TESTIMONIALS

In February, I got to marry my best friend and everything I envisioned for an fun destination wedding came alive in front of my eyes. Living in SF and planning to get married in Sayulita was a bit tough. Andrea was highly recommended to me by my wedding venue as an approved vendor. From the day I contacted her until the day of my wedding, there wasn't a single thing she missed. She wasn't just our Wedding Coordinator - she organized the Florist, the Caterer, every PERSON (including my crazy friends and family!) every step of the way! No matter how big or small your wedding is, having a coordinator like HER will make you realize how much you need one on such a special day. We were able to RELAX and ENJOY every second of our wedding bliss thanks to Andrea and that to me, is what matters most when hiring someone.

Andrea - Cole and I, and all of our guests loved your work, your personality, your amazing vibes and we THANK YOU!

Sarah Redmond, Bride | Owner @cocoon_spa :: San Francisco, CA | February 2019 @ Ally Cat’s Fat Cat

My husband Julio proposed to me in Sayulita, and my immediate thought was that I wanted to get married in this beautiful place, but planning a wedding in Mexico from Seattle seemed a little daunting to say the least. I did some research and we met with Andrea before we left Sayulita, and instantly I knew she would execute all of my dreams and more.

One of my favorite things about Andrea was that although we waited 2 years to get married, she checked in on us all the time, and sent us a super useful spreadsheet that explained the timing of payments, when decisions needed to be made, etc. Because of this we were able to budget and pay in advance a lot of our large expenses in advance which really helped.

When our wedding week came, we had 135 friends and family come. People could not believe that we had that many people come to a destination wedding, but I was never once overwhelmed by it because Andrea made every instruction and event seamless for not only us but our guests. From our ‘white party’ welcome dinner at La Rustica, to our catamaran trip, to our wedding at Teitiare Estate, there was a lot to plan. But because she was so organized, I was able to kick back, just ‘show up’ and really be in the moment to enjoy our friends and family which is the biggest gift in the world. Our guests were so well taken care of by her slew of the best of the best vendors and equipment. Her attention to detail was way above and beyond, and we couldn’t have pulled off such a perfect week without her. With all of the transportation needed to and from the venue, the food, the flowers, the dance floor, the chairs etc etc etc it all seemed impossible but she killed it with a smile on her face. She truly loves what she does and loves her clients and it shows… she even made me a lavender essential oil kit to help me relax. It is so worth it to hire Sayulita Dream Weddings, you can truly enjoy your wedding and honor your friends and family without having to ask them to help with anything because Andrea has your back, which is so priceless. I can’t thank you enough Andrea for making all our wedding dreams come true and then some!

Brittany Brown Perez, Bride | Owner/Designer @winstonwhiteclothing :: Seattle, WA | March 2018 @ Teitiare Estate

Miracle Worker!

“Andrea is the definition of "above and beyond." I cannot imagine anyone better suited for the job.

First - having a planner is crucial to the overall success of your big day. You are making an investment in your own sanity and happiness during your wedding. There are SO many details that can go wrong, especially for a destination wedding, and by investing in someone as talented as Andrea, you will never have to worry about anything.

Secondly - choosing a planner was the most difficult part for us. Every couple writes raving reviews of their planner, which it makes it difficult for couples to decipher who's the best. Let me give a few detailed reasons why Andrea IS the best of them all:

1. Not ONE thing went wrong on our wedding day (well, at least that I know of)

I'm not joking - I was actually concerned because I didn't have any concerns. Andrea only approached me once that day with a "change of plans" which was that the caterer had to swap out one of our hors d'oeuvres.

2. She fills in all of the gaps - and made my Pinterest dreams come to life

We showed up to our Welcome Party after a day of lounging and swimming and were in absolute awe - she brought in full decor, perfectly styled flowers (thanks to Mireya @flor_mimo) and went above and beyond. Same for our Rehearsal and Rehearsal Dinner.

3. She's down to business and down to be honest.

Andrea is a no-BS planner in the best kind of way. We toured multiple venues and she was incredibly clear with all of the pros, cons, and concerns. It's important to note that we chose an especially challenging venue: in the jungle, set on uneven ground, no cel reception, limited power, etc. The tradeoff is that it's absolutely stunning. Andrea made us aware of everything that could go wrong, but painted it in a positive light and presented solutions for each scenario.

4. She knows every single vendor, and only works with the best.

The scary part about this novel of a review is that I could do the same with every vendor Andrea pointed us to (caterer, florist, photographer, makeup artist, and more). Andrea not only knows these vendors well, but she's great friends with them, too. I can't tell you how many times we heard, "Andrea is the best, she really knows what she's doing" during our wedding. Right out of the gates, she provided us a list of options for every single vendor we'd have to choose. She gave feedback on their styles, their communication methods, and how she felt they'd align with our vision. This was the most crucial part of the planning process - getting direction when there are so many options to choose from - and I can confidently say that we felt that we chose the right person for the job in every single scenario, thanks to Andrea's guidance.

5. She genuinely cares.

I know for a fact that Andrea has organized hundreds of events, probably on a grander scale and with larger budgets, and yet my husband and I still feel like we were her most important clients.

Andrea went out of her way to ensure that every single detail of not just our wedding, but our entire WEEK in Mexico was perfect, and that there was never a lapse in fun. I felt as if I was showing up to my own party day after day after day, and it was executed so much better than I ever could have dreamed of. I am confident there are many talented planners in Sayulita and beyond, but I want to reassure you that Andrea is simply the best. Do not think twice, and if you have any hesitations, I am a phone call away. Choose Andrea, she is truly a miracle worker!”

Carolyn Thompson, Bride | Portland, OR | November 2018 @ Teitiare Estate

The experience with Andrea and Gabbi Villarrubia is more than outstanding. I have known them for years and have been at many weddings . There is no detail Andrea can't think of, everything always on time, decoration exceptional beautiful and fun, just the best outstanding service! I have seen it more than 20 times in action and she leaves me speechless!

Anne Menke, Venue Partner | Owner @teitare Photographer @annemenke2 :: Sayulita, MX + NYC

“Andrea helped us plan our wedding that took place in February 2016. She was nothing short of incredible throughout the entire process. My (now) husband and I have been together for many years (decade plus), and when we finally decided to get married, we were focused on making it a fun long weekend for our close friends and family. However, we didn't have a clear vision of what we wanted the wedding to be like. Andrea was not only fun and warm and positive, but she managed to take our vague ideas of what we wanted the weekend to be like and turn them into a perfectly delivered package that exceeded all of our expectations. I mean it very sincerely when I say I can't imagine our wedding without her.

One of the most remarkable things about planning a wedding with Andrea is that she takes the time to get to know you, and learn about what's important to you, and then she comes up with endless ideas for different ways you could pull those elements into your wedding. She focuses on translating the "you" into the wedding plan, and is creative and talented and knowledgeable enough to do so. If you have a theme, she'll come up with creative ways to infuse it into the celebration. If you just have a feeling in mind, she'll suggest different touches that will help evoke it. For every part of our wedding, she helped think up different options, which she would then explain to us so that we could choose the one that felt best. Then she managed, tracked, and monitored the execution from start to finish. We ended up with a wedding that was everything we hoped for, but couldn't have come up with on our own - amazing food and great drinks, fabulous music both live and DJ’d, gorgeous and elegant decor and setup, and countless little touches that everyone noticed and commented on. I can't tell you how many little things she added that, day of, made the difference between a nice event and an extraordinary one. This was true of the rehearsal dinner as well.

I also have to emphasize how fantastic Andrea is to work with. She's incredibly responsive - I was the only cause of any slow-downs in our planning, she always (I mean it, always) responded to any email (no matter how long) within a day. She's extremely organized - she managed ALL of the details of planning, all of the communications with vendors and such, and all the payments before, during, and after. She offered suggestions and recommendations, but was never even remotely pushy. As I mentioned above, she is a fabulous blend of warm, supportive, talented, and exceedingly creative. She's also funny and kind and delightful to hang out with. She made the wedding planning process enjoyable, fun, and stress-free, which after asking around, seems very much the exception!

I don't ever plan on getting married again :-) but I am already thinking about what sort of reunion or anniversary events we could plan. And if/when I do, the very first thing I'll do is see if Andrea is available to help. I can't imagine what our wedding would have been like without her.

I very sincerely think Andrea is truly exceptional, and that you'll be lucky to work with her if she's available for your event. Regardless of how much you're spending, you want your event to be the best it can be, and she's incredible at making that happen. I can't thank her enough for making our wedding out of this world.”

Jordan Diamond, Bride | San Francisco, CA | February 2016 @ Teitiare Estate

“Andrea and her team took every concept and detail I imagined and asked for and made it a reality (and even better). My wedding looked like a dream. Andrea is truly an artist and her creativity can translate your dreams into real life. We could not have pulled this off without her. She is organized, creative, thoughtful and a pleasure to work with. She handled our budgets and needs with great care. Her work is priceless. I hope we can renew vows in Sayulita as often as we can and I hope she can be a part of it every time. You will get to know Andrea as your wedding planner and keep her as your friend.... TIP: Take her recommendations and follow her lead, this rock-star knows what she’s doing.”

Tara Blum, Bride | @amizetta :: Napa, CA | November 2017 @ Villa del Oso

“Sayulita has long held a special place in my heart, and when my boyfriend proposed we knew we wanted to celebrate with our friends in the charming little town. From the moment we met Andrea, we knew she would be the person to help bring our big day to fruition. She understood what kind of party we wanted to throw before we even did. She connected the dots in our vision in a way we would never have been able to on our own. She took every crazy idea we had (for example, when asked what our wedding colors would be we replied with "all of them" and she ran with it!) and turned them into a day that was more perfect than we could have ever imagined.

Planning a destination wedding can be stressful, and she never once made us feel stressed out, even from afar. She and her team, as well as the magnificent vendors she brought into the fold will always be held near and dear to our hearts. It truly took the village to throw what we thought was the most vibrant, colorful, and epic party on the sunny shores of Sayulita. I remember waking up the morning after our wedding wanting to pull the moon and the stars out from the night sky to give to Andrea, because I felt like nothing on this earth could possibly be good enough for her. She is beyond incredible and anyone who gets the opportunity to work with her is lucky.

While we loved Sayulita before, planning our wedding with Andrea solidified it as our second home, and now we consider the entire community our extended family.”

Chiara Kramer, Bride | @heydayskincare :: Venice, CA | December 2016 @ Teitiare Estate

My wife and I can't speak highly enough about Andrea of Sayulita Dream Weddings. She is incredibly professional, easy going and, most importantly, truly vested in your experience. She takes pride in her work and will go through great lengths to make sure your day is just how you imagine it, and better. Since we could go on and on about Sayulita Dream Weddings, here are the top reasons why we recommend Sayulita Dream Weddings:

1) Andrea is always available, via phone, email, etc. If she was going out of town, she would make sure to notify us well in advance.

2) Andrea is from the US but also speaks Spanish fluently. There were zero issues related to language barriers between us, Andrea and our vendors.

3) Andrea is well connected in Sayulita and knows of many suppliers. She has planned a countless number of weddings. She has a great eye for design of your wedding. That said, she won't invade your personal tastes and interests and will listen to you.

4) Not only will Andrea be your wedding planner, she will also help to manage your wedding week. She will help coordinate transportation, the welcome party, rehearsal, etc. It was incredibly helpful to have her on the ground in Sayulita at all times to assist.

5) The actual wedding! Everything was gorgeous and meticulously laid out. Drinks were ready right when our guests arrived, the bar was fully staffed, Don Pedros was ready to go, the DJ was ready, our guitarist in action, etc. Not a single hiccup occurred.

6) Overall, my wife and I never worried about anything for a single second during the day of our wedding. All of our vendors were executing at top notch speed and precision, the timing for everything was immaculate. We never needed to check with Andrea on anything - she was always on top of everything and completely aware of what was going on.

Thank you Andrea for a perfect wedding week and day!”

Matt Somerville, Groom | San Francisco, CA | November 2014 @ Brisa Mar Palapa

“We wanted our guests to have an experience and not simply attend an event. With Andrea and Gabbi leading the way they created something that none of our friends and family will ever forget. The four day affair was planned and executed splendidly. Everything from our guests airport travel, accommodations and an epically memorable excursion to the most beautiful day of our lives.

After a picturesque ceremony with our guests adorned in all white, we partook in the most delicious and authentic food the region has to offer. We danced the night away without a care in the world with a panoramic view of the ocean as our backdrop.

Time stopped in its tracks and something truly magical took place.

Thank you for the most stunning and idyllic wedding. You have our love and eternal gratitude.

Bravo.

On a business side; Andrea was prompt, attentive and warm. When we had our initial discussion she asked us to describe our ideal day. Throughout the process she was honest and communicative about how our decisions impacted not only our theme but also the budget. She was on point with everything from day one and never let up.”

Jefferson Taylor + Patrick Fernandez, Grooms | San Francisco, CA | July 2016 @ Brisa Mar Palapa

‘If you have any reservations about getting married in Mexico, or Sayulita, rest assured that Andrea will act as your mom, sister, best friend, maid-of-honor --basically a brilliant, creative extension of you-- orchestrating the most perfect wedding celebration in beautiful Sayulita! No request is too over-the-top, or too obscure, for Andrea and Gabbi to pursue. They know all the locals, expats, and everyone in between - this family is adored in Sayulita! Beyond that, Andrea will offer up the most amazing, creative and elegant ideas to fit in with your unique wedding day vision – the details will blow you and your guests away. Over a year after our wedding, we still can’t go anywhere without our 100+ guests talking about how fun, unbelievable, and ‘the best’ our wedding was. That praise is overwhelming, in part because it wasn’t our doing, but the brains and passion of Andrea and Gabbi that made it all a reality. And through it all, this duo recognized how important it was TO US for them to anticipate every wish, request, and need that both of our families might have, so that everyone (including us!) could relax and enjoy every moment of the celebration. Do yourself a huge favor... and entrust Andrea and Gabbi to create your dream wedding!”

Monique Alvino Jennings, Bride | Chicago, IL | December 2010 @ Villa del Oso

“Andrea and Gabbi are an amazing team of wedding planners. They are the perfect mix of nice and getting things done. If you are having a wedding in Sayulita and do not have a planner, first, you must have one, and second, Andrea and Gabby are the ones to hire. I have been to many weddings and they are one of the best I have ever seen. They get the job done by friendliness and relaxed attitude but also with a focus towards responsive and professional work ethic. Definitely recommended.”

Evrim Icoz, Creative Partner | Photographer @evrimicozphoto :: Portland, OR + Sayulita, MX

If you are planning a wedding in Sayulita, use Andrea and Gabbi of Sayulita Dream Weddings! Andrea worked with us for months to plan the wedding week of our lives. We came in right on budget and every detail was executed to or above our expectations. Having lived in Sayulita for years, Andrea provides immense value with her connections in the area. She is easy to work with and accommodated our requests - even the last minute ones! We couldn't have done this without Sayulita Dream Weddings - and strongly recommend them to anyone hoping to create the wedding of their lives. Thanks again to the SDW staff! Heather and Noelle

Heather McKendry, Bride | Bellingham, WA | February 2012 @ Casa Vela

“I couldn't imagine getting married in Sayulita without the help of Andrea and her team. From the moment we met her (having just got engaged and just 'casually' looking at getting Married in Sayulita) right through to the wedding day her service was 100%. Her attention to detail is exceptional. There isn't an ask big or small that Andrea cannot sort out. She's responsive and so helpful with every ask. She knows every good vendor in Sayulita and will manage everything with no stress. We are so happy to have found Andrea and if you are thinking of getting married in Sayulita don't hesitate to book her. She will make your life so much easier!”

Rachel Gilmour, Bride | Hermosa Beach, CA | April 2018 @ Villa del Oso

As mother of the bride, I was very impressed with how Andrea worked with my daughter and her fiancé in the planning their wedding for 120 at the Palapa. We might not have used a wedding planner if the event was in the U.S., but it soon became clear that Andrea was invaluable and I can't imagine having done it without her.

Andrea's local connections were key. When one venue fell through for the welcome party, she didn't skip a beat and organized an event on the beach that was even better than we had imagined. At the last minute, when we changed the location of the family photos before the wedding, there were 4 Suburbans waiting to whisk us to the venue. The churros made in front of our guests, late night tacos, the mariachi band, this all would have been almost impossible to organize from the States.

I really appreciated the fact that Andrea had no agenda, came up with ways to cut costs, offered ideas but didn't push anything until we asked her opinion and then her advice was good. Her day of crew added special little touches that we hadn't expected and the Palapa looked amazing. Andrea's coordination with Don Pedro's for the food (it was excellent) and bar service was key, even negotiating a better price without being asked.

Overall I can't think of one thing that could have been better. On our fairly tight budget, Andrea helped us create a dream wedding for 120 people, for maybe half of what it would have cost in the U.S., and all the guests loved being in Mexico.

Chris Shuman, Mother of Bride | Seattle, WA | February 2014 @ Brisa Mar Palapa

“My (now) wife & I have been coming to Sayulita for years, and my family has been here for quite some time. When we got engaged, Sayulita was the only place we really considered. We came into our wedding with a strong sense of the big picture events (i.e. day to day schedule), but definitely needed someone to help with details, ideas and on-the-ground execution. Andrea WAY exceeded our expectations in all regards, especially given the pretty complicated multi-day nature of the event. She had a strong sense of what we wanted, a great taste in design, awesome ideas (and willingness to back down if we opposed them), and was great on the day of. She dealt with our weird mishmash of traditional and non-traditional, as well as our chaotic families, with grace.

Our wedding couldn't have gone better. Thanks so much Andrea for an amazing weekend!”

Rudd Taylor, Groom | New York, NY | July 2016 @ Casa Corzaon

“I agree with everything my husband said! Andrea was INCREDIBLE. She also brought a sense of design and space to the event that was super special. Top notch. Would work with her again in a heartbeat!”

Rebekah Heller, Bride | New York, NY | July 2016 @ Casa Corzaon

“Love, love, love her! She is so organized and lifted such a huge weight off my back (mother of the groom and hostess of the wedding). I don't know how I could have done it without her. I have one more wedding .......... some day.......and I will definitely use her again!”
Billie G. Taylor, Mother of Groom | Sayulita, MX | July 2016 @ Casa Corzaon

“I have the pleasure of working with Andrea and Gabbi (and their clients) regularly, as I provide bridal services for weddings in Sayulita, and they are always a treat to work with!

Not only are they on top of every detail of your big day, they are committed to designing the event of your dreams that is completely reflective of their client's unique style, personality, and vision for their event.

I always know that everything will go smoothly when I am working with Sayulita Dream Weddings, and am proud to consider them one of my preferred vendors.”

Jennifer Chivers, Creative Partner | Owner/Stylist @jennchiversfreelance :: Sayulita, MX

We hired Andrea to plan our 20th wedding anniversary party which included several events for almost 40 guests traveling from all over. She quickly picked up on the tone we were looking to create and brought creativity, patience and unflappable flexibility. She has an incredible network of resources and she stayed within budget. Her execution was excellent - it couldn't have gone any smoother. It allowed us to relax and enjoy the time with our guests. I never had a single worry. I would absolutely hire Andrea again and recommend her to anyone planning an event in the Sayulita area.

Christine McHugh | Seattle, WA | April 2016 @ Villa del Oso

She and her team were amazing to work with and the wedding was past our expectations. She did an incredible job and her team is awesome!! Use her and only her and you won't be sorry!

Christine Alexander, Mother of Bride | Owner @winstonwhiteclothing :: Seattle, WA | March 2018 @ Teitiare Estate

Andrea and her team are amazing! Andrea is organized, experienced, so easy to work with and she does incredible work! I would highly recommend Sayulita Dream Weddings to any Sayulita bride + groom.

Taryn Baxter, Creative Partner | Photographer @tarynbaxterphotographer :: Sayulita, MX

Andrea was the best decision I ever made!! We could not have done it without her, but most of all, I wouldn't have wanted to. She allowed us to fully enjoy our celebration without worrying about a thing. I am a very detailed oriented person, so I was skeptical of a planner meeting my expectations. Andrea and her team impressed me every step of the way. She really took the time to understand us as a couple and created a 4 day event that our friends and family still say is the best wedding they have ever been to. From helping us find the perfect venue to hustling the last minute tents because of the ominous weather forecast, she anticipated everything we wanted and even some we didn't know we needed. She was a constant calming presence and persistent perfectionist. Her professionalism is evident in how well she works with the many vendors that helps create our dream wedding. She is truly great at what she does.

Andrea, we cannot thank you enough for making our wedding weekend so unforgettable.

Jess Hsu, Bride | Santa Monica, CA | December 2016 @ Teitiare Estate

“I mean it--this is not hyperbole. Andrea and Gabbi gave us THE BEST WEDDING EVER. It's a year and half later, and our friends are still talking about how it was THE BEST WEDDING EVER. We run into people at parties back home, and they say "we've heard of you--you're that couple that had THE BEST WEDDING EVER down in Mexico, right?" We've kinda become minor celebrities because of how great it was.

Andrea came up with fabulous decorations--tasteful, elegant, but really fun and cool. Execution was flawless--she said something would happen, it happened. And she made it incredibly easy for us. We gave her some vague ideas of what we thought we wanted, took the leap of faith that she could work it all out, and voila--it was WAY cooler and smoother and more fun than anything we could've dreamed of. Even came in under budget. So, yeah, BEST WEDDING EVER!!! Andrea and Gabbi are the best. Can't recommend these guys highly enough.”

John Lamm, Groom | Founder @24hoursoflemons :: San Francisco, CA | April 2010 @ Casa Delfines

“As much as I have had personal experience of Andrea's event planning skills, I also have heard unanimous accolades from ALL her clients. Living in Sayulita, I have come to know the reputation for Andrea as being the highest recommended for any event. Her organizational abilities, anticipation of client desires, and local knowledge of what really works, make her the absolute best.”

Theo Koch, Venue Partner | Owner/Founder, Sayulita Rentals :: Sayulita, MX