Nicaragua Destination Wedding at the Still Salty Escape
When I tell you I have NEVER had a harder time choosing images for a blog post, I mean it. Months later, I am still recovering from this wedding weekend of my dreams – it was so difficult to say goodbye to Kayla & Alix after such a magical weekend in paradise! So buckle up, because I’m about to gush about this intimate Nicaragua wedding at the Still Salty Escape for as long as I can get away with. ✨
A Tropical Wedding Weekend in Northern Nicaragua
A weekend in paradise at the Still Salty Escape
I would be remiss if I didn’t tell you a bit about Kayla & Alix before diving into their big day, because these two are some of the coolest humans I have ever had the honor of meeting, and they incorporated so much of their unique love story + personalities into their wedding. They chose to host their big day on their property in Nicaragua, which also happens to be an absolutely stunning surf + yoga retreat they’ve poured their hearts into. Located in Northern Nicaragua, this retreat focuses on cultivating connection through nature, movement, community, & service, all while surrounded by the ocean, palm trees, and tropical greenery galore – a.k.a. paradise.
The Still Salty Escape offers a wide array of meditative experiences, all with the retreat’s 5 core pillars in mind: nature, movement, service, community, & connection. From yoga retreats to nature therapy to manifestation retreats, every person who steps foot onto this magnificent property will have the chance to unplug and just escape for a little bi!
If you’re lucky enough to attend a retreat at this paradise in Northern Nicaragua, you’ll get to enjoy a spacious yoga shala, meditation shala, massage shala, hammocks, & more – all with easy access to breathtaking ocean and garden views, as well as surf breaks within walking distance. Kayla & Alix have truly built the most incredible little slice of paradise that provides unforgettable experiences to its guests, and have brought all of their unique visions to life so beautifully.
Oh, and did I mention that they also built their home on the property? Again: coolest couple ever. Life goals right there!
Kayla & Alix’s unique vision for their special weekend
If you couldn’t already tell by the fact that they run their own surf + yoga retreat on the beaches & in the jungle of Nicaragua, Kayla & Alix are all about experiencing everything that this beautiful earth has to offer in the most sustainable way possible. They run all sorts of magical events on their property, from nature therapy retreats to yoga & astrology retreats to manifestation retreats. Their personal beliefs and values bled into their wedding day, which made for a really special, personalized celebration that fully aligned with the way they live their lives! It was such a treat to witness them sharing their space with their loved ones, guiding them through the many experiences that the retreat has to offer.
Kayla & Alix hosted their closest friends and family in this jungle sanctuary not just for a day, but for an entire weekend. They dreamt up a casual yet chic celebration with some gorgeous tropical (and sustainable) decor, but also a rustic vibe to match the environment. They even built their own arch from driftwood from the beach – so creative!
If you’d like to hear more about the vision for this wedding weekend straight from the couple, check out the post that Kayla wrote on her personal blog!
Cozy, intimate pre-wedding celebrations
Like I said, these two went all-out when it came to providing an unforgettable experience for each & every one of their guests. They had their friends & family arrive a few days early, and spent those days helping everyone settle in + get to know each other. Delicious plant-based meals, cozy evenings under the trees, and morning surfs with your best friends? Sounds like a grand time to me!
An intention ceremony in lieu of a rehearsal dinner
Instead of the traditional rehearsal dinner the day before their ceremony, Kayla & Alix opted for something that felt a little more “them:” an intention ceremony (after an early-morning surf, of course). Guests gathered in the Yoga Shala for a meditation & breathwork session led by one of Kayla & Alix’s closest friends, focused on the heart and setting intentions for the weekend. Each guest was asked to write their intentions for Kayla & Alix’s marriage on compostable cards with wildflower seeds, and the beautiful brides then planted those cards into holes around their home! Talk about a memorable way to honor your guests, your love, and the land you’re celebrating on.💚
A laid-back, simple-yet-chic wedding day at the Still Salty Escape
Once the day of the ceremony rolled around, all of Kayla & Alix’s guests had already been having a fabulous time at the retreat, and were ready to celebrate the soon-to-be-spouses! Kayla & Alix did a sweet first look before their ceremony, which was held in the courtyard in front of their home. Dinner was held beneath the most magical fairy lights & bamboo lanterns afterward, a delicious array of plant-based dishes. Everybody had an absolute blast dancing the night away, toasting to the newlyweds & munching on the seemingly never ending snacks while the music was poppin’!
Post-wedding brunch + some R&R
The next day, Kayla & Alix sent their loved ones off with another early-morning surf, a delicious Nicaragua-style breakfast, and a final chance to relax by the pool before heading back home. It sounds like this was such a special way to spend these last moments with all of their guests in paradise before everyone got back to real life – I love love when couples host a day-after brunch of some sort like this!
Northern Nicaragua wedding vendors
A huge thank you to the rest of the vendors who helped Kayla & Alix bring their dream destination wedding at the Still Salty Escape to life!
Venue: Still Salty Escape | @stillsaltyescape
Florist: Fellow Florist | @fellowflorist
Make sure to give Kayla a follow on Instagram to keep up with her personal blog + yoga trainings, and all the magic that she & Alix continue to create at the Still Salty Retreat (which you can find on Instagram here)!
Northern Nicaragua Destination Wedding Photographer
After having the honor of photographing Kayla & Alix’s wedding weekend in Northern Nicaragua, I would do absolutely ANYTHING to go back and do it all over again! If you’ve fallen in love with the Still Salty Escape and everything about their one-of-a-kind wedding weekend like I have, you can reach out to the retreat center via their website to inquire about hosting your own wedding here. I’d love to tag along and document your special day in this dreamy tropical paradise – inquire with me here and let’s chat allll about your magical Nicaragua destination wedding! ✨
For more dreamy wedding & elopement inspiration, take a peek at a few more of my recent blog posts below!
