To welcome their 60 guests to their March 16, 2019, destination wedding in Cancun, Mexico, Katie and Nick kicked off the weekend with a party on the beach. With their toes in the sand, guests noshed on delicious Mexican fare, sipped craft cocktails, and enjoyed décor that teased the color palette of the big day still to come: pops of pink with plenty of white to spare.
Katie and Nick held the welcome party the night before their wedding; the celebration began at 6 p.m. and lasted until the sun had set on the beach at the venue, Nizuc Resort and Spa. With the help of wedding planner Grit & Grace and florist Canteiro Weddings, Katie and Nick created an event that was laid-back enough to ease them into the wedding day—but was fun, as well: There was dancing, an Instagram-ready swing (the groom's favorite décor element), and plenty of speeches.
A highlight, Katie says, is when her friends secretly produced a video to be shown at the party. In the video, the friends recorded their wishes and advice for the couple. "Laura [of Grit & Grace] managed to get a TV set up on the beach, so the whole party could be surprised with the personal video montage," Katie says. "It was epic!" But for Nick, the best moments were those before the guests had arrived. He loved "seeing the space…and sharing an intimate moment with Katie," the groom explains.
As for the bride's favorite décor moment? She "loved the fire pit, which was a last-minute addition. It was great to have a central space for everyone to be together," she says.
The Bride and Groom in White
Katie wore a white lace dress from Alexis, which she paired with Prada pumps. Nick matched her look by donning white slacks and a white oxford shirt—with white Vans shoes to boot.
In the Sand
The couple held their welcome party on the beach of Nizuc Resort and Spa, where their wedding would take place the following day. As for the party's décor? "We incorporated pops of pink throughout the event to keep the theme consistent," Katie explains, when asked how this pre-wedding event's decorations connected to the main celebration's.
Swinging Into Married Life
Nick's favorite party element was a wood-and-rope swing set placed in the sand. "It was a great backdrop for photos," he says.
Chic Wedding Party
The couple's wedding party members wore white to the welcome party, matching the bride and groom.
Pink-Tiled Bar
A bar on the sand embraced the couple's color palette with pink mosaic tiles.
Personal Signature Cocktails
The couple served two signature cocktails: palomas and mojitos. "We named the two cocktails after our dogs who couldn't make the trip to Mexico," Katie says.
Taco Central
Katie and Nick offered up Mexican fare during the party: A taco station and churros, which were served with caramel or chocolate dipping sauces. The taco part of the menu was built into the décor landscape—marquis letters spelling out the traditional dish were placed just in front of the fire pit.
Minimal Décor
The couple set up seating areas with rentals from Canteiro Weddings, choosing long white tables and poufs for seating—and that's it. "We actually did not have any flowers," Katie says of the décor. "We wanted it to be very minimalist and chic.
Sources
Photography, Abby Jiu Photography
Location and catering, Nizuc Resort and Spa
Event planning, Grit & Grace
Flowers and rentals, Canteiro Weddings
Stationery, Minted; Underwood Letterpress
Calligraphy, LH Calligraphy
Music, Vissuddah Entertainment; DJ Services
Hair and makeup, Styling Trio
Lighting, JSAV