Wedding at the Beach

It's no secret that I like weddings, and it's a plus when I can go to one and get a tan. My stepbrother Dan and his wife Lindsay got married this last weekend in Puerto Morales, Mexico right on the beach, and it could not have been more of a luxe affair. The ceremony took place just before sunset on the beach with a group of white bamboo chairs positioned in the sand in front of a flower-laced alter, and then was promptly followed by a cocktail hour at the end of a pier just a few steps aways from the ceremony. After the cocktails, people retreated back to the resort for the reception which was an elegant dinner only feet away from the beach so you could hear the ocean. The party continued later into the night and was enjoyed by all. This was my first beach wedding, and I will admit that beach weddings have the ability to be a bit tacky, but Lindsay and Dan made their wedding one of the most beautiful weddings I've attended.

All photos taken by Tim Schroeder for Standard Luxe

Standard Luxe Goes on Vacation

Spending a winter in Chicago can make anyone crave a vacation, and January seems to be the breaking point for most; thankfully my stepbrother decided to get married in Puerto Morales, Mexico in the middle of month! A group of over 90 people gathered at the Ceiba del Mar resort for some much needed relaxation south of the boarder. Ceiba del Mar, located in Puerto Morales (right outside of Playa del Carmen), was beautiful and ideal for a beach wedding. The resort was a super luxe compound consisting of 8 different buildings filled with luxurious hotel rooms, two restaurants, a spa, and two pools which looked onto the ocean. The entire resort had a Spanish hacienda feel, and was filled with Mexican art. The location could not have been more luxe, and definitely made a special day for my stepbrother Dan and his new wife Lindsay. More pictures of the festivities to come!

All photos taken by Tim Schroeder for Standard Luxe

A Winter Wedding

For being a single guy, I’m quite fond of weddings. My sister got married over Christmas this year in Twin Falls, Idaho, and it was one of the nicest weddings I have ever been to, and not just because I was the minister for the ceremony. The nuptials were especially small, consisting of only fourteen family members, including the bride and groom. The ceremony and reception were hosted at Canyon Crest, a restaurant over looking Snake River Canyon in the small town of Twin Falls, giving the affair a romantic and sophisticated feel. The chic setting was a perfect backdrop for the wedding because my sister and her husband are both outdoorsy people, making the beautiful scenery of the canyon and surrounding mountains a personal place for their wedding. The very short ceremony, lead by yours truly, was followed by a delicious dinner, ordered off the restaurant’s menu, and accompanied with an intimate dinner party in honor of the bride and groom. The understated quality of the wedding was so luxe and personable; it could not have been done any better. 

All photos taken by Lori Schroeder, for Standard Luxe