It might feel strange to describe a wedding design as “sexy” but that’s exactly what this black and white Cabo celebration is. With vows on the beach followed by a reception on the rooftop, the incredible Hotel El Ganzo was exactly what Claire and Eric were looking for in their destination “I do.” Modern brides, consider this gallery by Emma Rose your new inspiration happy place.
From Emma Rose… San Jose del Cabo has always been Claire and Eric’s favorite spot so when it came time to plan their own wedding, they couldn’t imagine a better location to bring all their closest family and friends to celebrate. Located in San José del Cabo, Hotel El Ganzo is unlike anything else you will find in the greater Cabo area. They have created a place that celebrates diversity, creativity, artistry, and sustainability. It’s a place where individual expression reigns and guests can indulge and enjoy Los Cabos like never before.
One of the things you will first notice about Hotel El Ganzo is a unique style. El Ganzo itself actually means “The Goose”, a nod to the property’s long, white, sinewy exterior alongside the catching work of collaborative artists led by Pablo Sanchez-Navarros, who created the space. The hotel blends a modernist style with rustic elements, with clean white architecture juxtaposing in eye-catching ways with warm wood tones and bright accents.
When my second shooter and I arrived, we knew that this was going to be one of the most beautiful and unique weddings we’d ever photograph in our careers.
From the bride… In order to not distract from the beauty of the venue, we wanted to keep our decor and everything else really clean and simple. Our color palette was black and white with some natural wood touches and a bit of gold sprinkled in here and there. Overall, our vision was we just wanted to all of our friends and family to have an amazing time so we focused more on ways we thought would enhance their experience instead of focusing on going overboard on decorations or other details.
Our ceremony was at the beach club at Hotel El Ganzo, on a palm tree lined grass strip that juts out into the ocean. When we saw the location for the first time, Eric and I fell in love with it. It was unlike anything I’d ever seen. Our guests all took boats out to the location and back which we thought was a fun extra touch.
Everyone took boats to and from the ceremony which was fun. We had beers and margaritas for our guests out on the grass for before and after the ceremony which people seemed to really enjoy. Eric’s dad officiated the ceremony which made it all the more special for us. When Eric walked down the aisle with his parents we had a Spanish guitarist playing his parents wedding song, and when I walked down with my dad they played my parents wedding song. I loved the little details like that!
The reception was on the rooftop at Hotel El Ganzo. The view from up there is incredible and we loved the drastic change from the ceremony being by the beach to the reception having a more modern vibe. Everyone got to the reception and took their seats right as the sun was setting, which was spectacular. Our coordinator did a wonderful job with the decor and everything was picture perfect.
My advice for other brides planning a destination wedding is to have fun with it and don’t stress the little details. As long as you’re in this beautiful location with your closest family and friends – that’s really all that matters!
Photography: Emma Rose | Videography: Mass Video Pro | Event Design: Emporio | Event Design: Diamante Events | Event Planning: Alejandra Niguyen | Floral Design: Sergio Farias | Wedding Dress: Sarah Seven | Makeup: Los Cabos Makeup | Hair and Makeup: Los Cabos Makeup | DJ: Ricardo Patino | Groom's Attire: The Black Tux | Venue: Hotel El Ganzo | Bridesmaids' Robes: Helena Quinn | Jewelry Designer: Kendra Scott Jewelry | Photography - Assistance: Kelsey Leigh Photography | Wood Sign: Jenna Davis Writes