Alexis & Alex: Jungle Vibes meets City Girl
Alex and Alexis - Feb 2025
Alexis and Alex came to me through one of my favorite kinds of referrals, the kind rooted in trust.
Christine, a former client of mine, grew up next door to Alexis. She even used to babysit for her. Years later, Christine had a glamorous destination wedding, and when Alexis and Alex got engaged, the moms, who still lived next to each other, had the wedding talk. Christine’s mom was so impressed with her daughter’s wedding that she passed my name along. By the time Alexis and Alex and I sat down together, there was already confidence in the room.
They’re based in Chicago, and they came in thinking full service, because that’s what they had seen work beautifully for their friends, Christine and Mike. That said, we still followed the Mexico Wedding Alchemy method. We started with the MEXpert package, and once that phase was complete, they chose to upgrade to Alchemy One on One, where I helped them plan the entire wedding. We wrapped everything up with Alchemy On-Site, with me flying to Mexico to coordinate and execute the wedding weekend. They added each tier naturally as the planning unfolded and their needs became clearer.
From the first conversation, their dynamic was clear. Alexis is fun, loves to dance, very much the life of the party. Alex is calmer, more grounded, incredibly supportive, and completely in awe of his future wife, eager to make her happy. It’s a dynamic I see often, and it helps me understand how to guide decisions early on.
When we talked about priorities, a few things stood out immediately:
Roof top with a sunset view for the reception. And a clear blue ocean view for the ceremony.
They love swimming in the ocean, so a truly swimmable ocean was non-negotiable
Alexis wanted gorgeous ocean views.
A cool swim-up bar (which, side note, almost every couple asks for—and yes, most hotels do have them, but you only really know that if you travel)
And most importantly: Alexis wanted to wear high heels, so solid floor was a must!
That last one mattered more than people realize. Alex is very tall, Alexis is petite, and she wanted the height that comes with heels. The second I mentioned rooftops, she was sold. She didn’t even know rooftops were an option in Mexico. From that moment on, she knew exactly what she wanted.
Heels for days
There were a few challenges we had to balance. They needed a hotel that allowed children, but didn’t feel family-focused. Music, on the other hand, was huge. Alexis didn’t care much about flowers or décor at first—but both of them cared deeply about Live music, being their priority from day one.
Their initial guest count estimate was 80–100 people, and we landed at 92, including the bride and groom. Their starting budget was $50,000, which is a very healthy budget for a wedding in Mexico.
The rooftop we ultimately chose checked every emotional box: sunset views, city lights, and the kind of energy Alexis wanted. The challenge? It was enormous. A space that could host close to 1,000 people—for a wedding of under 100.
This is where experience matters.
I had an honest conversation with the couple. A space this large cannot feel intentional with basic décor. To make it feel designed for them, we needed to build the room from the ground up, and side to side. That meant adjusting the budget and being very strategic with how space was used.
My wedding in Playa Del Carmen in 2014
Their tropical vision evolved into something even better: a disco jungle. City girl glamour meets Mexico’s lush energy. Shiny disco balls layered with greenery. Movement, light, texture.
We broke traditional buffet lines into four distinct stations, each treated as its own design moment, with upgraded furniture and hanging florals. This alone helped us claim more of the terrace visually. For dining, we used two long king tables flanking the space to create length and drama, paired with round tables in between to add fullness. Cocktail tables transitioned guests naturally into the dance floor, which became its own focal point with upgraded lighting and structure overhead.
To finish the space, we designed a lounge area specifically for photo moments—giant LOVE letters, greenery, disco accents, and the sunset directly behind it. By the time we were done, every inch of that rooftop had intention—from the floor up and the ceiling down.
Lighting played a huge role. Fairy lights wrapped the dining and bar areas to create the feeling of dining under the stars. Above the dance floor, a large overhead structure held disco balls, greenery, and palms, turning the space into exactly what Alexis dreamed of: jungle meets city nightlife.
Disco Jungle!
Music remained the heartbeat of the weekend. A mariachi band, a string quartet for ceremony and cocktail hour (yes—Bridgerton vibes), a saxophonist paired with the DJ for dinner and first dance, and a full DJ-led party to close the night. And of course—fireworks to end it all.
Because of early hotel negotiations, we were able to secure two major events at no additional cost, saving tens of thousands of dollars. Those savings were redirected straight into design, where they mattered most. Their welcome party was another example of smart budgeting: included food and bar, simple lighting, DIY centerpieces with tequila bottles sourced locally, maracas, sombreros, and skull accents. Intentional, festive, and under budget.
Rock and Roll Vibes
For the ceremony, Alexis wanted simplicity. We used the hotel’s included setup, added minimal florals, and made one key design choice that cost nothing but changed everything: a circular seating arrangement. Instantly, it felt thoughtful, intimate, and elevated—without adding expense.
Did we go over the original budget? Yes—by about 20–30%. But that decision was conscious, and supported by the couple and their families. The result was a wedding that felt custom, energetic, and completely them.
This wedding shows why working with me makes a difference. A travel agent likely would have never found this rooftop, and even if they had, they wouldn’t have known how to make a space this large work for a much smaller guest count. Working directly with the hotel would have meant sticking to proven layouts and familiar designs that work — but aren’t custom.
I knew this rooftop because I had visited the property multiple times, and I also understood the challenges that came with its scale. My role lives beyond standard setups, past default layouts, and into something that feels custom.
Not one cloud in the Sky!!!