During their senior year at NYU, Bridget Fitzgerald and Franco Oneglia were introduced by a mutual friend, who would later be part of their wedding party. “She calls us her most successful Cupid project,” smiles Bridget. After a romantic proposal in the gardens of Musée Rodin in Paris, the New York City-based couple planned a spring destination wedding in Riviera Maya. 

“Franco is from Argentina and all of his extended family and childhood friends live there. My family is from New York and live in the U.S., as do most of our friends,” starts Bridget, adding that Franco’s parents live in Mexico City. Thus, “Mexico made sense as a middle ground between Argentina and the U.S.!” Selecting a stunning resort they visited with Franco’s family, the pair also hired a wedding planner specializing in the area to curate their dream wedding. 

To complement the lush, green landscape of the five-star property, Bridget and Franco knew they wanted to have a lot of color throughout their wedding day – especially since the welcome party focused on tropical greenery and white florals. “Pink and red florals popped beautifully against the natural setting,” adds Bridget of the décor. Over-the-top florals, pampas grass, and an overall tropical vibe were the main elements of their vision. “Our ceremony arch and the hanging structure over the dance floor were my favorite elements,” the bride adds. 

On the day of the ceremony, 180 friends and family members found their seats atop cane chairs for the alfresco “I dos” in front of an asymmetrical arch comprised of pampas grass, tropical greenery, and bright pink florals that also lined the aisle. The bride’s cousin officiated the vow exchange, and personal elements were incorporated throughout the ceremony, such as an ancient Celtic hand-fasting ritual as a nod to Bridget’s Irish roots and a special blessing of their rings by Franco’s abuela using holy water she collected from the site in Jordan where Jesus was baptized. 

Since the venue the pair selected is situated in a mangrove forest and filled with lagoons and canals, the couple decided to have their loved ones transported by small boat along one of the canals from ceremony to reception. “Many of our guests told us this was one of their favorite and most magical parts of the wedding,” affirms the bride. As the newlyweds boarded the last boat and arrived to the reception site, “all 180 guests – everyone we love – were standing on the dock, the reception décor looked better than I could have imagined, and I knew an unforgettable evening of celebration and fun was ahead of us,” reminisces Bridget. 

“We were going for ‘jungle disco’ on the dance floor!”

Attendees enjoyed a sit-down dinner service at round tables covered with ivory linens or long wooden tables. Tall centerpieces comprised of vibrant, textural pink florals and lush tropical greenery decorated the lively tablescapes, as did fun place settings with fringe napkins, colorful illustrated menus, azure-hued glassware, and beautiful hand-painted alebrijes wedding favors, which were sourced by the pair’s wedding planner while she was on a trip to Oaxaca. 

To honor their adorable Shiba Inu, Vinny, the dog’s likeness was incorporated throughout the décor. One of the reception bars was even named “Vinny’s Bar” and made complete with Vinny-themed cocktails, napkins, and drink stirrers. This and other fun elements, such as a light-up dance floor, disco balls, body painters, and live musicians, made the day so “them.” 

“Our goal was to throw an amazing party for all of our guests who traveled from around the world to celebrate with us,” Bridget confirms. “We value our relationships with friends and family over everything, so we planned our wedding to ensure our guests had as much fun as possible.” 

Later in the night, friends and family savored a three-tier wedding cake with two flavors: dark chocolate cake with dulce de leche filling and vanilla cake with strawberries and cream. “The frosting design was inspired by traditional Mexican tiles, and it was decorated with fresh flowers that matched our color scheme,” describes the bride. Late-night snacks, including tacos and churros, were passed on the dance floor around 1AM, along with Gatorade to keep the party going into the morning. “We were going for ‘jungle disco’ on the dance floor!” says Bridget. 

For a unique surprise they’ll never forget, the father of the groom gifted the newlyweds with a four-song Broadway medley performed by a group of talented local singers. “Franco and I are the biggest Broadway fans, and hearing ‘Masquerade’ from The Phantom of the Opera live on our wedding day was a dream come true,” she muses. All in all, the day was everything they ever dreamed. “Our wedding weekend was so perfect, sometimes I can’t believe it was real. We would not change one single thing,” smiles the bride.

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