Destination Weddings

Suggestions for Activites for "days before and after" a Wedding in Mexico

2011-06-07T15:24:00.000-07:00

By James Basanez, owner of Martoca Beach Garden

I have found that most brides are a bit at a loss in a destination wedding when they have not been here before and do not really know what to plan for the days before the wedding or the days after for their guests. So, I decided to help out via blog. I believe that Puerto Vallarta is a perfect destination because it offers such a variety of activities for guests before and after the wedding. Mountain trails, Zip lines, horseback and ATV availability plus the typical ocean activities are all available and even whale watching and mantaray watching if in winter time.
However my preferred option is a bit of a culture shock tour and a guided off the beaten path tour. Invite your guests to rent some transportation like Jeeps or Vans or ATVs depending on ages and adventurous levels and get a guide to take you to the markets and non tourist areas. I promise everyone will love this. Plus, Puerto Vallarta is safe everywhere.
I recently took my college professor and his famiy on a tour myself and they loved it. They were here on a cruise ship. He told me a week in advance he was coming so I had to think fast. I had not seen him since 1994 when I graduated so it was a great surprise, I prepared with a Jeep for the young crowd of four and a Honda Element for us three older farts for comfort. They loved it. I took them to the market to see how locals get there groceries and all te varieties of tacos. We had a blast and they learned so much. They had not seen an almond tree, a tamarind fruit tree, a mango tree or how people in Mexico who are not in a 200,000 dollar condo live. They saw the best sites in old town and I gave them a historical account of all the cool spots. We visited movie sets where the kids saw the "Predator" movie set and I took them to see mansions on the beach. We even went to a tequila destillary where they learned all about tequila and got a few shots and bottles. Also stopped at a friend´s place for hand rolled cigars on the river Cuale bridge. All in 5 hours or so. When I sent them off to the ship they were so happy. All this for about 300 dollars.
See these images and see why sightseeing and messing around town would be a day to remember... so romantic! http://bit.ly/miOqez
Also, try a rehearsal fiesta instead of a night in a restaurant before the wedding. Martoca has a "street food fiesta" option where your guests can have an interactive day with our chefs and try all kinds of street food while cooking and preparing recipes without the risk of sickness. So live a little and try new things, experience the romantic town of Puerto Vallarta.

Wedding in Acapulco / Boda en Acapulco

2011-05-29T16:07:00.000-07:00

For this wedding, the bride and groom choose to do the ceremony on one of the beaches of Acapulco. The aisle was made with petates (woven palm leave mats) covered with philodendron (tropical leaves).

The ceremony was followed by the reception at a private garden with a waterfront.

The decorations for this wedding were very tropical, with sea shells, starfishes, bamboos, tropical foliage, orchids and concador lilies. Sand sculptures were also one of the distinctive details of this wedding.

An exquisite seafood dinner was served by gourmet chef Susanna Palazuelos, who was also in charge of the staff which provided excellent service.

Para esta boda en Acapulco, los novios escogieron hacer la misa en la playa.

El pasillo se formó con garras de león sobre petates, lo que le siguió con el ambiente tropical con el que se decoró todo el evento, ya que la decoración consistió en estrellas de mar, conchas, caracoles, bambú, follaje tropical, orquídeas, concadores e incluso esculturas de arena en el área de recepción.

El banquete de mariscos y el excelente servicio estuvieron a cargo de la chef Susanna Palazuelos.

Hortensias in bloom / Temporada de Hortensias

2011-05-24T13:52:00.000-07:00

Some good advice for brides is to do a little research about all the good things that the season offers when your wedding will take place. Local options, local providers, local flowers...
That way before you start planning, these options will help you to choose things such as the food, drinks, honeymoon, decorations and so on.
Using in season flowers for example, will guarantee that when the date starts to get closer, they will be in bloom and make your decorations more radiant and less expensive.
This wedding took place on Bainbridge Island in Washington State during the hortensias season. These flowers were for the bride's hair accesory, her bouquet, and centerpieces. Everything looks beautiful with these tones of white and purple.

Un buen consejo para las novias, es que investiguen y sepan cuales son las mejores opciones que ofrece la temporada en la cual será su boda, esto les ayudará en muchos aspectos como elección de la comida, bebidas y hasta paquetes de luna de miel y decoración.

Aprovechar las flores de temporada, no solo les garantiza que cuando se aproxime la fecha, las flores estarán en existencia, sino que también seran mucho mas económicas y resplandecientes.

En esta boda, todo fue decorado con hortensias y tonos morados, incluso el tocado de la novia y el ramo.

La boda se llevó a cabo en Bainbridge Island, en el estado de Washington, con una vista hermosa al lago.

Intl. Festival of Altruism / Festival Internacional de Altruismo

2011-05-16T12:23:00.000-07:00

On May 15th, Grupo Chalita and the Event Connection Plaza were once again sponsors of the International Festival of Altruism, an annual festival organized by the American Consular Agency and Marriot - Casa Magna - Puerto Vallarta.

The event took place, as every year, in the Marriot hotel gardens. A wide range of activities were planned, including food stalls from more than 40 of Puerto Vallarta’s finest restaurants, live music and dance, and cultural presentations.

All proceeds raised from the festival were distributed among 24 benefiting charities located in the Puerto Vallarta area.

Este 15 de Mayo, Grupo Chalita y the Event Connect Plaza, patrocinaron como cada año el Festival Internacional Altruista, esta vez en su séptima edición.

Este Festival es organizado por la Agencia Consular Americana y Marriot -Casa Magna- en Puerto Vallarta y se lleva a cabo en los jardines de este hotel. Las ganancias del evento se distribuyen entre 24 asociaciones civiles de la zona.

Asistir, es un excelente plan para variar el fin de semana para quien viven en Bahía de Banderas, o para los que estan de vacaciones en estas fechas, ya que este festival cuenta con una variedad de mas de 40 restaurantes de Puerto Vallarta, para volver a probar o conocer nuevas cocinas al ritmo de música, bailes y exposiciones culturales.

Si no alcanzaste a ir este año, te esperamos el próximo en la 8va edición.

Fans / Abanicos

2011-05-13T22:45:00.000-07:00

It is getting hot.
Among the party favors you can give to your guests, a good and inexpensive idea is to give fans. You can choose from a wide range of options (Mexican style, spanish, japanese, chinese, thai, among others). You can also personalize them by painting them, printing your initials, decorating them with ribbons, using them as part of the table setting decor, etc...

If the weather is getting too hot and your wedding will take place outdoors, our company have several options for rent such as coolers, portable air conditioners, motorized event fans, tents, sumbrellas and even the personal fans you will see in the pictures below. If you are interested in additional info, please contact us!.

Para esta temporada de calor, una buena idea de decoración y detalle que puedes ofrecer a tus invitados, son abanicos. Puedes escoger de una gran variedad, desde braseros, oaxaqueños, japonese, españoles de encaje, chinos y orientales entre otros. Estos los puedes personalizar pintandolos, imprimiendo sus iniciales, usarlos como menús etc.

Si el clima esta muy caliente y tu boda se llevará a cabo al aire libre, puedes considerar a nuestra empresa en cuanto a renta de aires acondicionados, ventiladores para eventos, coolers, sombrillas, toldos y hasta los abanicos que puedes ver en las imágenes de este post.

Si te interesa la información, no dudes en contactarnos.

Mother's Day / Dia de las madres

2011-05-10T16:23:00.000-07:00

It's wonderful having your Mom with you on your special day, to support you, help you, and see you walking down the aisle. A wedding is a day about sharing, joy and love, and what better person to be there than the one that loves you the most.

We dedicate this post to the moms of the brides & grooms, that help make every wedding so special as well as our lives.

You can see some pictures of some beautiful moms and their styles for that special day.

Que bendición si puedes tener a tu mamá en un día tan especial, para ayudarte, apoyarte y verte caminar en el pasillo.

Una boda es un dia de alegria, para compartir y llenar de amor, y qué mejor persona que la persona que mas nos ama ahi presente.

Asi que dedico este post a todas las mamás de los novios y novias que han hecho cada boda tan especial. (Y calman a los novios a la hora del nervio!)

Aqui podrán ver algunos ejemplos de estilos y looks de mamás el día de la boda.

I DO magazine

2011-05-01T20:56:00.000-07:00

Find us in the Spring-Summer issue of I Do Destination Wedding magazine

Grupo Chalita en la edición Primavera Verano de la revista de bodas de destinación "I DO"

30 de abril / Children's Day

2011-04-27T15:12:00.000-07:00

In Mexico, the last day of April, is dedicated to celebrate children. It is Kids day and lots of festivals and fun little things happen in all sorts of places in every city.
In this post we join the festivities and show some pictures of events done for kids.
Boys and girls, pink and blue, we share some ideas for decoration.

Este día del niño, dedicamos este post a los peques!, aqui dejamos varias ideas para los eventos de los chiquitos. En Grupo Chalita y en Event Connection (Guadalajara, Vallarta y Cuernavaca) contamos con mobiliario y equipo para niños, especial para fiestas, bautizos, baby showers y primeras comuniones.

Felicidades !

Orange & spring

2011-04-18T14:56:00.000-07:00

Spring is here and so are all the new blosoms and beautiful weather.
We start our April posts with an exciting Easter color; Orange.
Flamboyant and vibrant, orange will give a touch of warmth to your wedding.
Combine it with peach, yellow, green or magenta to get a joyful palette.

Llegó la primavera y con ella los jardines floreados y el clima perfecto para tu boda.

Empezamos los posts del mes de abril con un color vibrante: Naranja!

Llamativo y energético, el anaranjado le dará el toque vistoso a tu boda.

Se puede combinar perfecto con tonos como el durazno, amarillo o bugambilia para hacer una composición alegre y agradable.

A couple from Spain

2011-03-22T05:33:00.000-07:00

This young couple from Madrid chose the Mexican Pacific shores to celebrate their union. Their wedding style was tropical and cozy which made all the guests feel like part of their families.
The ceremony happened during a beautiful sunset. After sharing their vows, the couple moved to the hotel's main ballroom, were the toast, the banquet and the party took place.
When the party felt like it was just about to end, a Mariachi band arrived along with fireworks to further extend the hours of fun.

Esta pareja Madrileña, escogió las costas del Pacífico mexicano para celebrar su unión. Su estilo fue cálido, tropical y personal, ya que hicieron sentir a todos los invitados como parte de su familia.

Tras la misa, la cual se llevó a cabo durante un espectacular atardecer, la pareja se trasladó al salón principal del hotel, donde se realizaron el brindis, el banquete y la fiesta.

Cuando la boda estaba a punto de terminar, llegaron el mariachi y la pirotecnia para extender unas cuantas horas mas la alegría de los novios con sus invitados.

Weddings at Martoca

2011-03-16T10:52:00.000-07:00

Having a wedding on a private property gives you the freedom of choosing your own local providers, using your own ideas, and not being restricted by the hotel’s options and time schedules.
Martoca is a lush tropical garden designed exclusively for weddings.
It is located a few kilometers away from Puerto Vallarta on another part of the Bay. Nestled along the shore of a sparsely populated beach, it has incredible views of the bay from every spot. The natural beauty of this place and the bay become an amazing backdrop for a wedding.
Martoca has deluxe amenities, such as three pools, private quarters for the host, a kitchen and bar designed for caterers, contemporary bathrooms among other facilities.
Martoca is also a member of the Event Connection Plaza, which is a group of professionals that provide event services to the Vallarta Area.

En lugares turísticos, hacer tu boda en una propiedad privada te da la libertad de escoger tus proveedores locales y llevar a cabo tus propias ideas sin que algún hotel te restinga en cuanto a horarios y opciones.
Martoca, es un jardín tropical frente al mar diseñado exclusivamente para bodas que se localiza a unos cuantos kilómetros de Puerto Vallarta, en la Bahía de Banderas.
Cuenta con increíbles vistas a la bahía de cada ángulo. La natural belleza de este sitio lo hace un escenario perfecto para tu boda.
Sus instalaciones son de lujo; cuarto privado para los anfitriones, tres albercas, cocina y bar especial para banquetes y baños contemporáneos entre otras amenidades.

Wedding at the Grand Bay / Isla Navidad

2011-03-06T06:54:00.000-08:00

Another event on the beautiful Pacific shores. This wedding was at a special place that has all the factors that help make a wedding spectacular; the weather, the vegetation, the beach, the backdrop, the service and even the privacy.

For the guests that could take several days to be with the bride and groom, there were some other activities planned such as a barbecue at the beach, a brunch after the wedding and fishing and golf tournaments.

During the wedding's dinner, the main course was an exquisite lobster, a delicacy of the area with a gourmet touch from the chef in charge of the banquet.
The stage, the dancing floor, and the lounge area next to the dining were incredible. Several artists were part of the event either as guests or as part of the program.

After the beautiful first dance and the fireworks show, the party continued with great enthusiasm until Sunday afternoon!

From the smallest event to one with these demanding logistics requirements to manage hundreds of VIP guests for several days, nothing more important for you big day than trusting the work in the best hands!

Nuevamente en las hermosas playas del pacífico. Esta boda se realizó en un lugar único, con todos los factores para hacer un evento espectacular; el clima, la vegetación, la playa, el fondo, el servicio e incluso la privacidad.
En muchas lugares, sobre todo en ciudades o centros turísticos, los horarios son restringidos, pero cuando se cuenta con un lugar exclusivo los eventos se pueden prolongar o planear según los novios deseen.
Para los invitados que pudieron tomarse varios dias para asistir al evento, otras actividades con lo novios fueron planeadas, como parrilladas en la playa, tornaboda y un torneo de golf y de pesca.

En la cena, se ofreció como plato principal una langosta exquisita, especialidad de la zona con el toque gourmet del chef encargado del banquete.
El montaje de la pista, el escenario e incluso una zona lounge junto a la pista, fue espectacular. Varios artistas fueron parte del evento ya sea como invitados o como parte del programa.
Después del emotivo momento en que los novios abrieron pista, el evento continuó con gran ambiente hasta el domingo por la tarde.

Desde un evento sencillo, hasta uno con este nivel de logística y coordinación, con varios dias de eventos y cientos de invitados VIP, nada mejor que tu día tan especial en las mejores manos.

Beautiful views

2011-02-21T15:10:00.000-08:00

Another wedding that enjoyed Mexico's great weather, beautiful skies and gardens.
This one, took place in Guadalajara's surroundings.
A delicious banquet, great music and a happy and very in love couple made this wedding perfect.

Otra boda con el clima maravilloso de México y vistas increíbles. Esta vez, el evento se realizó cerca de Guadalajara.

Un banquete delicioso, buena música y unos novios felices y super enamorados hicieron de esta, una boda perfecta.

Purple & Red

2011-02-18T14:58:00.000-08:00

This wedding was done with our friend Fernando Arteaga, who is an expert in flowers and decor.
It took place at a garden in Cuernavaca city.
All the details were in strong colors such as purple and red. The floor was done with Sisal, which with its natural rustic fibers and soft beige color helps to give balance between the elegance of the strong colors and the ambiance of the garden. Several different designs were used for centerpieces, but all using the same flowers. These flowers also hung over the dance floor using special structures.

Aquí mostramos otra boda hecha con nuestro amigo Fernando Artega, quien es un experto en cuestión de flores y decoración.

La boda se realizó en un jardín en la ciudad de Cuernavaca, y se distinguió por su decoración con tonos púrpuras y rojos. La tarima se forró con yute, lo cual dio un toque de neutralidad entre la elegancia del evento y sus fuerte tonos con la armonía del jardín.

Hubieron diferentes tipos centros de mesas, pero todos con las mismas flores, las cuales también colgaban en la pista de unos anillos gigantes.

Wedding in beige with black & golden accents

2011-02-18T13:38:00.000-08:00

This post shows a very elegant wedding in which we used alternative colors not often used in weddings.
Besides beige, most accents were in black and gold, such as the floor, lamps, tablecloth, stationery and favors.
Over the dancing floor, 400 candles were hung. During the bride and groom's first dance, all the lights were turned off to make the ambiance really romantic.
The wedding took place at a garden surrounded by a deep glen. It was covered with transparent tents and black curtains.

En este post presentamos las imágenes de una de las bodas de noche mas elegantes y alternativa en colores que hemos manejado.

Muchos de los detalles fueron en negro y dorado, como la tarima forrada en charol negro, las pantallas de las lámparas, la mantelería, papelería del evento y los recuerdos para los invitados.

Sobre la pista se colgaron 400 candelas y durante la primera canción de los novios se apagaron todas las luces para dejar el evento solo a la luz de las velas.

La boda se realizó en el jardín de una profunda cañada, y fue protegida con toldos transparentes con cubre tubos y cortinas también en negro.

Cozy chapel / Capilla acogedora

2011-01-30T22:04:00.000-08:00

This wedding was planned at a beautiful hacienda that has multiple gardens and many special places to take advantage of for an event, including a gorgeous and cozy chapel for religious ceremonies if needed.

The wedding happened in the afternoon. After the ceremony, a cocktail was offered in one of the gardens, followed by the reception in the main area of the hacienda, where a delicious mexican banquet was served.

For the ceremony decorations spheres of white roses and foliage were used. And then for the reception, spheres of white feathers were hanged from the trees.

The gardens, fountains, architecture, pool and various other elements that the place offered made the wedding and its ambiance splendid.

Esta boda fue planeada en una hermosa hacienda que cuenta con diversos jardines y áreas especiales a las que se puede sacar mucho provecho. Entre estas, se encuentra una capilla divina y muy acogedora, en donde se llevó a cabo la ceremonia religiosa. Esta opción de tener la capilla en el lugar de la fiesta facilita a los invitados no tener que trasladarse a otro lugar al terminarse la misa.
La boda fue al medio día, y tras la ceremonia, se llevó a cabo el enlace civil en otro de los jardines, seguido de un cocktail, y mas tarde el banquete que fue muy mexicano.

En la decoración destacaron las esferas de rosas blancas y otras de follaje para el pasillo de la misa, y en la entrada a la fiesta y los árboles que rodeaban esta área las esferas fueron de plumas blancas.

Los jardines, fuentes, alberca y diversos elementos del lugar hicieron que la boda y la vista del evento fueran espléndidos.

Silver & White wedding

2011-01-23T14:07:00.000-08:00

This wedding took place at night in the middle of a beautiful grove.
The decorations were in cool colors, white and silver tones, that contrastes brilliantly with the lighting, which was in very warm tones.
Several elegant details set this wedding apart, among them were the centerpieces which were unique lamps with little bulbs spreading out like flowers. Another special touch was that, as the bride's family is Italian, the caterer (Truffade Gourmet) focused on cuisine with an Italian spirit. This spirit could be seen from the welcoming cocktails of Spritz Aperol to the main banquet which consisted of a Caprese salad with prosciutto, Carpaccio with arugula and Parmigiano, and as the main course a filet marinated in red wine accompanied by asparagus, portobellos and risotto ai Calamari.

To help the festivities along, there was also a party cart on the dance floor that served up alcoholic shots in extra large syringes. Later in the evening, the same cart was used to hand out slippers to the ladies to give them a rest from their high heels.

Esta boda se llevó a cabo por la noche, en medio de una frondosa arbolada. La decoración fue muy fria, en colores blancos y aluminio, contrastando totalmente con la iluminación del evento que fue en tonos muy cálidos.

Varios detalles caracterizaron a esta boda, entre ellos que los centros de mesa fueron lamparas estilo medusas. También que, debido a que la familia de la novia es italiana, en la recepción se ofrecieron "Spritz Aperol", como bebida de bienvenida, y el menú del banquete, llevado a cabo por Truffade Gourmet, fue también italiano; "Ensalada caprese con prosciutto", "Carpaccio con arúgula y lajas de parmigiano" y como plato fuerte "filete al vino tinto acompañado con espárragos, portobellos, y risotto al calamar".

Para amenizar, llevamos nuestro carrito de shots, en donde se sirvieron perlas negras en jeringas extra grandes que estuvo circulando por la pista de baile. Mas tarde, en este mismo carrito se ofrecieron pantuflas para las invitadas que no paraban de bailar.

Countryside wedding

2011-01-14T17:38:00.000-08:00

Enjoying nature and feeling relaxed. There is something about weddings in Haciendas and old-time ranches that just make everybody feel comfortable.
This wedding took place on a ranch in the state of Jalisco. The ceremony, as well as the reception, were held at the gardens of the house in the shade of trees.
For decorations, some Mexican details were added, such as customized shot glasses with the initials of the groom and bride, as well as centerpieces made from cacti, peppers, and flowers. Mecate (thin organic rope) was used to wrap the napkins and hold the name cards on the tables.
For the central tables, which didn’t have enough shade, we placed blue parasols.
The wedding ambiance was fantastic. Mexican weddings tend to last a long time, often until the next morning. The organizers were prepared for the long night with a selection of snack stands (Ice cream, corn, potatoes, pop corn...) to keep the guests content in the late hours of the party.

Hay algo en los eventos en el campo y en haciendas que nos hace sentir agusto y relajados .

Esta boda civil, se llevó a cabo en un rancho en Jalisco.

La Ceremonia Civil y la fiesta fueron en los jardines de la casa en medio de la sombra de los árboles. Para las mesas con menos sombras, se colocaron sombrillas.

La decoración fue muy campirana, con caballitos rusticos de tequila personalizados con los nombres de los novios, los centros de mesa llevaban nopales y pimientos ademas de flores y cebollines.

Las servilletas fueron decoradas con mecate.

El Buffet fue mexicano y por la tarde se ofrecieron diversos puestos de snack para los invitados (Espiropapas, esquites, papas, nives de garrafa..)

Wedding in Mazatlan

2011-01-12T22:45:00.000-08:00

Mazatlán is nestled along Mexico’s Pacific Coast offering tropical sea and sandy beaches.
Its people are friendly and very welcoming. It is one of the best options if you want to experience a real Mexican city while being on the coast, with its busy port, and very few international tourists.
One of Mazatlan highlights are the "Pulmonias"; open-air taxis, where you can enjoy views of Malecon while taking a ride.

The following wedding took place at the Mayan Palace Resort with an ocean front ceremony and reception.
A boat decorated with sea-shells, was filled with ice and local beers to welcome and help cool off the guests as they arrived to the reception.
At night, the party was illuminated with torches, candles, and a great beach fire.

Esta evento, fue una boda civil que se llevo a cabo en el Mayan Palace de Mazatlán. Tanto la ceremonia como la fiesta, tuvieron una hermosa vista a las playas sinaloenses, y en su momento el espectacular atardecer en el mar.

Algunas particularidades de la decoración en esta boda, fueron los diversos barriles y lanchas. Estas decoradas con motivos marinos, llenas de hielo y cerveza "Pacifico", para refrescar a los invitados.

Otro toque divertido es que la novia lleguó a la boda en una "Pulmonia" decorada.

Wedding photography - Vilhelm Sjöstrom

2011-01-11T13:44:00.000-08:00

The writer is a full-time freelance photographer, who pursues his income around the World - be it corporate assignments, running his studio in Helsinki, Finland or travelling to his favorite destination - Mexico.

Wedding documentaries

Wedding photography divides us photographers into two camps: Those of us who enjoy wedding assignments, and those who do not pass on an opportunity to earn some income. Neither group is better than the other, but they both look differently on their work as wedding photographers.

I love wedding documentary assignments. I know some photographers frown upon this testimonial, and think I'm not honest when I say so. How could it be true, when compared to the average commercial photography assignment, weddings involve proportionally more work, serving less experienced clients, that are often under stress, and pay the photographer less than corporate assignments - how can it be more rewarding?

For two reasons,

Number one: In the World of corporate photography, receiving a payment (without involving lawyers or accountants) is the equivalent to an email stating "here is your compensation for fulfilling your contract duties". Payment doesn't translate as "thank you". Those two words are almost extinct in today's world of commercial photography, where fees are shrinking and copyright is more often breached. Some may think that paying thousands of dollars to a wedding photographer is "thank you" enough. In reality, the honest and happy "thank you" is worth to us photographers so much more than the photo fee - simply because a satisfied client happily will show the photos to a friend (who is getting married). You are the best (and often only) marketing we can afford!

Number two: Most people who deliver services to wedding couples; catering, wedding planning, dress and costumes, entertainment, facilities, ideas, gifts... All these professionals receive their "thank you" during the wedding day. The wedding planner is a small exception, they aren't thanked until a few days after the wedding.

What distinguishes us photographers from the other people who made the most important day in your life memorable, is our ability to deliver memories that never fade. We are in the business of selling you memories. Emotional images, that trigger in you fond memories of that day.

With all due respect to everyone else who helped to make your wedding so memorable - 10 years from now it wouldn't be a memorable day if it weren't for the photographs. Five, ten, even fifty or more years from now; every one of you and your family (even those not born at the time) can re-live that special day. Even when you grow old, your grand-children will remember how you looked on that day.

That is why I love this job. How could I not, when the portfolio photos on my studio wall every day greet me with smiling clients, portrayed on the most important day of their life.

Helsinki, January 2011

Vilhelm Sjostrom

Freelance photographer

For bookings, please contact [paulina@grupochalita.com]

http://www.mustavalkoinen.fi

(website text in Finnish, photos in International)

Gazebo

2011-01-09T17:25:00.000-08:00

As part of the rentals we offer, we have an ornamental gazebo, which is composed of a metalic structure, cupola and ivy.
It is most often used to decorate the altar where the ceremony takes place. During the reception, it can also be used to mark the entrance to the event, or even, as you will see in the following pictures, to place above a dining table to frame it.
This event happened on the Pacific Coast. It was distinguished with Mexican colonial style with Barrocan motifs and vintage lanterns as center-pieces.

Como parte del equipo que tenemos en renta, contamos con un gazebo (kiosko) para decoración. Esta formado por una estructura, cúpula y enredaderas metálicas como podrán ver en las fotos.

Es normalmente usado durante las ceremonias para enmarcar la mesa del civil o el altar en caso de ceremonias religiosas. Durante la fiesta se utiliza para indicar la entrada al evento o también para encuadrar la mesa principal.

El evento mostrado en estas fotos, tuvo lugar en el Pacífico. Se distinguió por el estilo colonial con motivos barrocos. Los centros de mesa fueron faroles decorados con flores y enredaderas.

Wedding in Guadalajara

2011-01-08T17:34:00.000-08:00

The wedding took place on a beautiful afternoon in a lush garden with palm trees, agave plants (plants with which tequila is made from), ponds, and a tented pavilion for the reception. The size of the wedding reception was 550 guests. Given the beautiful surroundings, the decorations were kept minimal and classic with soft tones.

Special attention was given to the the entrance from the garden to the tented reception area where the guests transition from vibrant greens to elegant white. The families of the bride and groom used this special entrance to greet the guests as they moved into the reception.

Esta boda se llevó a cabo en uno de los lugares para eventos mas distinguidos de Guadalajara. La fiesta fue al medio día, en uno de los jardines, rodeada por una vegetación exuberante que incluye palmeras y agaves, asi como diversos estanques.

La boda fue planeada para 550 invitados.

Debido a la belleza del lugar, la boda fue de un estilo muy clásico y se mantuvo en colores claros, destacando en la entrada a los toldos, una recepción minimalista, decorada con telas y orquideas, lugar donde la familia de los novios recibió a los invitados.

Christmas time

2010-12-25T23:24:00.000-08:00

It's a time that comes just once a year, before starting a new cycle, to take a real brake and enjoy family, friends, great food and to celebrate love. Whether traveling or staying home, we wish you had a wonderful holiday season.

Colorful Garden Wedding

2010-12-21T17:01:00.000-08:00

This wedding took place in Aguascalientes (central Mexico), in one of city´s oldest and prestigious hotel's garden. The reception was on a sunny afternoon. White tents were used to offer shade as well as create a nice contrast the vivid colors of the garden.
The flowers and decoration were magnificent, vibrant and very colorful. Tulips, roses, orchids, bells and daisies were used by our friend and associate Fer Arteaga to beautifully decorate the reception. The bride and groom´s table was entirely covered by roses.
The tablecloths were orange, magenta and brown in fresh silk. Red wine glasses and runner plates were an orange crystal color provided by the best Mexican cater Juan Andrea.
These energetic colors can definitely make anyone´s big day feel vivid and joyous.

Esta boda también se llevó a cabo en Aguascalientes, en el jardín de uno de los hoteles mas antiguos y clásicos de la ciudad. La recepción fue al medio día, durante un dia soleado, por lo que se usaron toldos blancos para proteger del sol y crear un armónico contraste con el resto de las áreas verdes.

La decoración y las flores fueron que se usaron fueron de colores vivos. Tulipanes, rosas, orquídeas, campanas y margaritas verdes fueron la elección de nuestro amigo y socio Fer Arteaga para embellecer aun mas el lugar. La mesa del novio y de la novia fue completamente forrada de rosas.

La mantelería fue en tonos naranjas, magenta y cafes en seda salvaje. Las copas de tinto y el plato base usados fueron en cristal naranja, parte de las opciones con las que cuenta el banquetero Juan Andrea.

Esta combinación de colores y estilo de boda puede hacer definitivamente en tu gran día un ambiente mas alegre y vibrante.

Tepic / Classic wedding

2010-12-19T00:22:00.000-08:00

This wedding took place in the capital of Nayarit state. It was followed by a night reception for 850 persons.
The decor was really classic. Table cloths were made out of a very fine white linen and combined with dark wood chairs and some touches of brown on the banquet table.
All the of the reception room was beautifully decorated with candles, chandeliers and white flowers (roses, orchids and bells).

To create a personalized reminder of the joyous event, a great artist from Mexico City was present to create a painting of the wedding reception.

Esta boda se realizó en Tepic, Nayarit. Seguida de una recepción para 850 invitados.

La decoración fue clásica, manteles blancos de lino fino se combinaron con sillas de madera y algunos otros toques de cacao en las mesas del banquete.

El salón del evento fue decorado con veladoras, candelabros, y flores blancas (rosas, orquideas y campanas).

Para crear un recuerdo muy emotivo del evento, un gran artista del D.F. pintó durante la fiesta un cuadro con detalles de la recepción.

The first dance

2010-12-14T17:11:00.000-08:00

The couple's first dance together as husband and wife is always one of the most emotional parts of the wedding. All eyes will be on them as they take to the dance floor.

Don't feel bad if you haven't decided on your song, most couples have a hard time choosing. Here we present a list of ideas, in English and Spanish that could work for you....

-Come what may / Moulin Rouge movie

-Wonderful world / Louis Armstrong

-Una pequeña parte de ti (En Vivo) / Aleks Syntek

-Put your head on my shoulder / Micheal Buble

-All you need is love / Beattles

-I want to hold your hand / T.V. Carpio

-Close to you / Carpenters

-Te amaré / Miguel Bose

-You are so beautiful to me / Joe Cocker

-Unforgetable / Nat King Cole

-Amor del bueno / Reyli

-From this moment / Shanaia Twain & Brian White

-Somethin'stupid / Frank Sinatra

-Antes de ti / Kalimba

-Cuando me enamoro / Enrique Iglesias y Juan Luis Guerra

El primer baile juntos ya casados es una de las partes mas emotivas de la boda. Todos los ojos estarán viéndolos a Ustedes, cosa que pone nerviosos sobre todo a los novios.... pero no se preocupen, solo disfruten el momento. Tampoco se mortifiquen o se sientan mal de no tener aun la canción para abrir pista, la mayoría de las parejas lo deciden a unas cuantas semanas de la boda.

Aquí encontrarán una lista de canciones en español e inglés que les puede ayudar a encontrar la canción para este momento tan especial.

The proposal

2010-12-13T15:01:00.000-08:00

One of the reasons why I love weddings is because I get to be part of one of the most beautiful and important moments in people's lives. To help the couple create the day they dream of, is a joyful profession. With this particular couple; Sebastian and Patricia, I got the chance to be part of the wedding starting with the proposal.
I found for Sebastian a beautiful and empty penthouse in one of the most exclusive areas in town. We set up a dining area for the two, thousands of candles, roses, and even tablecloth and towels with their initials embroidered on them.
Sebastian picked up Patty on a Thursday around 6 pm, telling her that they were going to a company cocktail. When they got to the building lobby, one of our team workers (pretending to be a greeter for the "event") checked if they were on the list, and also checked if Sebastian had the "invitation" with him.
He then escorted them to the 13th floor penthouse....
When Patty came in, she didn't understood what was going on. Sebastian took her to the master bedroom's balcony. He then proposed while an amazing spectacle of fireworks commenced outside and yes, he was on his knees.
When they came back to the living room where the surprise was set, they had a beautiful candle light dinner, champagne, great music, and a romantic night time view of all the city.
Our "greeter" who is actually one of our favorite photographers was ready to capture the moment for the couple. Here are the wonderful photos from the evening.

Una de las razones por las que me gusta planear bodas, es porque puedo ser parte de uno de los momentos mas importantes en la vida de las personas. Ayudarles a crear su dia tal cual lo esperan, es una profesión muy grata. Con esta pareja en particular, Sebastián y Paty, tuve la oportunidad de estar en la planeación desde que Sebastián tenia listo en anillo para la propuesta.

Conseguí, para ellos, un pent-house lindisimo en una de las áreas mas exclusivas de la ciudad. Se hizo todo el montaje en el salón principal con velas, rosas, pétalos, mesa para 2 y hasta las toallas y servilletas tenian las iniciales de los novios, todo con mucho detalle.

Sebastián pasó por Paty un jueves al rededor de las 6pm pidiendole que la acompañara a una presentación de un proyecto y cocktail.

Cuando llegaron al lobby del edificio, una persona de nuestro equipo, quien pretendía ser parte de la bienvenida al cocktail, checó si estaban en la lista y tomó la invitación al evento para acompañarlos al piso 13 del penthouse.

Cuando Paty entró, aun no sabiendo muy bien de lo que se trataba, Sebastián la llevó al balcón de la habitación principal, en donde se llevó a cabo la propuesta y un espectáculo de pirotecnia cuando Sebastian estaba de rodillas.

Ya al regresar al salón principal, estaba lista la cena japonesa junto con el champagne, buena música, velas y una vista increíble a la ciudad de noche.

Nuestro actor "recepcionista" quien es de echo uno de nuestros fotografos favoritos pudo captar este momento tan especial para la pareja ya de regreso al salón principal.

Aquí compartimos con Ustedes fotos de esta noche tan especial.

Colima / Hacienda San Antonio

2010-12-10T21:02:00.000-08:00

I've had the opportunity to work in every state of Mexico. I've visited exquisite gardens, beaches, and the most beautiful places for events. Among all the places I've seen, I can say with 100% certainty that the Hacienda San Antonio is one of the top 5 most beautiful haciendas in Mexico, and by the far the best maintained gardens and rooms.
It is located in Colima state, at the foot of one of Mexico´s highest volcanos (12,665feet) which makes the view even more magestic.

The hacienda features excellent service, luxurious rooms and facilities. It is extremely private and exclusive. This makes it an amazing location for a honeymoon, or a very private wedding. The number of rooms are purposely limited in order to maintain the highest quality of service and privacy. Therefore large events (70+) are not possible here, only more intimate events that demand the very best in service and setting.

With pride we can say that Grupo Chalita is part of a very small group of special providers that works for the Hacienda San Antonio.

He tenido la oportunidad de trabajar en cada estado de México, y puedo decir que conozco los rincones mas bellos e importantes de la República. Jardines, playas y lugares increíbles.... Con esta referencia me atrevo a afirmar con toda la seguridad que la Hacienda San Antonio, es una de las 5 haciendas mas lindas de México, y por mucho la mejor mantenida.

Se ubica en las faldas del Volcán de Colima, uno de los mas altos en México con 3,860m. Lo cual hace que el paisaje y la vista del lugar sean aun mas majestuosos.

Sus mayores características son el buen gusto, el excelente servicio, el lujo y la gran privacidad que tiene, lo cual lo hacen un lugar privilegiado para la luna de miel, o una boda exclusiva, ya que no manejan grupos grandes, debido al número de suites con las que cuentan, y la cocina gourmet personalizada.

Con orgullo podemos decir, que Grupo Chalita es parte de su grupo de proveedores especiales de la hacienda.

Aguascalientes

2010-12-09T15:36:00.000-08:00

This wedding took place in the colonial city of Aguascalientes, in central Mexico. The ceremony happended in the city´s cathedral and later the reception was held in front of San Marcos Lagoon, a beautiful stretch of water sourrounded by a semi-desert climate that made the afternoon gorgeous.
The reception was decorated by our friend Fernando Arteaga who did a great job with orange tulips, roses and carnations.

Esta boda se llevo a cabo en Aguascalientes. La ceremonia fue en la catedral de la ciudad, y mas tarde la recepción fue frente a la Laguna de San Marcos.

El lago y el clima semi-desértico de Aguascalientes le dio una vista hermosa al evento, además de que fue decorado por nuestro amigo Fernando Arteaga, quien dejó el evento espectacular usando rosas, claveles y tulipanes naranjas.

Cuernavaca

2010-12-07T00:55:00.000-08:00

This ceremony took place surrounded by the magnificant tropical nature of Cuernavaca, the city of endless spring because of its weather.
It was kept simple with not many colors or different elements in order to be in harmony with the garden.
The white chairs, white linen, white roses and petals created an atmosphere for a perfect afternoon garden ceremony.

Esta boda se llevó a cabo un jardín rodeado de la exuberante vegetación de Cuernavaca, ciudad conocida como de la eterna primavera por su agradable clima.

La decoración fue sencilla sin diferentes colores o elementos para conservar la armonía del jardín.

Sillas, lino, rosas y pétalos blancos fueron los elementos que crearon la ambientación para esta boda al medio dia.

Isla Navidad

2010-12-05T17:52:00.000-08:00

After the ceremony (last post), the guests walked along the coast until they got to the reception, between the ceremony and the reception mango margaritas, pacifico beer and piña colada were offered along with Marimba music.

The reception was classic, the location was great. It took place on the beach, in front of a sea-lagoon surrounded by lush vegetation that included lots of flowers and palm trees. The mountains and an colonial-style exclusive lodge were the backdrop. A total of 500 guests gattered to be with the happy couple.

Four of the best memories of this wedding were;

-The fireworks show as the couple were dancing their first song as a married couple.

-Michelle and Dwane McConnel, a great singer couple from New York entertained the guests during the banquet.

-The food was outstanding.

-The ambiance was great, especially as the reception finished after sunrise.

If you are looking for a private location for your wedding, you should consider this island. Nestled between the Pacific ocean and Navidad Lagoon. It was conceived as an international destination. It has 1,200 acres featuring a 27-hole golf course, two marinas, tennis ranch, spa, a grand luxery hotel and a lodge. Far from any city and 30min away from Manzanillo international airport.

Sunset by the sea

2010-12-04T22:34:00.000-08:00

This wedding took place during sunset, which made the ceremony more romantic and moving. The area was next to a cliff, surrounded by the sea. A very unique place.

We created the setting from scratch. We did the altar, the furniture, and even created an aisle made out of grass just as the bride wished. Surrounding the altar, we had giant ferns from Colima and bougainvillea flowers.

The timing was perfect. As the sun set the priest pronounced them husband and wife. By the end of the ceremony it was already dark, and when the bride and groom were walking down the aisle there were fireworks to celebrate their union.

The wedding kept going with a welcome cocktail and then a gorgeous reception that you can see in the following post.

Aisles and pillar candles

2010-12-02T22:30:00.000-08:00

To mark, reduce or help create a path for your guests in a wide area, you can line it with pillar candles.
They are an attractive alternative for decorating the aisle you walk down, specially if you want to make it more formal, elegant or traditional.

Para crear, reducir o marcar un camino para tus invitados una opción que te recomendamos son los cirios, especialmente para hacer lucir los pasillos de la iglesia mas elegantes, formales y/o tradicionales. Aquí les presentamos unos ejemplos usando los cirios de Haus Gallery.

Beautiful Caribbean Sea

2010-12-02T20:09:00.000-08:00

Turquoise waters and white sandy beaches. At the Mayan riviera you can find great wedding locations, from alternative smaller eco-tourism resorts and relaxing boutique hotels, to grand luxe hotels such as Four Seasons, Ritz-Carlton, and Le Meridien among some others.

This area has places to fit every desire, from internationally known Cancun, to small and calm fishermen towns like Puerto Morelos, Akumal and Tulum.

The Maya Riveria is surrounded by lush nature, unique geological formations like Cenotes, incredible Maya´n ruins and some of the greatest spots for diving.

Definitely a great location to say yes!

Mariage de Julien et Rocio !

Mar turquesa y playas de arena blanca. En la Riviera Maya hay excelentes y muy diversas opciones, desde hoteles pequeños de eco-turismo, u hoteles boutique, hasta grandes cadenas de gran lujo como el Four Seasons, Ritz-Carlton, Le Meridien, entre otros.

Las opciones también varian desde Cancún, con gran vida turística a lugares pequeños y mas tranquilos como Akumal, Puerto Morelos, Tulum etc.

Rodeado de naturaleza, cenotes, sitios arqueológicos y los lugares de buceo y snorkel, la Riviera, es definitivamente un lugar para dar el si!.

En este artículo les presentamos una boda en Tulum.

Wedding in Chapala

2010-12-02T03:01:00.000-08:00

Lake Chapala is located 20 miles south of the International airport of Guadalajara city, and is Mexico's largest freshwater lake. The Lake is over 3.5 times the size of Lake Tahoe.
Lake Chapala is situated at 5,000 feet in elevation, nestled in the Sierra Madre Mountains, and enjoys one of the best climates in the world according to the National Geographic.
This area also boasts one of the largest English speaking expat communities in the world and has been attracting foreigners to its shores for over 60 years.

Una boda en Chapala cuenta con increíbles vistas a las montañas y al lago mas grande de México, además de tener un excelente clima todo el año, sin embargo, habrá que prever toldos para la época de lluvias.

Puerto Vallarta

2010-12-01T11:21:00.000-08:00

You spend so long planning for your special day, and then that day goes by so fast! All your friends and family that traveled to be there, that you haven´t seen in so long, and you wish you could have spent more time with them.
That is why we recommend destination weddings. Then it's not just a wedding, but a vacation for you and your guests. It becomes less about just a single day, but more about a whole trip. You will have more time with friends and family and can even have several little activities or events that build up to your special day. Instead of frantically trying to see everybody at once, you have the chance to see people throughout the trip, letting you relax and just enjoy your wedding.

One of our suggestions for a destination wedding in Mexico is Puerto Vallarta and its surrounding area.
It has international gourmet chefs and restaurants, awesome activities (hiking, diving, snorkeling, sailing, boat trips, kayaking, whale watching....), fun nightlife, the downtown has all the tradition of a small Mexican town, and the weather is great specially during autumn, winter and spring. There are often lots of affordable flights and a variety of hotel and resort options so overall the costs can be similar or even less than a local wedding.
Definitely one of the 3 best areas in Mexico to get married....

Vallarta´s tourism promotional video

Tanto tiempo y esfuerzo para planear una boda, y el día de la boda pasa tan rapido!, algunos invitados hace tanto tiempo no ves, que viajaron desde tan lejos, y sientes que no pasaste casi tiempo con ellos.
Es por eso que recomendamos las bodas en playa o en lugares fuera de tu ciudad, ya que tus invitados se tomaran algunos dias extras para estar en la boda, y puedes aprovechar esos dias para programar otras actividades con ellos y hacer que tu boda dure mas tiempo.
Una de nuestras sugerencias para boda en playa es Puerto Vallarta y sus alrededores.
La gastronomía es una de las mejores en México, cuenta con excelentes restaurantes, muchas opciones para actividades alternativas, la vida nocturna es divertidisima, y el centro sigue siendo típico, el malecón lo tienen que visitar !.
También te puedes olvidar del frio ya que fuera de la temporada de lluvias, ofrece un excelente clima.
Definitivamente uno de los mejores lugares para casarte.

Christmas card

2010-12-01T10:52:00.000-08:00

We present our 2010 Christmas card, Happy Holidays !

Felices fiestas de parte de Grupo Chalita !

Ocean view ceremony

2010-11-30T12:56:00.000-08:00

By nature, we all have different styles and preferences, that's why during a wedding it is very difficult to please every guest. But who wouldn't be enthralled at the beauty of a sunset on the ocean? This is a great option to make that moment more spectacular and dramatic.

Por naturaleza, todos tenemos diferentes gustos y estilos, razón por la cual es muy difícil complacer a todos los invitados en un evento. Pero, ¿quién no cae rendido ante la belleza de un atardecer en el mar?. Un de las mejores opciones para hacer ese momento mas dramático y espectacular.

Candle light

2010-11-30T00:13:00.000-08:00

Is your reception at night ?
Candles will always be in style, few or many, from simple to luxurious events, in any kind of place or any season, they make the ambiance magical and romantic.
If the thermometer is going down, they also help to create a warmer environment, so if your wedding is in winter, there is no better advice than to use them.

¿Tu boda es en la noche?

Las velas siempre van a estar a la moda, y nunca serán demasiadas, desde eventos sencillos hasta los mas lujosos, en cualquier lugar o en cualquier estación siempre crean un ambiente mágico y romántico.

Si la temperatura empieza a bajar, también ayudan a generar una atmósfera cálida, asi que para una boda en invierno, no hay mejor consejo que usarlas.

Simple white wedding

2010-11-29T19:38:00.000-08:00

If you are having an outdoors reception and you want to keep your wedding simple and beautiful, but yet, you have no idea how to decorate it, a great option is to choose white. It is an elegant and neutral color that helps to accentuate nature's beauty.
It looks fresh, elegant and at the same time cozy.
Green foliage centerpieces with white and/or green flowers will be all the contrast you´ll need.
If you want to be protected by the possibility of bad weather, try some transparent tents, they offer you peace of mind while still making nature the focus of your decor.

Si tu boda es en un jardín y quieres que sea sencilla y bonita, pero aun no tienes idea de cómo decorarla, una buena opción es escoger blanco. Es un color neutral y elegante que ayuda a resaltar la belleza de las areas verdes, luce fresco, elegante y al mismo tiempo acogedor.

Escoge tus centros de mesa con follaje, con flores verdes y/o blancas. Este toque de verde sera todo el contraste que necesitará tu evento blanco
Si quieres proteger tu evento en caso de mal tiempo, renta unos toldos transparentes para tu tranquilidad, nada mas adecuado para seguir con el ambiente de jardín.

Wedding in December

2010-11-28T22:27:00.000-08:00

Wedding colors; Red, brown, white and some golden details
This wedding took place on a December night which is the reason why the bride wanted to have a touch of Christmas. Red ornaments were suspended over the dancing floor, all the decor was filled with beautiful red roses -velvet style- and lots of candle lights to give a romantic and warm ambiance.
There were personal throw blankets on each chair as well as heaters around the reception area to keep the wedding guests warm.
To illuminate the tables, we made red lamps with garlands specially for this day.
A red apple, wedding favors, and the menu decorated every place setting.

Do you need ideas for an easy table setting this Christmas?

2010-11-28T21:42:00.000-08:00

We give you some simple tips of things you can use:
-Red tablecloth
-Cute pine cones over red napkins
-Centerpiece: 3 fish bowls, one filled with red ball ornaments, one with pine cones and the last one with chocolates with golden wrapping
-Use your typical porcelain or light-color ceramic tableware as well as your glassware