It’s officially December! While everyone is busy getting winter jackets and snow boots ready, those of you who’ve planned a destination wedding, are busy packing your extra sunscreen, bikinis and flip flops.

We think it’s trè chic to plan a sun-splashed destination wedding in the middle of the cold winter months, just ask X-Factor host Mario Lopez who wed his girlfriend of four years, Courtney Mazza. They said “I do,” in a sunset, winter-wonderland-meets-beach themed wedding in Punta Minto, Mexico over the weekend. For the “aww” factor, Lopez and Mazza’s 2-year-old daughter Gia served as flower girl, wearing a dress that matched her mom’s Ines di Santo gown. The reception then kicked off with a little help from an authentic mariachi band.

(Photo Credit: InTouch Magazine)

If you’re planning a destination wedding, we can show you a few of Lopez and Mazza’s ideas that you can borrow to make your own wedding an island winter wonderland!

First, you need a stunning beach backdrop for your guests to fawn over. Believe it or not, finding a spectacular beach location is the easy part! Jamaica, The Bahamas, St Lucia, or Antigua… take your pick!

Second, you need wedding colors to coordinate the winter-on-the-beach look. We suggest a palette of seafoam, seaglass and soft sand for a soft, yet glowing, palette. Add a few sprinkles of white for winter beauty.

Third, you need a wintery gown to give a December feel, but light and airy to keep an island look. While Mazza’s Ines di Santo gown was all white, we think we can do you one better. We suggest taking a look at one of our past featured Weddingmoons’ Dress of the Day designers, Abed Mahfouz. His 2012 Spring-Summer collection offered up spectacular winter themed wedding gowns that we think would be perfect for a winter beach wedding. The mix of soft winter blue tulle and designer details that look like mini icicles definitely suggest winter everywhere!

Fourth, for the coup de grace, add an authentic steel drum band in place of a mariachi band to your own wedding reception to keep the island/Caribbean flavor going!

Last but not least, Mario and Courtney’s wedding will apparently be airing on TLC on December 8. We can do you one better! Hold your own wedding viewing premiere party! With your expert wedding video and your personal theme, have a private viewing for those friends and family of yours who may not have been able to make it to your wedding. A little party nosh, some drinks and your gorgeous video can rival any network TV wedding debut!