Ivy Mollenkamp couldn't imagine what her boyfriend Ronnie Bruland had done when the Barneys saleswoman discreetly pulled her aside and told her he was being held by security. Turns out it wasnt anything that he had done, but what he was about to do which was get down on one knee and propose. I wanted to surprise her, said Ronnie, and I knew that if I took her to a cliff or a beach or someplace like that, shed immediately know what was going on. So I had to wing it. But that's where the spontaneous part ended and his romantic plans took over. After the proposal, Ronnie whisked his fiance to the cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean and then on a helicopter ride to Catalina Island, where they spent the weekend.

Their wedding, too, was a multi-phase event, starting with a chartered plane to transport guests from Los Angeles to Mexico for five days of celebration, with their Saturday wedding sandwiched between soccer matches, Mexican buffets, fireworks, and cocktail parties. Altogether, some 200 guests took over the hotel and several villas of El Careyes Beach Resort; a favorite vacation spot of the couple.

I first came upon it about a dozen years ago when I was on a surfing trip, said Ronnie, Its this really amazing place in the middle of the jungle and it was like something out of Fantasy Island completely unexpected and out of place, but in a good way.

The sites intimacy and beauty lent itself perfectly to the festivities. The outdoor ceremony site, for example, required nothing more than a white linen canopy topped with colorful bougainvillea. That part of Mexico is very rustic, with a great play of whites and sands against the blue of the water and the pink of the bougainvillea, said Ivy, so we could let those things speak for themselves.

After the ceremony, guests moved to the first floor of the Casa Sol de Occidente villa for mojitos and margaritas accompanied by grilled shrimp and ceviche; an authentic Mexican dinner was served on the second floor overlooking the infinity pool and the ocean. Uplighting and arrangements of white and pink roses and white orchids set the scene at the villa, already fashioned with colorful art a lounge area of comfortable couches, prelude to the stylings of the DJ. Guests partied until about 3 a.m., not surprising since many of them had known each other for years. In fact, it was those mutual friends who had been the catalyst for the couples first chance meeting in Las Vegas.

For their honeymoon, the couple headed to a private villa in Kauai, Hawaii, for some alone time. We were so happy to be married and it was really relaxing, but we were also a little sad that our family and friends weren't there with us, said Ivy. Everyone being together in Mexico really made it a magical week.