PERSIAN WEDDING WITH A TROPICAL VIBE AT NIZUC RESORT & SPA

Darius and Cecilia met in October 2018 at a local eatery called Barcelona.  Cecilia was enjoying happy hour with coworkers from her new job and Darius was with his best friend (and eventually best man).  His friend struck up a conversation with Cecilia and she realized he had gone to college with a very close family friend!  Darius eventually joined in chatting with Cecillia and her coworkers in French, and another small world surprise happened – it turned out that they were both flying out to Houston at the same time the next morning!  If that’s not destiny, we don’t know what it is!   

Darius proposed on November 29th, 2020 right after Thanksgiving.  The holidays are usually an emotional time but even more so because Cecilia’s brother had just been released from the hospital after a severe case of Covid.  The couple decided to get away for the weekend to the Shenandoah Valley.  While touring the RDV vineyards, Darius got down on one knee and asked that very important question.  

When it came to planning the wedding, Cecilia and Darius didn’t have a clear vision, initially, they just wanted it to be fun!  They envisioned the celebration as a weekend long affair, rather than a one day wedding.   They immediately realized that a destination wedding would be perfect for their guests – it will give everyone a chance to really unwind and make a vacation out of it.  They started with researching locations where multiple events could take place conveniently.

 Cecilia put together a short list of hotels and then started researching local wedding planners in Cancun to help her narrow down her list.  With the help of Anastasia and Mango Weddings & Events it was quickly clear that Nizuc was the best option!  It had everything Cecilia and Darius were looking for – top class service, gorgeous views from every room, a short drive from the airport and most importantly, several private locations on property that made the weekend long experience unforgettable.  

When it came to wedding design, Cecilia knew that she wanted something different.  She wanted the wedding to be colorful, vibrant, and sexy!   The goal was a tropical vibe– they were going to be in Cancun after all!

The florals were a key to creating this tropical paradise.  Fortunately, Cecilia wasn’t set on specific flowers, but she did know that bouquets in vases wouldn’t cut it. She wanted the florist to create a magical ambiance and Vanessa Jaimes Floral Design did just that. That’s the beauty in surrounding yourself with talented and creative people for your wedding team. They helped Cecilia bring her vision to life when admittedly she didn’t even know exactly what her vision was. Cecilia’s favorite part from the overall design of her wedding was the  structure above the dance floor. It was filled with disco balls, colorful florals, and greenery; and it was definitely the focal point!

For the ceremony, the couple chose to incorporate both of their cultures and traditions. Cecilia is a Catholic Puerto Rican and Darius is Persian. Darius’s mother worked very hard to create a gorgeous  Persian Sofreh Aghd spread and the Persian ceremony was officiated by Darius’ father. The second part of the ceremony incorporated Catholic elements to celebrate Cecilia’s culture. 

The number one priority for wedding planning was that the guests had an amazing time!  The couple had splurged florals and decor in order to create a party vibe in the Nizuc ballroom, a live band to fill the space with energetic music, and delicious food and drinks to nourish the souls and stomachs of everyone there. 

Low on the priority list were invitations and save the dates.  They skipped the traditional printed invitation suite and opted for an online option.  They also didn’t put extra energy into cake selection.  They wanted one, but it wasn’t a focal point. 

Additional attention was given when it came to the wedding favors.  The couple created a welcome bag for each guest since all of the guests were traveling for the wedding from afar.  The welcome bag included an itinerary for the weekend, a hangover kit, mints, custom face masks with Cecilia and Darius’s name and wedding date, as well as chips, water and even a  bottle of tequila! 

When asked, Cecilia and Darius couldn’t pick which parts or moments were the best.  They had three nights of amazing memories and stories. The celebration was a weekend-long extravaganza,  just the way they wanted it! Their friends and family still rave about how amazing everything was and what a wonderful time they’d had! 

Cecila did have some advice for brides-to-be:  hire an amazing wedding planner. He or she will make everything easier for you. Another thing to keep in mind for new brides during these covid times, is that flexibility is key. Do not stress over things you cannot control because it will make you crazy and make the whole process more challenging than it needs to be. Everything goes by so fast, try to savor the moment and enjoy every stage of the wedding planning process and of course, the wedding itself!