[section title=”The Planning”]
[field title=”Wedding Colors”]
My color palette was nature. For the ceremony arch I chose wildflowers, textured bark, blooming branches, which made somewhat unconventional, but beautiful sculptural art. For the reception, we used wildflowers, bark, and blooming branches for the pillars around the dance floors, and placed lots of candles on the tables.
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[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]
From the bride: A few adjectives that would describe the wedding: Wabi-Sabi Understated + minimal Desertscape Earthly Natural yet modern Ethereal Intimate Hypaethral Open Air Otherworldly- something larger than us Organic Whimsical Romance Mystical Magic. Alfresco WABI SABI CONCEPT In contrast to many, I have never harbored a childhood fantasy of a dream wedding. Given our fast-paced lifestyle and my ingenious tendencies, the mere thought of navigating through the process of wedding planning seemed more of a stress-induced obstacle rather than a long-awaited dream. I knew that if we were going to plan a wedding, I would need a more simplified vision centered around marrying my best friend, with everything else as fluff. And that’s exactly what we did. Then I discovered the Wabi Sabi concept, which became my fundamental muse. Sending my vision abroad to a magical place like Cabo, where I had limited hands-on involvement, seemed more feasible lol. Embracing the Wabi Sabi aesthetic, a Japanese way of living that encourages mindfulness and a slower pace of life. Embodying the appreciation of beauty in imperfect and incomplete things. It is characterized by a humble, modest, and simple atmosphere, rejecting everything excessive, extreme, and artificial, while emphasizing authenticity. Acknowledging that nothing is perfect and nothing lasts forever, but remember that imperfection and impermanence can also bring beauty and meaning to our lives. Embracing the fleeting moments while cherishing the present, because it’s all we truly have. And that, my friend, was the chef’s kiss.
I wanted an open-air poetic concept, something larger than us. I still can hardly believe how fortuitous it was for us to come across the venue. Los Agaves. It was still under construction, and I only had the fixed renders to go off of. However, the description alone stopped us in our tracks with its unexpected beauty. It was a perfect collision of poetry and chance. I was adamant about not wanting extravagant additions. We wanted the space to always remain the protagonist. I wanted the main attraction not to be visual but to be felt, an emotional presence, an overwhelming sense/expression of our love…for this accomplished the ‘decor’ to be made of things that’d give meaning beyond our wedding day. My color palette was nature. We did a ‘blessing of the rings’ during the ceremony which was such a special moment. His parents blessed over my ring, while mine blessed over his.. both giving acceptance into our families.
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[field title=”Proposal Story”]
I designed the ring with a local family friend (who also made my mom’s ring). Since it was during covid, the MCAD company they use is based in NYC, and was still shut down. We were told my sketch most likely wouldn’t come to life for at least a year. During this time Michael went to ask my parents for my hand in marriage, and at some point (timeline unknown lol) picked up the ring–one thing about Michael and I, we CANNOT keep anything from one another, especially when it comes to gifting. Michael then went on a bachelor trip.. a few beers later.. I am getting a call explaining how there’s “something in the house I have been eagerly waiting for”. Naturally, I started searching for what I knew to be the ring! It was in the ONLY drawer in his closet I could reach… I took it out.. started crying.. and haven’t taken it off since ha! So to answer this question, there wasn’t an actual proposal…
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[board_carousel title=”Getting Ready”]
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[board_carousel title=”Bridal Portraits”]
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[board_carousel title=”Flat Lays”]
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[board_carousel title=”First Look”]
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[section title=”The Fashion”]
[field title=”Wedding Gown”]
My wedding dress designer was Martina Liana, we added a high slit + reconstructed top.
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[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”][/field]
[field title=”Groomsman Attire”][/field]
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[board_carousel title=”Wedding Party”]
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[board_carousel title=”Ceremony”]
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[section title=”The Details”]
[field title=”Food & Drink”]
Signature Drinks: Hers- “Diablo” creme de cassis, ginger, vodka, ginger ale His- “Paloma” lime, grapefruit, aperol, tequila, grapefruit soda
For cocktail hour they passed around delightful Hors d’oeuvres that consisted of: grilled cheese/ braised greens / cotija + chihuahua cheese/ seared prawn/ shrimp salt / mojo de ajo. While playing our playlist filled with upbeat dj remixes of oldies, and trendy… it gave more lounge vibes, and was a huge hit! For the dinner, since we and most of our guests are from Louisiana, I wanted to incorporate a piece of home into the playlist. I described the playlist I made as a blend of soul, blues, jazz, and home, with Frank Sinatra sitting on the dock of a bay in New Orleans during a candlelit dinner with Willie Dixon. It was the perfect combination of genres that truly represented our roots. When I was planning the reception dinner, I had a clear vision of the space and atmosphere that I wanted to create. It was important to me to have a warm and intimate family-style dining experience that would bring our families together and create a sense of unity as we enjoyed a farm-to-table meal. We ate, laughed, cried, toasted, and most importantly, we were all presently in the moment. The experience we had was truly unforgettable and will forever be etched in our hearts. During this time, everyone mingled and laughed, and gave their heartfelt speeches. It was such an out-of-body experience, I can hardly describe it. I guess this is where my whole “not seen, but felt” played a big role. It was truly unparalleled anonymity. Michael’s only request was to have cigars, so we had an interactive cigar-rolling station. Which was a huge hit, I enjoyed a few myself!
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[field title=”Florals & Decor”]
I have always been more fond of wildflowers, textured bark, blooming branches, etc. I kept using the terms: alive, vivid, combinable harmony, unconventional, and sculptural art. At first, I was uncertain about having any kind of backdrop since the setting didn’t need any enhancement. I stumbled upon this exquisite window installation by Aiku Floral. If executed with precision, it’d be a true representation of everything I could ever dream of. I wanted to feel the immense presence of Mother Nature as she bestowed her blessing on us, Cabo Esencia exceeded my expectations. Given my intent vision, we chose to do a less-is-more approach with the overall decor… while having that feeling of being transported remain intact. I (Parris) designed the invitations, menus, place cards, and all of the additional stationery. The menus were a hit, the pages were sewn together.
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[field title=”Wedding Cake”]Dessert: Since neither of us are huge cake people, we opted for desserts instead.
Alfajores (Wedding Cookies) / soft coconut cookie with dulce de leche
Churros / dipping sauces
Mexican Cajeta Flan / baked in individual glass jars[/field]
[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”]
I had a specific idea in mind for the music throughout the day (sticking to my whole visionary sensational/emotion concept). Michael and I enjoy different genres of music, which made it difficult for me to choose just one. So, I decided to incorporate all the vibes instead. Because why not? And that, to me, was the icing on the cake.
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[field title=”Special Detail #1″]Following our wedding ceremony, Michael and I eagerly sought out a quiet, intimate space where we could raise a toast to our newly formed union. (I made a conscious effort for us to cherish every moment throughout the day to savor each and every little detail.) As we clinked our glasses and sipped our drinks, we just took a moment to be present with one another, as we took it all in! Suddenly, we noticed our guests had formed a LINE, eagerly waiting to capture the breathtaking sight of the orange and pink hues painting the sky. The beauty of that moment left Michael and I completely speechless as we watched from afar.
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[field title=”Special Detail #2″]
My unpopular opinion is that a wedding isn’t the ‘best day of your life’, it’s the first day of all the best days yet to come. It is important to prepare yourself more for your marriage than for your wedding day. Your wedding day is not the finish line, rather it is the starting point of the rest of your lives together. Living in this age sometimes seems impossible, especially with the rise of social media where we get to see lavish weddings that cost more than someone’s lifetime earnings. Although they are incredibly beautiful, weddings are not about the premium liquor, flowers, or monogrammed linens.. It’s about the unwavering love and support between two people, promising to be there for each other through the good days and bad, in sickness and in health… all while joyfully sharing that love with family and friends who witness and celebrate that bond. There’s no right or wrong way to celebrate your wedding day! Just remember your WHY. The reason why you’re celebrating in the first place, and do what you feel is best for you. Wear a peculiar dress, mismatch your shoes if you so please, sing your own song, dance your own dance. Do the unconventional. There are no hard and fast rules. Your wedding is all about you and your partner, regardless of the price tag or intricate details. Details of the day are so beautiful, but when you and your fiancè’s core is the driving force behind your decisions, it will undoubtedly be the best night of your lives. On your wedding day, remember that it is just one day and not a defining moment for your future. Lastly, a PSA to all future brides: you are the guest of honor, not the host.
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[field title=”Special Detail #3″]
My mom came in and surprised me, we made a last-minute dress-shopping trip… I told her we only had a few hours for I am probably the worst shopper known to man. While I was trying on some dresses at the bridal shop, I noticed a lady who I didn’t recognize. She was very kind and showed a lot of interest in my try-ons, which made me curious about who she was. It turned out that she was one of the designers from Martina Liana, visiting from Australia. Special Moment: During our welcome party, our guests eagerly waited for our arrival. As we were walking up, and admiring the breathtaking ocean view, they all cheered and gave us a warm welcome. I started to tear up while hugging and thanking them for coming all this way to celebrate with us. To my surprise, I noticed my 82-year-old grandmother waiting for me in the corner of the room. She had traveled by herself, from Louisiana, to surprise me! I was NOT okay, to say the least.. I completely lost it and a moment I’ll forever cherish.
Deciding to have a destination wedding was a tough decision for us since we both value our families greatly. I feel grateful to have both sets of grandparents alive, and Michael has his grandmother, but we recently lost his grandfather. Our hearts were heavy as we knew they wouldn’t be able to witness our big day. So, a few weeks leading up to the wedding, we decided to legally tie the knot and travel to the chapel at Michael’s grandmother’s senior living campus. We had an intimate ceremony with only our parents and grandparents present. I surprised Michael’s grandmother by wearing a dress she thought she had rid of, which was over 30 years old. It was the most perfect and heartwarming moment that meant so much to all of us. Our parents and grandparents were our witnesses and signed our marriage license. This moment will be eternally treasured. Morning of Wedding: On the morning of our wedding, Michael and I enjoyed the stunning views of Cabo together. He is my calming of all my storms, and I knew I wanted to spend some time with him before the chaos of the day began. Instead of waiting to see him for the first time at the altar, we decided to spend some time meditating and realigning ourselves. Michael’s sister Sydney, who was also officiating the wedding, led us in some transcendental and mindfulness meditation exercises. It was the perfect way to start our big day.
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[board_carousel title=”Couple Portraits”]
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[board_carousel title=”Reception”]
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Photography: LA76 Photography | Event Planning: Christina Mattos | Floral Design: Cabo Esencia Floral Design | Wedding Dress: Martina Liana Bridal | Ceremony Venue: Acre Resort | Reception Venue: Acre Resort | Accomodations: Hotel Marquis Los Cabos | Beauty: Piel Canela | Reception Dress: PatBo | Weddings Rings: A Bryan's Jewelers