FW Magazine

HAIR AND MAKEUP

Maxine Salon, maxinesalon.com

Destination Wedding

Jessica Zweig & Brian Fisher

A beloved family vacation spot morphs into a vibrant, dream-come-true destination wedding celebration that’s the epitome of luxury.  MOST PEOPLE would agree that blind dates can be a nightmare.  Jessica Zweig and Brian Fisher’s blind date, though, was a six-hour-plus dream come true that long outlasted their meal at Volare restaurant.  Just two years later, Brian proposed to Jessica with a custom-made radiant-cut white diamond ring while on a romantic getaway in South Haven, Mich.  Devising the nuptials was easy, as Jessica always knew she wanted a destination wedding at the luxurious La Casa Que Canta in Zihuatanejo, Mexico—a yearly family vacation spot.  With the help of two wedding planners—both Mexico- and Chicago-based—and the inspiration behind Jessica’s elaborate Pinterest boards, the small yet elaborate affair was planned in six months.  “I’m biased, but I feel like a destination wedding is the way to go,” said Jessica.  “If you keep it small, you can spend quality time with people over the course of days versus a few seconds over the span of six hours.”   With just 40 people in attendance (including six vendors that were flown in for the occasion), the couple exchanged vows under a breathtaking floral-embellished chuppah on a veranda just 50 feet above the crashing waves.  The blushing bride wore a stunning custom-made dress by Azeeza Khan, which featured crystal beads handpicked by the designer in Paris.  Jessica’s brother officiated the ceremony, delivering a poignant homily that paid homage to family and his little sister finding the man of her dreams.  The use of multiple vibrant colors in the form of flowers, table decor and lighting was significant at both the ceremony and reception. “Life and love are colorful, messy and imperfect,” explains Jessica.  “[Color] was used in an elegant, tasteful and beautiful way—our wedding coordinator called it Ralph Lauren Mexico chic.”   Post-ceremony, guests enjoyed appetizers and hors d’oeuvres in the hotel bar before following a lantern-lit pathway to two private villas for the reception, where a colorfully dressed musical trio greeted them upon arrival.  Tables placed around the pool were dressed with bright flowers, festively embellished menus and intricately decorated picture frames labeling significant moments in the couple’s lives and relationship.  The property’s award-winning head chef prepared delicacies such as signature margaritas, beef carpaccio and mahi mahi with pineapple sauce on-site in the villa.  What We Learned “Don’t sweat the small stuff. Nobody notices the little details but you.  A wedding really does set you off for your life together.  Focus on that and you’ ll have the best time of your life,” says Jessica.