Tropical Wedding in Paradise at Palmilla
AN ENCHANTING OASIS
The One&Only Palmilla Resort in Cabo San Lucas is renown for its lush, tropical setting. It truly is an enchanting oasis for any Cabo holiday, but most especially for a destination wedding celebration! Halle and Rik fell in love with Palmilla’s perfect position overlooking the Sea of Cortez. Starting with a ceremony on the beach with nothing but panoramic views of the sea behind them. Then, with a cocktail reception in the hotel’s Courtyard, a secret patio with red tiles, an iconic fountain, and outdoor fireplace. From the courtyard, guests were invited into the ballroom for a dinner dance celebration. Working closely with the bride and her mother, Patti, our in-house wedding planning team planned an incredible celebration for Halle and Rik! Take a peek at the wedding day below…
An Elegant Silhouette
The bride looked stunning in her strapless, lace wedding gown by Monique Lhuillier. Elena Damy, our Creative Director, designed an all-white peony bridal bouquet for Halle to carry. Dressed in aqua gowns, the bridesmaids carried bouquets made using white lisianthus, hydrangea, and mini-cymbidium orchids, green viburnum, and magenta Dendrobium orchids. Altogether, their look was elegant, yet beach-inspired.
A Well-dressed Groom
The groom also wore all white, right down to his fun sneakers! For a pop of tropical color, Elena’s floral design team crafted magenta purple Dendrobium orchid boutonnieres for Rik and his groomsmen.
A Ceremony on the Sea
The wedding ceremony took place right on the sand, but not IN THE SAND, as that proves to be challenging for the pretty shoes all the ladies wear! Our wood plank flooring blended right into the natural setting while offering sure footing for all, particularly the bride and her bridal party for their walk down the aisle in their long gowns! The ceremony took place on a matching wooden stage, allowing easy viewing for the wedding guests.
Elena designed a romantic ceremony setting using our wooden canopy structure covered with soft white drapery and lavish floral arrangements. The flowers used here, and throughout the rest of the wedding decor, included hydrangea, lisianthus, viburnum, Phalaenopsis, Dendrobium, and mini Cymbidium orchids, and tropical greenery. All in crisp whites, sharp greens, and magenta purple! The whole effect was both beachy AND elegant! And just look at the big blue sky and aqua blue water behind them!
Cocktails in the Courtyard
As Halle and Rik had their wedding photos taken on the beach, their family and friends were invited to the Courtyard for cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. One of the most popular event spaces at the resort, the wedding guests stepped into the Courtyard and immediately felt as if they were walking into a private Hacienda. White adobe architecture, fragrant tropical flowers, Mexican tile, and palm trees surround the space, creating a warm ambiance. A live trio of local musicians put the right Spanish tunes and jazz standards in the air.
We filled the water fountain with magenta orchid heads and floating candles and placed chic upholstered lounge furniture near the outdoor fireplace for casual, soft seating. In the middle of the patio, we placed a large round placecard table, holding a tall floral arrangement in a Spanish iron stand, candles, and escort cards. Over the entire space, clear glass globe candles hang and will add even more sparkle to the scene when the sun sets. And, later in the evening, this same space will be refreshed and reset for a Courtyard Lounge area.
Thrilled to Be There
As you can see, Halle and Rik honored us by inviting us to attend the celebration as their guests! We all enjoyed cocktails in the Courtyard before heading into the Ballroom for the dinner dance! It was such a sweet gesture and one we enjoyed immensely!
A Ballroom Celebration
Many brides and grooms choose to celebrate their nuptials outside on the lovely terraces, or even in the patio below the Chapel. But not Halle and Rik! They wanted to bring their guests into a grand ballroom environment, where dramatic lighting could be used on the dance floor, large decorations could be installed from the ceiling, ambient lighting could uplight the room, and where air-conditioning could flow for the dancers!
Elena and the production team created a dreamy atmosphere. First, by draping the entire ballroom in white fabric. Then, by dressing each dinner table in white linens and dark wooden Chiavari reception chairs. On each dinner table, a luxurious display of flowers was placed using combinations of orchids, hydrangea, viburnum, lisianthus, and tropical greenery. The guest tables had tall floral arrangements designed in our Spanish iron stands, with smaller satellite arrangements and glass hurricanes placed below. The table of honor, also known as the head table, held a long, low floral arrangement created using white peonies, green viburnum, white Phalaenopsis orchids, magenta purple Dendrobium orchids, white lisianthus, and tropical greens. All along the table, we placed modern glass hurricanes and votive candles.
ALL IN THE DETAILS
From big to small, each detail played a significant part in the overall event design Elena created for Halle and Rik. In addition to the floral centerpieces, we hung large floral arrangements from the ceiling over the dancefloor. They made a fantastic display throughout the night! The finer details included chocolate metallic glass chargers, crisp white folded napkins holding calligraphed menus and orchid heads, wooden table numbers, and an aqua marbleized-fondant wedding cake.
THE SPECIAL MOMENTS
Team Elena Damy, Halle and Halle’s mother Patti, worked together to plan a personal wedding experience for all. The timeline included many traditional elements, from the bride and groom’s first dance to the bride’s dance with her father to the best man and maid of honor’s toasts and cutting the wedding cake in the middle of the dancefloor. However, one of the most thoughtful moments was when Halle and Rik stood up together to thank their guests for joining them for the celebration. Needless to say, it was emotional for everyone.
MEZCAL MOMENTS
In addition to the love and laughter, the Mezcal was flowing on the head table! As was the champagne… just as it should be!
COURTYARD LOUNGE
During the entire wedding reception in the ballroom, guests could wander out to the Courtyard for a little romance, a smoke, or to sign the bride and groom’s building block guest book. The lounge also became a transitional space after the event in the ballroom ended, allowing guests to come down from the high energy of Kilometro Band!
We thank Halle and Rik, and their families, for trusting us with their vision and including us in the celebration. Congratulations on your marriage and almost, one year anniversary! Here’s to many more happy years! Cheers!
{Photo credits: Wedding Planning, Floral and Event Design: Elena Damy Destination Events; Hair and Makeup: Rebecca Franks; Photography: Sara Richardson Photography; Wedding Gown: Monique Lhuillier; Mother of the Bride’s Gown: Oscar de la Renta; Ceremony and Cocktail Music: Francisco Alatorre; Entertainment: Kilometro Band; Venue and Catering: One&Only Palmilla: Officiant: Diego Vidal; Invitation Stationery Suite, Menus, Placecards: Patti Schaal}
