Alexa PenaVega as Ellie Hamilton on Destination Wedding

In Destination Wedding Alexa PenaVega is Ellie Hamilton a successful interior designer from Los Angeles, who is given the task of planning the perfect destination wedding for her little sister. (Photo Credit- Copyright 2017 Crown Media United States, LLC/Photographer- Jeremy Lee)

 

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Alexa PenaVega and Jeremy Guilbaut star a new original movie in Hallmark Channel’s “Destination Wedding”. We have the opportunity to talk to Alexa about the experience filming in Mexico, her husband, Carlos and son, Ocean King PenaVega.

 

Tell me about your character in “Destination Wedding”

I play Ellie. She is a kind and giving person but almost to a fault. She pushes her needs out of the way in order to make those around her happy. Ellie needs to find a little more balance.

 

This is a romantic plot - do you think something like this could happen in real life? 

This is a true story! Nina, the writer, flew to Mexico for a wedding only to never see one. The bride and groom never showed up and all the guests were left at the resort figuring out what to do. At least she wrote us a happier ending. 

 

What was it like to film in Acapulco, Mexico?

I absolutely love Mexico! This did not feel like work in the least. It was like a paid vacation. It was so great to be speaking spanish with everyone too.

 

Did anything fun or unexpected happen there while filming? 

My family flew down to visit. Very rarely do they want to come be on set with me. But they heard resort in Mexico and showed up. 

 

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“Destination Wedding” is a Front Street Picture in association with Anne Carlucci productions. Anne Carlucci is executive producer and Harvey Kahn is producer. James Head directed from a script written by Nina Weinman (Photo Credit- Copyright 2017 Crown Media United States, LLC/Photographer- Jeremy Lee)

 

What are you going to remember from Acapulco?

The crew and the beautiful sunsets. Working with the crew we had was so special. They worked so hard to help us get his project done in time and they nailed it. We would all dance and joke around on set. Not to mention all the food and fiestas (parties) on the beautiful beach. It was a special group. 

 

Tell us about your son Ocean – was he with you during filming?

He was there the whole time. I take him everywhere with me. It was the first time I had some extra help with him though. My husband and I really don't want to hire a nanny because ultimately we want to be there for him and do as much of the "parenting" ourselves! But since Los and I were both filming different projects at the same time my friend helped me watch Ocean during filming. I would breast feed between set ups! Hallmark was super helpful and accommodating with that. I know not all productions are baby friendly... but they could not have been better. Also, when our families arrived that helped a lot too because everyone wanted to play with the baby. So it took some pressure off.

 

Any plans for another baby? 

We would love to have more but right now we want to enjoy every little moment with Ocean. He is growing so fast and I don't want to miss out on these special moments. I would say in a couple of years we'd be ready for more.

 

What is next for you after this movie? Any more Hallmark movies?

There are some amazing things in the works. We will be announcing a fun collaboration with a company to start creating content and projects that we have been passionate about. And I start another Hallmark film in a month! 

 

Behind the scenes of #destinationwedding !!! Don't forget to tune in tonight at 9/8 central on @hallmarkchannel

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ALEXA PENAVEGA

Alexa PenaVega, a Miami native, is an actress and a singer. Her career began as a young girl in 1996, when she starred as Jo Harding in the hit film Twister. After that, she guest-starred in various television shows and films such as “The Bernie Mac Show,” “ER” and “Ghost Whisperer.” The movie that catapulted her to worldwide fame was the 2001 film Spy Kids, in which she starred as Carmen Cortez. After the enormous success of that movie, there were two sequels: Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams and Spy Kids 3D: Game Over, as well as the 2011 reprisal, Spy Kids: All the Time in the World. PenaVega went on to appear in many other films such as Sleepover, State’s Evidence, Odd Girl Out, Walkout, Remember the Daze, Repo! The Genetic Opera, Helix, The Devil’s Carnival and The Pregnancy Project. 

While PenaVega has an impressive movie filmography, she has also had massive success in other areas of the entertainment industry. She played Penny in Hairspray on Broadway, had TV roles in shows such as “Ruby & The Rockits,” and “Big Time Rush,” appeared in Aerosmith’s “Legendary Child” and was a contestant on Season 21 of “Dancing with the Stars.” PenaVega is also a singer – over the course of her Spy Kids career she contributed three songs to the various movie soundtracks (“Isle of Dreams,” “Game Over” and “Heart Drive”). She also sang “Christmas is the Time to Say I Love You” for Walt Disneys Records’ compilation album Songs to Celebrate the 25 Days of Christmas in 2009. 

In the last few years, PenaVega has been seen in movies such as 23 Blast, Machete Kills, Bounty Killer, Wicked Blood, The Remaining and The Hunter. 

PenaVega has been happily married to Carlos PenaVega since 2014 and they recently welcomed their first child. In her spare time, she enjoys gymnastics and freshwater fishing.