Esperanza Wedding of Sherry & Eric

“It took my me and my husband 16 years to tie the knot,” says Sherry Ho about her marriage to Eric Cheng. “We met as freshmen in college. Though our memories of when we first met each other vary, our story began when I was looking for someone to be my salsa dance class partner. Intentional or accidental, my courageous salsa-challenged husband volunteered. Needless to say, we stopped going after the second class.”Over the course of nearly two decades, the couple dated on and off throughout their journey together. “Some of our friends called it love,” Sherry describes. “Some called it stubbornness. Some called it faith. We like to call it ‘magic’ that kept bringing us back together.”

A Sweet Wedding Proposal

After countless romantic trips, dinners, and spontaneous moments, Eric found a way to propose that Sherry remembers as “simple, genuine and real.” One morning, he placed an engagement ring on the nightstand next to his then-girlfriend and said, “This is how I imagine my life every morning. Given that we aren’t sick of each other by year 16, I think we are good for life.”

Choosing Cabo San Lucas

Having always envisioned an intimate destination wedding weekend with their closest friends and family, the couple wanted to say, “I do” in a location that reflected their personalities and style – sunny, beachy, festive, unique, elegant and brimming with excellent service and incredible food. They also wanted to choose a destination that most of their guests haven’t traveled to before, so everyone could experience it together. “When we finally decided on Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, my father jokingly said, ‘Who is going to travel so far to go to your wedding?’ because many had to travel long distances with layovers just to get there,” Sherry recalls. “We are extremely grateful that so many came from across the world just to celebrate with us.”

Filling the Wedding with Personality

With a mere six months to plan a destination wedding in Mexico, Sherry and Eric went above and beyond to infuse their celebration with as many personal touches as possible. They had a piñata filled with Chinese and Taiwanese wedding treats, candies, and red envelopes for good fortune; they used Mexico’s signature cactus motif as table numbers with Chinese characters, and they handmade their guests’ name cards using each person’s old photos. “We had to pull many all-nighters, but enjoyed every moment,” Sherry says. “After all, it was our wedding. We were planning with the people we love, and for the people we love.” They also brought Cabo wedding planners Elena Damy on board for wedding logistics and event design.

By the end of their wedding experience, the newlyweds’ takeaway was to cherish every part of the process, regardless of the occasional bouts of stress. “For us, it was those little moments and decisions we made together leading up to the wedding day, that made the whole experience memorable,” says the bride. “On the actual wedding day, just enjoy, relax, breathe, and soak in as much as you can. It flies by before you know it.”

Written by: Lauren Malamala for Grace Ormonde Wedding Style Magazine with Photos by 4 Eyes Photography, WeddingPlanning, Floral and Event Design by Elena Damy Destination Weddings