Falling in Love with Puerto Vallarta

My first visit to Puerto Vallarta was about 15 years ago. Quite honestly, I don’t remember much about it other than Senor Frog’s and Carlos O’Briens (which is probably why I don’t remember the rest of the trip). It wasn’t until I met my now husband four years ago that I really got to experience Vallarta for the amazing place that it is.

We stayed with my husband’s family friends who own Villa la Casita. Walking in the door of their villa for the first time was a WOW moment. I had never seen anything like it: spectacular views, private infinity pool, all rooms facing the ocean with open windows/walls…true living on the outside. We spent our long weekend there lounging in and by the pool, eating out at some of the local favorites and being tourists. One of my favorite activities was the canopy tours through Los Veranos. I am a little bit scared of heights, but zip lining through the jungle was really exhilarating!

We visited Vallarta one more time the following year, and again, had an amazing time. When we got in engaged in the fall of 2008, we debated about our wedding venue. We were living in Park City, Utah at the time and had each been there most of our lives. We looked at venues around Park City, but nothing really felt like “us.” Then it dawned on us…what about a destination wedding to Puerto Vallarta?

Before long, we had a date set, a Puerto Vallarta wedding planner and catering company contracted and all we needed was a venue. We booked another trip to Mexico so we could tour the possibilities. Our wedding planner, Zac from EM Vallarta, set up several site tours of villas for us to consider. All of them were beautiful, but when we arrived at our last destination, I knew it was the place before we even walked in the door.

Villa Estrella Mar was simply breath-taking. With 6 bedrooms and more than 20,000 square feet, it was large enough to accommodate both of our immediate families. The beach cove in front of the villa was small and fairly private. And best of all, talk about WOW factor upon entering…we knew our guests would be astounded.

Our wedding took place on the beach at Villa Estrella Mar on October 10, 2009. We were joined by 55 of our closest friends and family. Estrella Mar proved to be not only a beautiful spot for our ceremony on the beach, but the perfect place for our reception in the living area. Early October is the end of rainy season, so it was plenty humid. But our guests didn’t mind, especially by the end of the night when we all ended up in the pool…in our wedding clothes.


We spent a few weeks in Vallarta that fall and wondered what it would be like to live in such an incredible place. Little did we know then that we would be spending our first anniversary back on the beach at Estrella Mar…as residents of Puerto Vallarta.

-Stephanie