1. Real Weddings

An Intimate Destination Wedding at Hotel Playa Fiesta in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

rn Talk about a dream vacation—or should we say, wedding week. For travel lovers Erica Tenholder (28 and a pharmacist) and Seth Hou

rn Talk about a dream vacation—or should we say, wedding week. For travel lovers Erica Tenholder (28 and a pharmacist) and Seth Housman (27 and a professor), an intimate destination wedding in Mexico felt right. Together with their 74 guests, they had Hotel Playa Fiesta in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, all to themselves. “They cater to wedding groups,” Erica says. “We wanted the ceremony to be private—an intimate evening with our family and friends. Playa Fiesta was able to accomplish that and more.” After their waterfront ceremony under a pavilion, guests enjoyed a sunset cocktail hour followed by dinner with delicious food: think large shrimp, a duet of rosemary chicken and sea bass and a carrot cake to top off the meal. The DJ started the reception with a lively dance party, which Erica and Seth prepared their guests for with salsa lessons earlier in the week. By the end of the night, everyone was in the pool—including Erica and Seth. See the sweet details, captured by Forte Photography & Cinema, below.

Erica carried a vibrant coral, red and green bouquet of roses, chrysanthemums, hypericum berries and dusty miller.
Erica and Seth provided their guests with fans to stay cool at their destination wedding in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. They incorporated custom wax stamps, complete with Mexico and a heart, throughout their paper goods.
Seth's green boutonniere was perfect for his tropical destination wedding, because it wouldn't wilt in the heat. It had lots of greenery, including succulents, which popped against his navy linen suit.
Each place setting had a custom blue napkin with Erica and Seth's custom monogram. The dining tables were covered in white linen with a blue table runner to evoke a casual, nautical theme.
Erica's red Valentino shoes were a surprise from Seth. They had peep toes and bow embellishments, and perfectly matched the red in her navy and red palette.
Erica and Seth had an intimate waterfront ceremony at Playa Fiesta, where their guests sat under a pavilion on ivory linen-covered chairs. Ivory rose petals lined the aisle.
Erica and Seth had the intimate waterfront ceremony at Playa Fiesta in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, surrounded by their 74 guests. "We wanted the ceremony to be private, an intimate evening with our family and friends," Erica says.
Erica wore a lace dress with cap sleeves and a keyhole back. She wore a pearl necklace with pearl earrings as her something borrowed to complete her classic, elegant style.
The gray-and-white-striped dinner menus had blue font to enhance the nautical theme at Erica and Seth's reception. Playa Fiesta provided a delectable three-course meal, a carrot cake and late-night snacks.
Ivory escort cards with gray-striped table numbers and navy calligraphy channeled Erica and Seth's nautical beach destination wedding theme.
Coral chrysanthemums and succulents in the glass jar centerpieces added a pop of color to the navy dining tables inside Playa Fiesta in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
Gray-striped table numbers with navy calligraphy tied in to the white and blue nautical dining table settings. String lights enhanced the romantic atmosphere inside Playa Fiesta, in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, where guests enjoyed dinner.
Erica and Seth hosted an intimate dinner in the open restaurant at Playa Fiesta, following a navy and white palette with pops of red and succulents. Lanterns and string lights illuminated the space and created a romantic ambience.