A Boho-Chic Beach Destination Wedding at Delek Tulum in Mexico

A boho-chic beach wedding in Tulum, Mexico, was the perfect way for sweethearts Cary Schultz and James Marquez to celebrate their love. Having visited the destination before, the couple fell in love with the town and its laid-back vibe—a perfect setting for their big day. With that in mind, the aesthetic was simple: “we wanted the natural beauty of our surroundings to shine through without being overwhelmed with bold colors,” notes Cary.

A self-proclaimed dating-app success story, Cary and James shared mutual proposals: Cary popped the question in front of friends and family on Christmas Day, while James opted to ask his question under a beautiful tree during a wine-tasting trip. “You see people cheer in movies when someone says yes, it happens in real life too! I said yes and the winery erupted in cheers congratulating us on our love. It was truly magical.”

Carrying that loving energy into their wedding, the grooms focused on the romance of the beach, selecting sleek white doors to open up to their al fresco ceremony space on the sand. Pampas grass accented their simple decor, creating picture-perfect hues of champagne and white set against the blue of the ocean. “Everything was decorated perfectly by our florist and pulled together by our wedding planner that saw our vision and executed it perfectly,” gushes Cary. The focal point was the circular ceremony arch, bedecked with an eclectic mix of flowers and grasses in the same warm color tones.

Personalized elements were everywhere throughout the destination wedding. The grooms gifted guests with after-wedding items, including pain relievers and water, which awaited them in their hotel rooms. The couple also arranged for a yoga class for guests who wanted to participate the morning of the wedding. Finally, a brand-new family custom was born out of their big day: “The only tradition was one that we hope to have started for our family—a group photo of everyone in attendance taking a shot after the ceremony.”

Cocktail hour and the reception evoked a fantastic “melding of man-made and nature,” says Cary. With a smattering of neutral floral arrangements paired with mixed metals and glass elements, each space was simple, bohemian, and sleek.

The couple elected to match their wedding attire, both donning stylish beach looks: tan Khaki pants, leather suspenders, and flowing white shirts. “We knew we wanted to both wear a little white and wanted to keep with the beach theme so opted for semi-casual attire and a barefoot wedding.” When it came to their wedding party, the gentlemen wore similar outfits to the grooms, while the ladies wore gowns in either Dusty Rose (James’ side) or Agave (Cary’s side) colors.

After all was said and done, the most memorable moment for the newlyweds was easily the first look. “We knew what [we] were wearing and how we would look, but we made it a point not to try on our wedding clothes in front of each other and hadn’t seen each other since we started getting ready. The waterworks were instant,” says Cary. Lastly, their big piece of planning advice: “Let the people you hired do their jobs and accept that nothing is ever perfect. The wedding day is for celebrating your love with your loved ones. It is difficult, but don’t take your frustration out on one another and when it comes to the big day, let it all go.”