Wedding | Sydney & Luke

5 minutes ago

7 min read

Tell us a little about yourselves!

We have known each other for almost 20 years. We met in middle school, and instantly became friends when Sydney moved to town as the new girl. We went through middle school, high school, and college together as best friends. We always ran in the same circle of friends and even lived in the same co-ed dorm building in college. While we were never connected romantically during those times, we always had a very strong connection and were very close with one another. Fast forward to when we both were back in our hometown after school; we were always around one another. After an extended period of pursuit (first from Luke), we started to show each other the possibility of romance. Our relationship is as strong as it is because it originated from a place of long-term companionship, deep trust, respect, and a genuine care for one another. We have a group of friends and family that love and care for us, and we were so blessed to have everyone travel to Mexico with us to celebrate our special day.

We enjoy making each other laugh, having fun together, exploring new places, and occasionally getting under one another's skin and poking fun. Our love for one another is authentic, and our friendship makes it all possible. One of our favorite parts of our relationship is that we can truly be ourselves around each other. No judgment, just the freedom to be ourselves and know that we love each other in our purest, most natural forms.

Why did you decide to get married where you did?

Our planner actually recommended the location. Our dream location was originally Europe, as we got engaged in the South of France. While we pivoted due to logistics, we still wanted that feel that parts of Europe give you. The narrow cobblestone streets, bright and lively architecture and interiors, and an underrated place that brought a sense of family, culture, and good vibes. Upon visiting, we actually found that San Miguel had all of the feel of Europe, and some aspects that we didn't even realize we could have in the location. The culture, the people, and the feel of the city ended up being such a plus, and it was a mix that really felt like us.

How many guests did you have?

What was your budget?

$80,000

Tell us about your outfits.

Sydney wore a strapless silk gown, with a corsetted bodice from designer Lihi Hod. For the second look, she changed into a Dalia dress from Brazilian designer Tjurs. Her overall vision for the day was to bring a sense of '90s minimalism with soft and elegant fabrics. Letting the gowns speak for themselves, she leaned into simple jewelry including pear diamond stud earrings, and wore pointed-toe slingbacks from Mango, always prioritizing comfort, and didn't want to break the bank on shoes that she would wear one time.

Luke wore an Italian Wool Tuxedo with a Peak Lapel, curated by Todd Snyder. He wore suede loafers and a black leather strap watch, and his favorite detail was a vintage Taxco Mexico sterling silver Art Deco brooch designed and created in Mexico, featuring a dancing woman.

We topped off the outfits with a personally curated scent for the wedding weekend. Sydney's, in particular, featured a fragrance sourced from France, in combination with a perfume oil that was crisp, warm, and gave notes of summer.

What was the most important aspect for you, in terms of planning your wedding?

The two most important aspects for us were, firstly, we wanted to curate a wedding that truly allowed the guests to feel like they were experiencing the event with us, and not just there to be a guest. Looking back on each event, it truly felt like we had created an experience that allowed us to be present and involved with our guests, which was extremely important to us.

Secondly, we only wanted to pick design elements that were an immediate and resounding "yes" to us. It was important for us to stay true to our original vision, so that looking back for years to come, we can say that we didn't budge. We made sure not to make decisions just to get across the finish line, to accommodate what other parties wanted, or to keep up with wedding trends. We wanted it to feel authentically like us.

Were there any elements that were important for you to incorporate?

One of the elements we prioritized was the staff and service. Having a black-tie wedding, we thought that it was crucial to have a level of service that matched. The staff we had (shoutout to Jase Catering) made sure that our guests never had to go find a drink (unless they wanted to go up to the bar), and during food service they didn't have to look far for a bite. We truly wanted our guests to feel like they were at a black tie event with a "dinner and a show" theme that we heavily expressed to our planner during the initial process (live music, dark intimate lighting, table side service, personalized menus, long family style table, etc). We also prioritized the food itself. When we were looking back on other weddings we had been guests of, one thing that was a common denominator was the food. We felt that when people think back on a wedding, the main things that come to mind were the food, the music, and the pictures and videos that they could view afterwards.

On the note of music, we had a wonderful DJ, a saxophonist, and a cello player for the day of. Between the cocktail hour, reception, and after-party playlists that Sydney put together for the DJ, we had roughly 15 hours of music for him to pick from.

One element that we cannot suggest enough is a do-not-play playlist. We gave the DJ about 50 songs that we wanted him to, under no circumstances, play at the wedding. Not to throw digs at anyone's music, but we really wanted to stick to our vibe and not play certain songs (think Cha Cha Slide, etc). Music is more than just listening but can also create a feeling. Every song was chosen to create an experience similar to how a song plays in a movie (think Interstellar, 500 Days of Summer, to name a few).

Any tips for couples getting married?

At the beginning stages, prioritize 2-3 things that are most important to you, especially for budget purposes. For us, it was entertainment, food, and stationery. We wanted to create an experience, similar to how brands create the feelings of gifted mailers and branded events, and Sydney works in marketing so this was non-negotiable.

Secondly, take mental notes of the little things: the look in their eyes when they see their loved ones but when they don't know you are watching, the spark in their eyes, and even how your wedding party shows up for you both. These are the little things you will cherish forever. Be mindful of each other's temperament and do what you can to put your partner at ease, whether it be taking a few things off your wife's plate beforehand, or reacting in the moment to see what your husband needs from you. Be sure to incorporate a handful of pre-scheduled moments throughout the day to spend with only your spouse. These will be the anchoring moments that you both remember throughout your night, that you still think about after, and will always remember.

Lastly, ladies, especially the "type A" brides or grooms out there, let your vendors, family, and wedding party do their thing and enjoy the moment. Bringing positive thoughts and beliefs into your wedding day or weekend is important - the only thing that matters is the unity between the bride and the groom.

Are there any vendors that you would like to tell us a little more about?

We are so thankful for our vendor team as everyone went above and beyond to make this day super special for us, especially Farhan of Wedding Erah, our planner and designer. It takes a village, and everyone was on top of it from the very beginning and until the end. We would work with them all over again if we could!

Our stationery team, One Mimosa Please, was a vendor Sydney had on her dream list for years. Based in Australia, they have worked with top influencers and brands in the world on weddings and events, so for a small couple from Dallas, Texas to secure them was an honor. From the first call, Alexandra went to understand us as a couple and elements that symbolized us or had happened to us. She was very upfront about how she worked. She emphasized creating things that haven't been done before; she wanted different and expected the same for us. From creating our wedding emblem (simply combining our initials to create a logo which resembled a bird - a take on "love birds" - iconic I know). Then for the official invites, she and her team molded an element from silicon to create a pop-out effect to add dimension.

Our wedding photographer, Brooke Nalani. She was heaven sent from the moment we connected in Mexico. Talk about emotional support, because not only was she our photographer, but she took the initiative to act as our liaison to guests, other vendors, and more. We jokingly tell people, she knew the emotion we were feeling before we were actually able to feel it. She did only what the bride and groom wanted /requested and from the start, and did far more than just capture the day. We asked for mainly documentary style imagery with a mix of film and digital, and prior to the wedding weekend, we created a detailed level shot list together. She made us both super comfortable, and essentially it was like working with a friend.

Photographer: Brooke Nalani @BrookeNalani | Planning: Wedding Erah @Weddingerah | Flora: Hoja de Otono @hoja.otono | Videographer: Sea Love Wedding Films @Sealoveweddingfilms | Ceremony & Reception Location: Casa Adela , San Miguel de Allende, Mexico @Casaadelamexico | Hire: Moba Rentals @mobarentalssma | HMUA: Danipal Makeup @team_danipalmakeup | Catering & Beverages: Jase Catering @jasecatering | Cake: Sophia Pedrazzi Cake Boutique @sophiapedrazzi_cakeboutique | Stationery: One Mimosa Please @onemimosaplease_ | Entertainment: DJ Esli Cano @djeslicano; Carlos Miranda Sax @carlosmirandasax | Content Creation: The Event Society San Miguel @tes_