It’s no surprise that Brittney Magee’s wedding to Chase Stone was totally stylish. After all, the bride is a PR Manager for Watters! But back in August of 2012, she was just a junior at Texas A&M who needed a new computer. “Chase was working behind the counter, and helped me with my purchase,” she remembers. “He mentioned he was new in town, so I left him my number.” While Brittney says she was just trying to be nice, later that afternoon Chase asked her out on their first date. Two years later, after she begged him to join her family in Indiana for Thanksgiving, Brittney finally accepted that Chase wouldn’t be joining her and headed home alone. The night before Thanksgiving, her family headed to a local farm-to-table restaurant for dinner. “When we walked inside, there was Chase waiting with a bouquet of roses!” she remembers. She thought he was just surprising her for Thanksgiving with her family, but then he got down on one knee.
With family all over the country, the couple decided a destination wedding would be their best bet. “We knew we’d have a hard time getting everyone in the same place,” Brittney explains. She grew up spending vacations in Mexico, so the pair decided that Riviera Maya would be the perfect place for an escape with friends and family — and their wedding! In the end, 55 guests headed south to El Dorado Royale Resort, where the highlight of the trip was an elegant blush-and-gold wedding ceremony in the sand, the perfect balance between formal and beachy. Brittney and her mom planned the whole bash — with a little help from their loved ones — and, on September 5, 2015, she and Chase finally made it official. Just wait until you see the photos by Kayla Barker Fine Art Photography: You’ll be ready to book a flight to Mexico!
The elegant blush and gold invitation suite featured soft, sandy hues balanced by formal details, like the classic script and the shimmering bellyband.
Of course, Brittney wore a Watters wedding dress for her big day. The blush hand-beaded corset was fun and sparkly, while the soft net skirt was just the thing to catch an ocean breeze.
Since she isn’t a heel girl, Brittney splurged on stunning Rene Caovilla gladiator sandals instead. “They were so comfortable, I didn’t want to take them off!” But the bride’s favorite accessory was her “something borrowed,” a bracelet that belongs to her mom. “It’s one of my favorite pieces of hers, and it meant so much to wear it on my big day,” she says. She opted for a soft updo, accented with white blooms, and a bouquet of blush roses that perfectly matched her gown.
We can see why guests were eager to join the couple on the beach in Mexico! Before the festivities began, they spent their days relaxing in a palm tree grove strung with hammocks.
The ceremony took place beneath a dark wooden altar draped in white fabric and tied with pomanders of pink and ivory flowers. The sandy ground was perfect for barefoot guests and the ocean served as an unbeatable backdrop!
“Before I walked down the aisle, our officiant had Chase turn to look at him. Then, once I’d come around the corner and was walking down the aisle, he had Chase turn back toward me,” Brittney says. “I’ll never forget the look on his face when he saw me!”
The two exchange vows they’d written themselves, then recessed to “Make You Mine” by Us the Duo.
Brittney’s bridesmaids also wore Watters, all donning floor-length lace dresses in a soft blush hue. Says the bride, “Even though it was a beach wedding, we wanted elements like our attire to be somewhat formal.” Chase and his groomsmen looked both formal and beach-appropriate in light gray suits from Jos. A. Bank.
“Most importantly, we wanted our wedding to be a huge celebration with our family and friends all together,” says Brittney. “We wanted it to be a memorable trip that we’d all cherish for years to come. I think we succeeded!”
While planning from afar was tough (especially because Brittney and her mom live in different states — hello, FaceTime!), she loved how supportive Chase was. “He never got impatient with my countless questions, and helped with whatever was needed.”
The couple’s biggest undertaking was the miniature champagne bottles escort cards. “We had multiple people transporting them in their suitcases. Then each one had to be assembled and tied once we got to Mexico,” says Brittney. We’d say the DIY project was totally worth it.
She and Chase were seated at a sweetheart table covered in blush sequins. Centerpieces combined blush and white roses, glowing in candlelight. The reception space was strung with paper lanterns, and each guest received a menu outlining the buffet spread of local cuisine.
Once dinner was underway, Brittney swapped her floor-length net skirt for a short blush tulle one. “It made dancing easier! The skirt was a custom Watters piece designed to match my corset and my shoes,” says the bride.
Instead of a full cake, the newlyweds cut into a miniature vanilla cake and served cake pops to their guests. “I met a bride who’d been married at the same resort, and she advised against a full-sized cake because it would melt in the Mexico heat before it was time to serve,” says Brittney. “I hesitantly took her advice and I’m so glad I did!”
To get the party started, a wise guest kicked off the dancing with a Conga line. “It was a great icebreaker to really get everyone excited!” says Brittney. “The dancing was my favorite part of the day — everyone was on the dance floor for hours!”
Venue, Catering & Florist: El Dorado Royale Resort || Bride’s Wedding Dress & Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Watters || Shoes: Rene Caovilla || Groom’s & Groomsmen’s Attire: Jos. A. Bank || Engagement Ring & Wedding Bands: Reis-Nichols || Invitations & Paper Goods: Oliver’s Twist; Wedding Paper Divas || Rentals: La Tavola Fine Linen || Videographer: Jordan Bellamy || Photographer: Kayla Barker Fine Art Photography
Want more destination wedding ideas? Then check out another couple’s stunning celebration in the video below.