Cabo Wedding at Sunset Monalisa
A Classic Wedding At Sunset Monalisa
Courtney and James got married at Sunset Monalisa in Los Cabos, a place that held a special meaning for both of them as their families had been vacationing there for over 15 years.
We started the day at Garza Blanca for getting ready pictures then we went to Sunset Monalisa for their beauiful ceremony officiated for Minister Marco with the Cabo Archa just behind them.
The entire wedding group was super friendly and fun. They enjoyed the amazing Sunset Monalisa Restaurant, the perfect weather, all the little details of attention Courtney and James prepared for them. After dinner and speeches at the restaurant, it was time to get the party started. I love people that know how to have fun!!
Big congratulations to Courtney and James . Thanks for having me as your Cabo wedding photographer!!
Cabo Wedding: Sunset Monalisa
Wedding photographer: Gvphotographer
Design and decor: Main Event Cabo Warehouse
Planning: Cabo Wedding Services
Music: Dj mijares
Wedding Dress: Berta wedding dress
- Tell us about your wedding! What was the inspiration behind your day? Did you have a specific theme, style or color palette? Did you incorporate any cultural or religious traditions in any part of your day?
I wanted my wedding to fit my personal style which is really bohemian and kind of. I definitely wanted a lot of the pampas, A lot of gold. I’ve always known that I didn’t want to wear a stark white wedding dress so I wanted a color palette that would kind of blend with my wedding dress. Since my dress was more of a nudish- off white, I chose a blush nude color palette and had my husband wear more of a burgundy to complement the light pink of the wedding.
- Let´s talk wedding decor. How did you decorate your space for the ceremony and the reception? Was any part of the decor DIY?
For my ceremony I really wanted a circle arch. I read that circles represent totality and wholeness so I definitely wanted that embodied at the altar. When I search the Internet I was really loving the pampas within the circles with roses to give my wedding an island vibe but still classy with the roses. To be budget friendly, I decided to move the ceremony arch inside at our sweetheart table which worked perfectly. I also had advice cards placed in front of all of my guests so that they could write cute wedding/marriage advice for the couple.
- What were the florals like in your wedding? Did you use flowers in any of your design elements like the bridal bouquets, centerpieces or ceremony backdrop? Did they play an important part in the overall style of your wedding?
My florals included roses and pampas! I really wanted the roses because to me, they are so romantic! However I fell in love with Pampas when looking at venues near water. I definitely made sure my arch and centerpieces has a mixture of the two!
- Did you personalize the day in any way (food trucks, guest entertainment or any other way)? What were some of your favorite parts of your wedding?
Since our wedding was very intimate with a total of 40 people we didn’t really get a chance to add any personalization like food trucks. My favorite part of our wedding day was the ceremony. We chose a harpist play at the ceremony which gave it a very elegant taste. He was able to play some American songs that the guests recognized, which was a plus! They loved it!
- Let´s talk fashion. How did you both choose your wedding day look? Describe the looks in detail.
I love fashion so I really took the time to research dress designers that fit my style. I knew I wanted something fitted and slightly sexy so when I found Berta, I knew I found my designer!! I traveled to New York and found LFay Bridal, the only dress shop in NY who carries Berta. For the groom, James wanted a classic, fitted suit. He choose the color burgundy to have a nice blend of our wedding colors!
- How did you meet? Tell us about the proposal.
James and I actually attended Howard University together for undergrad however we didn’t know each other. It wasn’t until 2013 that we actually met and went on our first date. We were in a long distance relationship for five years until James moved in. On July 29, the weekend of his birthday, James proposed in Tampa, Florida at Clearwater beach with two of our friends.
- What was the most anticipated or special moment of your wedding day?
James and I were really looking forward to the speeches. We handpicked friends who either introduced us or played a pivotal part in our relationship. Speech of the night went to James’ dad. He touched on James’ childhood, his first impressions of me and my accent (lol) as well as some tips for marriage.
- Do you have any wedding planning or marriage advice that you wou´d like to share with other couples planning their day?
My best advice would be “Do what YOU want.” Make sure nobody influences your decision. Stick to your budget!
Esperanza Cabo San Lucas Weddings
Bride and groom on the beachduring a beautiful sunset after their wedding at Hotel Esperanza
A Beach Wedding for Laura & Todd
Esperanza in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Stunning Esperanza Wedding in Cabo San Lucas
The breathtaking destination wedding of Laura and Todd unfolded at the magnificent Esperanza in Cabo San Lucas. This luxurious venue, perched on a cliff overlooking the Sea of Cortez, was the dream location Laura had envisioned 12 years ago.
Their wedding week began with a family vacation, allowing their six children and close family members to relish in the beauty of Cabo San Lucas. The venue's natural splendor meant minimal decor was needed, with the focus being on the couple and the awe-inspiring surroundings. The decor was chic and minimalistic, with lush tropical foliage and candles setting the ambiance. The tables were adorned with white roses, orchids, and tropical leaves, complementing the soft color palette of neutral, tan, and eucalyptus green.
The couple's spiritual connection was evident, with Todd's Jewish heritage being honored through the breaking of the wine glass and the hora dance at the reception. Entertainment was lively, with a band setting the mood and memorable moments like Laura's veil being playfully taken by the wind as she descended the steps to the ceremony site. Their beach photoshoot during the cocktail hour captured the essence of their love, with the golden hour lighting and aerial drone shots adding a magical touch.
Fashion-wise, Laura looked radiant in a Spanish-inspired dress with lace details and a flattering sweetheart neckline, while Todd looked dapper in a linen suit. Their love story, which began on Match.com, culminated in a heartwarming proposal in a rented movie theater, where Todd surprised Laura with a personalized movie and the presence of their close friends and family.
The highlight of the day was their heartfelt vow exchange on the cliff, a moment that surpassed all expectations and was truly magical. Their journey, from the early days of their relationship to this beautiful day, serves as a testament to their enduring love.
A massive congratulations to Laura and Todd! Thank you for allowing me to capture these moments as your Cabo wedding photographer!
WEDDING VENUE, CATERING, CAKE, & ACCOMMODATIONS: Esperanza, Auberge Resort Collection
WEDDING PLANNER: Cecilia
Q1: Tell us about your wedding! What was the inspiration behind
your day? Did you have a specific theme, style or color palette?
Did you incorporate any cultural or religious traditions in any part
of your day?
We had an intimate destination wedding so that our family and close friends
could share in our celebration longer than just one day. We arrived in Cabo
San Lucas one week prior to our wedding so we could have a family
vacation with our six children and other family members. The venue was so
spectacular that we didn't need a lot of decor or
embellishments. The focus was on us and the gorgeous surroundings. The
color palette was very soft with shades of neutral, tan and eucalyptus green.
My husband and I are more spiritual than religious, but he is Jewish, so we
added the breaking of the wine glass at the end of the ceremony and danced
the hora at the reception.
Q2: Let's talk wedding decor. How did you decorate your space
for the ceremony and the reception? Was any part of the decor
DIY?
The venue was so beautiful that we didn't need much decor. We wanted a
chic, minimal tropical vibe. We used lush green tropical foliage as the
backdrop for the ceremony and lots of candles for the tables. We had 48
guests including us so we had two tables of 24 during the dinner reception. It
created a nice intimate family style gathering for or evening. The only DYI
items were the gift bags for the guests. Since it was a destination
wedding I had to use the local vendors for the execution of my vision. As an
interior designer it was easy to express my vision, but hard not to be right
there helping with all the details.
Q3: What were the florals like in your wedding? Did you use
flowers in any of your design elements like the bridal bouquets,
centerpieces or ceremony backdrop? Did they play an important
part in the overall style of your wedding?
We had white roses and orchids with tropical leaves for the bouquets. That
same theme carried onto the table settings and backdrop at the ceremony.
The flowers and greenery added a nice touch to the overall look and feel of
the wedding ambiance, but they weren't the primary focus.
Q4: Did you personalize the day in any way (food trucks, guest
entertainment etc.)? What were some of your favorite parts of your
wedding?
We had a live band for our guest entertainment which helped to get the party
started! My favorite highlight was when I was walking down the steps to the
ceremony site, my veil flew off my head. It was priceless! It was a blessing
in disguise because it was super windy, and the veil would have been
wrapped around my face. lol I also loved our beach photography during the
cocktail hour. The lighting was so beautiful and the aerial drone shots were
insane. At the end of the photo shoot, we did some shots near the water. It
was us against the waves! Luckily, we won!
Q5: Let's talk fashion. How did you both choose your wedding day
look? Describe the looks in detail.
Since we were having an outdoor wedding (in the summer), we both wanted
to be cool. My dress was Spanish inspired with beautiful lace details. The
sweetheart neckline was very flattering on my physique. I wanted to
highlight my arms and shoulders because my husband loves that part of my
body. I wanted a shorter train so it would be easier to dance and run on the
beach. I wore my hair down in an old Hollywood inspired style. My makeup
was natural, yet dramatic around the eyes. I wanted to feel and look
stunning! The groom opted for a linen suit, a crisp white shirt, and dark
camel brown shoes. We wanted our attire to feel chic, stylish without being
overly formal, which is why we opted for no ties.
Q6: How did you meet? Tell us about the proposal.
We met almost 10 years ago on Match.com. Yes, one in five marriages
result in marriage according to the website. LOL This was the second time
around for both of us. We have three children each, so yes, you can say we
are the Brady Bunch. The proposal was beyond epic! My husband rented a
movie theater to propose to me. I thought we were going to see a private
show of Dirty Dancing. However, he created a 20-minute legit
movie with more than just photos. The highlights included John Legend, The
Brady Bunch, SNL Justin Timberlake skit, Pretty Woman and so much
more! When we stood up (right before the actual proposal), I turned around
and our close friends, children and parents were there! I was beyond
surprised and touched.
Q7: What was the most anticipated or special moment of your
wedding day?
The most anticipated moment was exchanging our wedding vows on a cliff
overlooking the Sea of Cortez. I had a dream 12 years ago that I was getting
married on a cliff. I search the world to find it and it happened to be at
Esperanza in Cabo San Lucas. That moment exceeded my expectations, and
it was beyond magical.
Q8: Do you have any wedding planning or marriage advice that
you'd like to share with other couples planning their day?
My best advice is... don't sweat the small stuff. Mentally prepare for
something to not go as you planned. Typically, that happens, and you need
to pivot without getting stressed. Whatever it is, it will be perfect in the end.
Try to be present for every minute and notice all the details. Soak it up
because it goes by quickly. Ultimately remember why you are getting
married. It's a sacred and special day for you and your spouse, no one else!