Beach weddings have a certain sense of magic to them. So how does a wedding on one of the most beautiful beaches in Ecuador sound? Dreamy, right? Emily and Matt's special day is a must-see for couples who are dreaming of a destination wedding. Our couple who hail from the US whisked their family and friends off to South America in December 2022 for their beach party nuptials. They stayed at the luxurious oceanfront Villa Jaco and wed against a beautiful backdrop of sky, sea and blooms in Olón. While the ceremony was intimate and serene, the reception was lively and full of fun and thrills. So sit back and pore over the beautifully lensed images by Michelle Agurto. You'll want to book a holiday asap, don't say we didn't warn you!
So, let's get to know our real wedding couple, shall we? They are both from New York originally. While Emily is a city bird from Brooklyn, Matt hails from Long Island. Today, they call the Big Apple their home. The couple have their friends Mike and Kelly to thank for their happily ever after.
Matt grew up with Mike and Emily at the time worked with Kelley. They first crossed paths in 2016 when Mike and Kelley invited them to a bar downtown to watch football. While sparks flew between them immediately it wasn't until Memorial Day Weekend in 2017 that either of them made a move. They happened to be at another one of Mike and Kelley’s get-togethers and all. We think their friends could have a future career in match-making! Emily and Matt shared their first kiss at the party and they started hanging out a lot after that night. By the end of that summer, they were thick as thieves and they were seeing each other every day.
We adore a surprise proposal story and we absolutely loved Emily's answer when Matt popped the question. Matt got down on bended knee on December 28, 2020, in their apartment and he caught Emily entirely unawares. We're going to let Emily tell the tale... 'Matt supposedly had gone out for a run, when in reality he was picking up the ring. When he returned to the apartment, I was in the bedroom and remembered something falling and asking Matt what fell and he said some papers, nothing important and a few minutes later from the room, I noticed Matt plugging in the Christmas tree lights, which I thought was a little odd but didn’t think anything of it. And a few seconds later... Matt walked into the room still in his sweats, sweatshirt and beanie with a smile on his face and got down on a knee and asked, "Will you marry me?" and the first thing I muttered was "Matt, I’m naked!". I had just gotten out of the shower and was getting dressed for dinner… It was 100% a surprise proposal.'
They picked a wild and romantic location for their wedding as they had their heart set on getting married in Ecuador from the very outset. They also knew right away that they didn't want a traditional wedding reception. 'It was important to us that our wedding reception felt more like a party - we wanted it to be a vibe, where the music didn’t stop because it was time for dinner, or cake cutting,' Emily explains. 'We just wanted to enjoy, celebrate and dance the night away with all of our favourite people.'
The pair went wedding venue hunting in Ecuador in 2021. It happened to be Matt's first time in the country and they hit a series of venues along the coast with their wedding planners. They chose the luxurious Villa Jaco which is perched directly on one of Ecaudor's prettiest beaches. 'We just knew Villa Jaco was the one, we kind of knew it from before seeing it in person. We wanted our wedding to feel romantic and magical, and we just felt that when we walked into the venue. They fell so head over heels in fact that they changed their wedding date so they could get married there. As for the look and feel of their special day, she adds: 'I think our wedding aesthetic was inspired by who we are and what we like.'
Emily wore the Clo Crepe dress by Grace by Lace for her Ecuador wedding. With a simple and sexy silhouette, the gown clung to her curves perfectly while it also featured a flowing mermaid skirt and statement low back. Her 'something blue' came courtesy of her Camellia Pleated Bow Heels by Loeffler Randall. Her bridesmaids opted for elegant pale green crepe gowns by Birdy Grey, while her mum was one glam mother of the bride wearing a gold glitter gown with an asymmetrical neckline.
They married on December 10, 2022. They exchanged vows in front of 88 of their nearest and dearest, with their guests travelling from across the States from Colorado to California and Hawaii. The sand and sea proved to be a bewitching backdrop for their ceremony and their wedding planners came up with a great way to make the most of the stunning vistas. These epic floral arches prove that they are a surefire way to add magic to your ceremony or dining space. So, their wedding planners suggested a ground flower arch so that they could have the best of both worlds: beautiful blooms and beach views. Another element of their reception that they adored was their seating layout. The bride and groom wanted their ceremony to feel very intimate and they opted for a circle wedding ceremony. 'We’d never seen seating at a ceremony like this but it really added to the intimacy of our ceremony. It felt really special to have everyone surrounding us while we read our vows to each other.'
One of their favourite moments from the ceremony was when Emily's friend read a passage from The Alchemist. 'The passage describes twin flames and how it feels when you finally find that person who seems to have been destined for you. It's that comfort you feel with each other when you don't need words to understand what that person wants or needs. It's just so beautiful.'
Emily has an encouraging nugget of advice for couples planning their big day. 'It is so important to remember that your wedding day will be perfect no matter what. You’ll be surrounded by all your loved ones, who are beyond excited to celebrate with you.' She also shared her top tip for couples who decide to hire a wedding planner.
'If you are working with wedding planners, I’d say make sure they understand your vision - it is important to build a trusting relationship with each other. We could not imagine planning our wedding without Assyah and Jose Luis because from the beginning they understood our vision and made it possible to bring it to life.' 'We wanted everyone to feel the cool atmosphere and enjoy every moment with us,' she says when asked about the vibe they wanted at their Ecuador wedding.
Getting the food perfect was a big priority for them. They wanted to make sure their guests could eat whenever they wanted and they came up with a handy way to ensure grub was always on the menu. Their guests were never peckish as there were food trucks serving up delicious traditional Ecuadorian food all through the event. For those tying the knot on Irish soil, we have a guide to the best food trucks and there are so many yummy options to choose from.
The lounge areas were conveniently located near the food trucks so guests had the perfect spot to perch for nibbles and drinks. Complementing rustic shades were incorporated into the furniture to give a glamorously rustic feel.
They evoked a romantic and eclectic feeling with lights and suspensions with butterflies, origamis and ribbons hanging from the tent structure above the stage. The tables were decorated with bouquets of pink flowers and terracotta stands. Unique entertainment can really take a wedding reception to whole new heights and they had everything from a bartender who invited guests to take part in a fire show to a violinist playing electro songs who had guests ready to hit the dancefloor.
The night's surprises kept coming, and the newlyweds stunned their guests when they hit the dancefloor for the first time as husband and wife. They chose a mash-up of La Vie en Rose by Louis Armstrong and Beyond by Leon Bridges for their first dance song. 'Matt and I aren’t the best dancers in the room so we asked a friend to help us by choreographing a quick dance routine - this was a shock for many of our guests!' To party the night away, Emily slipped into the Taliah mini dress with feather sleeves by Likely. Anyone looking for an exotic honeymoon that blends thrills and chill time, Emily heavily recommends Columbia. They visited Cartagena first before going on to Isla Barú. Cartagena was a perfect city to explore and get lost in, Emily says that they loved the culture and the food. Isla Barú, which is home to one of Columbia's best beaches, Playa Blanca, was the idea destination to put their feet up and relax.
We want to say a massive thank you to Matt and Emily for sharing their wedding in magical Ecuador with One Fab Day and to Michelle Agurto for the exquisite images.
Thinking of tying the knot abroad? We have so many Destination Real Weddings for you to check out.
