An epic Bali meets Scandinavia-inspired wedding weekend in Mexico

classic wedding dress with cathedral veil

Whitney and Cooper met in 2012 on their very first day of graduate school in New York City. They spent their first date sitting in a diner eating french fries in Murray Hill until 5 a.m. Whitney is organized and nurturing with a dark sense of humor, while Cooper is an all-around goofball - loving with a childlike sense of wonder. They balanced each other out perfectly! Because New York will always hold such a magical place in their hearts - it's where they fell in love and spent most of their 20's! - they knew it was also where they had to get married. After 4 years together as struggling artists living in their East Village walkup, they knew that it would only be a matter of time before they got married…so why wait! The couple didn't stop at a NYC City Hall ceremony, though!

Keep scrolling to see their incredible wedding celebration at Banyan Tree Mayakoba in the Carribean with photography by Andre Gouin Photography, featuring planning and design by Diana Romo Weddings, floral design by Canteiro Weddings, and graphics and stationery by Modern Social. We promise you won't want to miss clicking here for the full gallery of all of these incredible photos, also linked at the bottom of this page!

tropical-inspired wedding earrings

Years before their celebration, the couple celebrated their "I do's" with NYC pizza

For their special ceremony at City Hall, they grabbed a couple friends, made Whitney a bouquet of flowers from the grocery store, and attached a pin with her late grandmother's photo on it (the same pin Whitney would carry down the aisle in front of all of their loved ones a few years later!). Cooper wore his only suit, and the bride wore a navy dress. They didn't exchange vows or rings just yet because they knew that - one day - they would have their dream wedding, and they wanted to save that moment to share with their families. After they tied the knot, they headed back to their walk up, invited their friends over, and ordered Joe’s Pizza, finishing the night off at their local watering hole: The Spotted Owl.

handmade wedding bouquets

With family and friends all over, Mexico was the perfect neutral location to celebrate

Four years (and a few moves) later, Cooper came home and asked, "Will you marry me... again?" and this incredible wedding celebration was born. The couple got married at the stunning Banyan Tree Mayakoba. Mexico has always been their “go-to” spot, so it was perfect for their destination wedding. With family and friends spread between NYC, LA, Toronto, and more, it only made sense that the couple would pick a neutral location. Plus, it doesn't hurt that we're pretty sure a perfect wedding is built on the foundation of tequila and tacos.

custom wedding coasters

The bride had been stalking her planner on Instagram for years! It's called planning ahead.

Years prior to getting engaged, Whitney had already been stalking Diana (of Diana Romo Weddings) on Instagram waiting for the time to reach out! The couple flew to meet with Diana and look at different resorts when they settled on a Carribean destination wedding. While they were all stunning, there was something about the Mayakoba that felt undeniably unique. MK Blue (their event palapa) was a huge draw, as a stunning white event palapa nestled right on the lagoon. The stunning new Sands Beach Club where all of their guests could spend the day and their gorgeous stand-alone villas really sealed the deal. The couple asked for their wedding to feel "like Bali meets Scandinavia, but in Mexico," and Diana delivered! After three date changes due to Covid, they finally had their celebration in June of 2022, and it was (according to the bride) 100% worth the wait!

minimalist outdoor wedding welcome party

A "welcome nightcap" upon arrival helped all of their guests get comfortable

Because the bride is an event stationery designer, it was only natural that she wanted many paper elements to tie their whole day together. She chose a deep natural sage green as the main color to match the surrounding jungle of the resort. She also used paper elements as a way to personalize their wedding and make it feel more intimate. They created custom menus, illustrated coasters, drink koozies, itineraries and details cards, ceremony cards, and more!

The couple kicked off the weekend with an evening “Welcome Nightcap” at the Sands Beach club outdoor bar. Guests were greeted with chilled hand towels and their signature “Amaretto Daiquiri.” Everyone spent the evening sipping cocktails under the stars lit with string lights and tiki torches on the beach. The bride and groom also wanted their guests to start off their weekend with a gift from the couple. Guests were greeted upon arriving to the hotel with Jute welcome bags with Mexican chocolate, plantain chips, Topo Chico, custom koozies with Whitney and Cooper's dog “Bobbi” on them, hangover kits (which came in handy), and a detailed itinerary and welcome packet.

outdoor resort cocktail hour decor

tropical-inspired wedding lighting Moroccan-inspired wedding seating

pillow seating for wedding welcome party

Chances of rain meant the beach party vibes were reimagined inside

Because of high chances of rain on Thursday, the bride and groom made a quick weather call and moved their beach party rehearsal dinner to the Banyan Tree upper terrace. Diana and her team were able to keep the beach party vibes and really transform the space to keep their vision alive for this event. Guests were greeted with a cigar roller and pillow lounge sets on the terrace. After a cocktail hour of mingling, it was time for dinner: the most epic taco bar buffet and late-night churro cart. It was in this moment that the bridal party was able to give their first toasts to really kick off the weekend.

custom unplugged ceremony sign

The groomsmen lived it up with tacos and a plunge pool while the bridal party got ready

Friday meant the wedding day was finally here! Cooper spent the morning having brunch on the beach with his groomsmen before they headed to the groomsmen villas to enjoy their “getting ready” afternoon which consisted of tacos in the plunge pool. Meanwhile, the bride and bridesmaids were getting hair and makeup done in their villa with the absolute best, Zoe Elizabeth and her team. The bridal party wore the most gorgeous white and blush linen robes by Meeka with white bouclee slippers - the robes even doubled as beachwear later in the weekend!

For the wedding, the bride wore the Andy dress by Made With Love, which she had altered to make it strapless! She paired it with a very simple cathedral length veil, a pair of frayed white low heels with jute accents, and a pair of Amelie George earrings. She later changed into a silk draped slip dress from Frame & Partners that was soft, breathable, and effortless. She paired that dress with white sneakers so she could head to the dance floor! Inspired by the red dancing emoji dress, the bridesmaids all found dresses they loved and that felt tropical.

The groom chose a custom suit by Syndeys (in Toronto). It was a breathable slim fitted classic black suit made of tropical wool. To make it a more casual take on formal, Cooper had a slightly short pant paired with a suede black loafer and clean white pocket square. He also wore his father's Cartier watch to have his father with him on this special day. All of this carefully curated attire, however, couldn't last the whole night in the heat!

white wedding aisle decor

simple black suit for groom

large white and green wedding ceremony floral installation

The couple made sure to reserve private moments before they kicked off the party

The couple opted for a first look, and they were so thankful they did! Before they knew it, it was time for their unplugged ceremony on the hotel's upper terrace. Following the ceremony, guests were taken by golf cart to MK Blue where they were greeted with the couple's signature Margaritas and Mezcalitas. Meanwhile Cooper and Whitney enjoyed a private moment on their way to the reception on the lagoon via boat.

From there, the rest of the evening was amazing. Diana and the floral team created stunning hanging floral and light installations over the head table and dance floor that were a gorgeous combination of tropical foliage and hanging jute lanterns. There were three lounge areas for guests to enjoy that were a beautiful mix of natural linen, caramel leather, and jute. The guest tables held smaller floral arrangements with a mix of greenery, white roses, and draping green amaranth in ceramic bud vases. Jute chargers lined the white ceramic plates topped with the couple's signature green and white menus. And of course, there were candles, candles, and more candles! DJ Dulce Rullan was the absolute best and kept the party going all night. After the Horrah, all of the guests joined the bride and groom on the dance floor to kick off the party under a banner of flying gold confetti. It was an absolute dream!

earthy wedding reception decor

rattan wedding hanging lighting rattan wedding chargers

palm prond wedding installation

gold wedding confetti

late night wedding party

The most important part for the bride and groom? All of the personal details!

As guests took to their seats for the ceremony, they found in lieu of ceremony programs, they were welcomed by satchels of Arborio rice and a recipe card detailing Whitney’s late grandmother Carla’s Risotto recipe. The most important choice the couple made when it came to their wedding, however, was who would be their officiant. Ultimately they asked their mutual friend Dan. They had met Dan in grad school, and he was one of the few people who had known the couple both together and separately.

The couple's chuppah also held so much meaning to them. Their officiant shared: "An important piece of the chuppah that I’d like to make mention of, is that draped over top, are the tallit (which are prayer shawls made of cloth) belonging to both Cooper and his father, Larry. They are draped side by side, strengthening the symbol of unity and being surrounded by love.” The design of it was organic but also jungle-inspired without being tropical. It was covered in foliage, with accents of white roses and draping green amaranth.

caribbean-inspired wedding photos

Brunch was the perfect cure for any post-wedding party struggles

The hangover was real for all of our guests on Saturday morning, but they made it out for an epic brunch at Cello restaurant at the resort to close out the celebration weekend. Following brunch the bride and groom caught up with their guests at Sands Beach Club where they all spent the day recovering by the pool and having a blast.

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