Jessica and Tim like to say they design their lives and business together. "We met in grad school, where we studied graphic design at Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) and moved to New York after school, where we moved into design roles at technology startups. After a few years in New York, we moved to the West Coast, where I worked for Everlane, and Tim worked for Airbnb. Now, we're in the early days of building our own startup, Companion."
The couple absolutely love Tulum, where they chose to celebrate their wedding. "It's one of the most magical places in the world, and we feel so lucky we could share that magic with all of our friends and family. We first discovered Tulum when we attended a friend's wedding in 2015, and we've returned multiple times for trips with friends and weekend escapes." The chose photographer Marisa Albrecht to accompany them and capture their day,
Jessica and Tim live in San Francisco, and they originally started planning a Northern California wedding. "As we got further into the planning process, we realised we wanted to be relaxed and at ease during our weekend, and started to think a destination with vacation-vibes could be right for us. We knew Tulum would be the perfect spot to let go of the details and enjoy every moment—and we can honestly say we did enjoy every moment." The couple had sixty guests at their destination wedding.
Jess wanted a classic, minimal look that would stand out among the lush jungle scenery and withstand the heat. "The Lola Varma two-piece ensemble is stunning in person. I love how the skirt drapes so beautifully—and bonus, it has pockets! I chose the ivory top to subtly contrast with the brighter cream silk skirt. Both cream tones pair nicely with the sand and vibrant greens of the jungle. The team at LoHo Bride in San Francisco is the best. They made the shopping process so fun and inspiring."
Tim wanted a bespoke suit in the perfect shade of blue. "The Tailors Keep team did an excellent job helping me feel comfortable throughout the process. They also walked me through the customisation of every detail. From the wool selection to the buttonholes, down to the signature on the jacket's inside, it's clear they take suiting seriously. We loved the entire experience working with them, and I have a suit I can wear for a lifetime."
The couple wanted to bring their friends and family together in a beautiful and laid-back environment and Tulum was the perfect destination. Mahayana Beach Homes offered our family a private retreat during their wedding weekend. The villa's beach and pool were perfect for daytime beach hangouts and transformed into intimate, beautiful spots for our rehearsal dinner, welcome party, and ceremony.
"Hartwood is one of our favorite restaurants in the world, and it's also one of the most sought out dinner reservations in Tulum. We couldn't believe our luck when we were able to rent it out for our wedding. The Hartwood team went above and beyond for our service, and we felt so loved dining under the jungle stars with our favorite people in the entire world."
Jessica and Tim feel incredibly grateful that they were able to celebrate their wedding before the pandemic hit. "We went into quarantine two-weeks after we returned home to San Francisco. We like to joke that we've been in quarantine for 90% of our marriage. 2020 has been a wild year, but thankfully there's no one else we'd rather spend our days living and working with side-by-side.We hadn't had the opportunity to bring our families together before our wedding. It was so special to spend a few days together as an extended family getting to know one another in such a fun, relaxed environment. Tim's family pastor John (who also happens to be his parents' best friend) was able to make the trip and officiate our wedding, which was a special moment during our weekend."
Their advice to other couples getting married? "Find a wedding planning team as fun and exceptional as LM Weddings! We designed pretty much every detail of the weekend, but we knew Maju and her team had it all covered as soon as we arrived in Mexico. We're so happy that we could enjoy one another and be present in the moments leading up to and during our wedding."
Photographer : Marisa Albrecht @marisaalbrecht | Ceremony Location : Mahayana Tulum Beach Homes @mahayanatulum | Reception Location : Hartwood @hartwoodtulum | After Party : Group Gitano @ grupo.gitano | Celebrant : John Denlinger | HMUA : Zoe Elizabeth @zoeelizabethmakeup | Entertainment : Mariachi band Booked through LM Weddings | Styling : Bride and LM Weddings @lmweddingstulum | Planner : Maju Ravera + Leanne Rogers from LM Weddings @lmweddingstulum | Flora : Pure Love Floral Design @purelovefloraldesign | Ceramic Vases : Encrudo @encrudo | Stationery : Bride | Getting Ready Location : Sanara @sanaratulum | Bride's Gown : Lola Varma @lola.varma.bridal from LoHo bride @loho_bride | Groom's Suit : Custom Suit from Tailors Keep @tailorskeep | Bride's Rings : Grace Lee custom engagement + wedding band @graceleedesigns | Veil : Melinda Rose @melindarosedesign | Earrings : Jennifer Behr @jenniferbehr | Bridal Party : Reformation @reformation, Silk Laundry @silklaundry, Asos @asos + Modern Citizen @moderncitizen