Intro Blog: Natasia Felmet

I never imagined that my own wedding journey would lead me here, helping other couples plan destination weddings in the most beautiful places in the world, but looking back, it makes perfect sense.

Weddings and travel have always been two of my very favorite things. The idea that I now get to combine both, while helping couples celebrate one of the most meaningful moments of their lives, still feels like a dream. And truthfully, that dream became possible because of my own destination wedding experience with Barefoot Bridal.

Unlike many couples, we didn’t immediately know we wanted a destination wedding. What we did know was that we wanted something small, intimate, and meaningful, surrounded by our closest friends and family. As for the venue? I was completely all over the place. I explored everything from buying out local favorite restaurants to planning a microwedding in the nearby mountains. With every venue tour and quote, I found myself becoming more discouraged. Nothing felt quite right, and the numbers were adding stress instead of excitement.

During yet another wedding brainstorming session with my then-fiancé and my mom, she suggested something that changed everything: Why not combine the wedding with an epic family vacation? That one idea planted the seed, and from that moment on, I was sold on a destination wedding.

We knew we wanted our wedding to be genuinely fun for everyone attending, especially my now stepson, and Costa Rica had always been high on our travel wish list. I began researching Costa Rica weddings and quickly fell in love with Dreams Las Mareas, a stunning, family-friendly, all-inclusive resort tucked away in the lush Guanacaste province. I envisioned exchanging vows surrounded by tropical greenery and rainforest, not sand beneath my feet, and I knew this was it.

But then reality set in. How do you plan a wedding in another country you’ve never even visited? How do you organize travel for an entire group of guests? How do you make sure everything goes smoothly when you’re thousands of miles away?

That’s when Barefoot Bridal entered the picture and everything changed.

They guided me through every step: confirming our wedding date and venue, reserving room blocks, and creating a website that made it easy for our guests to book and manage their travel. For the first time, I felt supported, confident, and excited instead of overwhelmed.

Then, on our travel day, the unexpected happened.

At 3 a.m., I woke up to an airline alert: all flights into Liberia, Costa Rica had been canceled due to the effects of a recent hurricane. Panic doesn’t even begin to describe it. But while I was still processing the news, the Barefoot Bridal team was already in motion working to reroute guests through different airports, shifting travel days, arranging last-minute transfers, and negotiating with the resort to honor our original room rates despite the changes.

I genuinely don’t know what would have happened without them.

In the end, we made it to Costa Rica, and our wedding went on as planned. We exchanged vows in the most breathtaking garden, surrounded by lush rainforest, and what began as a stressful journey turned into an unforgettable bonding experience for our entire group. That week remains one of the most incredible weeks of my life.

The best part of our destination wedding, beyond the views and the adventure, was the time. An entire week spent unplugged, celebrating, exploring, and truly being present with the people we love most. That’s something I’ll cherish forever, and it’s something that simply doesn’t happen at a traditional one-day wedding.

About a year after my wedding, Barefoot Bridal reached out to ask if I’d like to join their team. Saying yes felt like coming full circle. My dream wedding was made possible because of their support, and now I get to be that support for other couples, helping them navigate the planning, calm the stress, and create once-in-a-lifetime memories of their own.

I know how overwhelming destination wedding planning can feel. I’ve lived it. And that’s exactly why I’m so passionate about making the process easier, smoother, and genuinely joyful for every couple I work with. You don’t have to figure it all out alone, and I’d be honored to help bring your dream destination wedding to life.