula's new hot spot, Tulum.

This jungle-shrouded area with white sandy beaches and easy access to the well-preserved ruins of an ancient Mayan port city was the ideal wedding spot for Steven and Lindsay's destination wedding. You can see all the tropical wedding photos in the full gallery here photographed by Memory Box Photography.

Read on for their love story, insider details from Mexico wedding planner, Arlenis Ruiz Weddings. Including more information on how she found the perfect chef to design their Vegan/Gluten Free refined wedding menu.

Don't miss the wedding film by Frame. I just watched it and  Tulum looks amazing. 

Wooden deck steps leading to tropical house

Selecting Tulum, Mexico
For Their Destination Wedding

From wedding planner,  Arlenis Ruiz Weddings. Steven and Lindsay tied the knot last October in Tulum, Mexico. They wanted a beach ceremony with the jungle vibes of Tulum, so instead of having the ceremony with the sea as a background, they fell in love with a special spot at Sanara Tulum surrounded by palm trees, an intimate Place to say I do.

They were talking about getting married for a long time and picked out a ring together, and Steven proposed to Lindsay on Christmas morning the previous. It was just the two of them home alone with Lucho their dog. It was private, special, and just right for them.

Last October 2019 was going to be their 10th anniversary of being together, which is why they picked that day for their wedding. The couple started to plan the wedding back home in North Carolina but were unhappy. A big, fancy wedding did not feel like them. Having a small, intimate family-only wedding in Mexico was perfect, the reason why Tulum was the place to be!!

Lace halter wedding dress hanging near tropical greenery Tropical courtyard with lush greenery and concrete stairs

Bride and grandmother share a moment before wedding

Getting Wedding Ready

During getting ready, Lindsay enjoyed the company of her mum and grad mum 80 years old (she had the best hairstyle of the wedding) We love the sweet getting ready, 3 generations sharing a very special moment.

Bride peeking out before her wedding with her mother

Bride shows her dress to father before the wedding

First Look With Father

Lindsay did a first look with her father, followed by the bride and groom first look, before looking into each other eyes they read love notes that they exchanged before the ceremony, a very emotional moment. Scroll down to see the photos. 

Bridal shoes and bouquet in Acapulco chair outdoor Bride smiling, holding a vibrant red wedding bouquet

Mermaid wedding dress paired with tropical wedding bouquet

Wedding details His vows card boutonniere and letter

bride and groom reading cards before their wedding without seeing each other

Happy wedding couple joyfully dancing under palm trees

Wedding officiant speaks with groom and father in garden Mother pinning boutonniere on smiling groom at wedding

wooden welcome wedding sign with tropical floral arrangements

Beach wedding setup with white chairs and red flowers

Wedding Ceremony

The ceremony was designed with tropical red colors, guests entered the ceremony area welcomed by cold personalized coconuts and a bag of petals to toss with joy. The bride looked stunning wearing a gown from Essense of Australia.

Groom in gray suit at beach wedding ceremony location Bride walking down aisle with father and bridesmaid

Wedding coconut drinks station sign

kraft wedding paper bags filled with roses to toss down the aisle

Print Your Own
Kraft Paper Bags

Did you know you can customize and download art for your own kraft paper bags on Wedding Chicks? See the various designs here. Customize and print. We even let you know where to purchase the kraft bag. This design is my favorite

Beach wedding ceremony under palm trees Wedding guests seated outdoors on white chairs

Wedding ceremony program fan with floral design

Beach wedding ceremony under palm trees Tropical wedding floral arrangement with red roses

Bride and groom share a kiss at tropical wedding

Happy bride and groom celebrating their wedding

guests toss roses after the bride and groom are married

Happy bride and groom sharing a rainy wedding day

Rainy Day Wedding

The day was wonderful, warm and sunny, so in tropical weather, we were surprised by rain right at the end of the ceremony, we were prepared for a backup area for cocktail hour, we had Los Reyes Del Mayab for live music and all the guests enjoyed the experience, while the couple went to the beach that was all for themselves, because of the “rain” no one was at the beach beside the couple, it was the ultimate dancing under the rain best experience ever.

Bride and groom share coconuts in the rain

Bride and groom stroll on a beach Happy bride and groom on beach wedding

Bride and groom kiss, holding vibrant red and orange wedding bouquet

Vegan / Gluten Free
Wedding Menu

Steven and Lindsay love food! They both went vegan together in college and are still vegan today. They made that change for their health, for animals, and for the environment, they cook most of our meals every day from scratch.

We had planned the reception The Real Coconut Restaurant and Spa in Tulum, tables decor included an artisanal Mexican tile as a thank you gift. The floral wedding design was inspired in tropical red colors, and the bride wore a second gown by Allure Bridals.

As a wedding planner the biggest challenge I had during planning Lindsay and Steven's wedding was to find a place that could provide a special menu for the couple, I knew The Real Coconut Restaurant as one of the best restaurants in Tulum that could certainly provide what the couple was looking for, they use sustainably sourced ingredients mixed to create mouth-watering dishes for digestives wellbeing.

The chef Clementina from real coconut restaurant was amazing and she helped us to create a customized menu, the couple needed a vegan and gluten-free menu that was also sugar refined free too. The wedding cake was so delicious, you will not believe that it was sugar and gluten-free, apple cider flavor and 1 tier vegan chocolate with cocoa butter icing.

The Real Coconut Restaurant Bar sign on patterned tile The Real Coconut Restaurant and Spa in Tulum wedding reception

Wedding place setting with menu and thank you tile

Guest book table with Instax camera and photo book to sign

View of the ocean at The Real Coconut Restaurant and Spa in Tulum

Romantic wedding table setting with candles and flowers Elegant dinner menu with floral centerpiece

The Real Coconut Restaurant and Spa in Tulum wedding reception Delicious appetizers: spring rolls and tacos

Band in white playing music at an event

Man and woman share a tender dance at wedding reception

Elegant three-tiered wedding cake with red roses

Bride and groom's first dance at wedding reception

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$30,000
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