Real Weddings Abroad: Emma and Simon’s romantic elopement

A Mexican wedding on the beach was the perfect day for this happy couple. Our WED2B Real Weddings Abroad feature reveals more:

Emma and Simon met on Christmas Eve in 2014 and had their first date at a Miller & Carter restaurant in Solihull. Simon proposed three years later during a romantic weekend away in London. “We spent the day shopping,” says Emma. “We then went for an Italian meal before heading to our hotel. Back at the hotel Simon got down on one knee and proposed! I was in total shock and not expecting it at all. He told me he’d also asked my Father’s permission before we left for London and my Father apparently gave him a bit of a grilling!”

Finding the dress

Emma wore Gracie from the Viva Bride Collection. “The girls in the store were very accommodating, helpful and honest, which I loved,” she says. “They were honest about what suited me, which really helped me pick the right dress. I loved Gracie because it showed off my curves and the lace and pearl details gave it a beautiful vintage feel. The colour of the dress also suited my suntanned skin, so when I put it on I felt very elegant and special.”

An overseas trip for two

The couple already had a trip to Riviera Maya in Mexico planned for later that year. “After we got engaged we contacted the travel agent to see how much it would be to for a Mexican wedding,” says Emma. “They had a free date so we decided to book it and elope!”

Having never visited Mexico before they didn’t know what to expect. “When we arrived we were amazed at how stunning the resort and the coastline were,” says Emma. “The wedding gazebo, right on the beach, was perfect and took in the amazing views. We didn’t invite any guests, as we wanted to the day to be quiet, personal and romantic, and this was everything we wanted and more!”

Mexican wedding

On the morning of the wedding the couple enjoyed breakfast together before Emma went to the resort’s salon for hair and make-up. “I then had a golf buggy drive me back to my room where the wedding co-ordinator helped me with my dress,” she says.

The ceremony was at 4pm in the beautiful beachside gazebo. “The ceremony was lovely, with the white sandy beach and clear blue waters behind us,” says Emma. “I walked down the aisle to ‘I’m Yours’ by Jason Maraz, which was perfect. Once the ceremony was finished we played ‘I Did It My Way’ by Frank Sinatra, which we felt was highly appropriate considering we’d had our wedding exactly how we wanted it, just us!”

A romantic dinner à deux

Afterwards the newlyweds had some photos taken on the beach before enjoying a candlelit three-course meal with champagne on the beach where they got married. “There was no cake either,” laughs Emma. “We didn’t need one, we had a lovely five-star dessert instead!” The only company was a few iguanas that joined them, “We did find it funny,” says Emma. “They were harmless but good company!”

Did your wedding have the wow factor like our Real Weddings Abroad feature? If you would like to be a part of our real weddings feature send your favourite photo to info@wed2b.co.uk and we’ll be in touch!