At once modern and rugged, elegant and understated, this intimate Amangiri elopement is proof that creating beautiful designs in the most remote places is always well worth it.
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Nobu Hotel, Los Cabos, Mexico
Kennedi + Jake Oettinger Wedding
Full of custom and unique details, stone textures and flowing linens, this stunning wedding at the Nobu Hotel in Los Cabos was a dream of a weekend.
When Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger and his bride Kennedi Schumacher visited Nobu Los Cabos in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico years before their engagement, they knew this was the perfect spot to tie the knot: ‘We have to get married here one day,’” Kennedi recalls saying to Jake.
Sitting on the southernmost tip of the Baja Peninsula, Nobu Hotel Los Cabos has mesmerizing views of sparkling sapphire waters, stretching as far as the eye can see. Pulling inspiration from this luxury beachfront hotel, we knew we wanted to curate a modern, elegant and romantic feel that blended perfectly with the surrounding landscape and architecture of Nobu. Whether a guest was stepping into this space for the first time or they’d seen it 100 times before, we wanted to make it look and feel completely different and unique.
For our ceremony design on the Baja Peninsula, we designed a one-of-a-kind custom installation atop the venue's stone, beachfront terrace. Playing with the natural surrounding hues of sand and stone, we built a minimalist, curved backdrop as a perfect contrast to the venue’s modern lines. Luxe, monobloom and monocluster florals from Noble Floral Co. framed the install, elevating the soft, organic nature of our design while integrating perfectly into the natural environment. Somehow blending in, while standing out perfectly, the curved design created an intimate, luxurious feel against the vast ocean backdrop.
After the ceremony, we knew we wanted the cocktail hour to be a statement of its own. As guests sipped on signature cocktails - including Kennedi’s espresso martinis - we created a romantic bar area complete with dramatic draping, cascading floral installs and a transformed lounge space that felt a world apart.
As the sun started to dip below the horizon, guests found their way to our show-stopping reception dinner. We completely reimagined the space, using texture, dimension, contrast and balance to make this setting feel magical and almost hidden, like an entirely different, special space. Hanging jute lanterns, billowy beige draping, gauzy linens and natural stone accents worked in tandem to meld modern vibes with earthy and organic textures. With a mix of white concrete tables and wood stations, we created a minimalist space that prioritized attention to detail: smokey glassware, stone ceramic plates and black ribbon-wrapped menus popped against chiffon, cream-hued floral centerpieces.
Guests enjoyed dinner and a show, watching traditional Mexican dancers give a dazzling performance under the canopy of lights - right before the bride slipped into an iridescent outfit change with a plunging neckline and sheer skirt, the perfect outfit to close out the night as the guys had ditched their shirts, the last espresso martinis were sipped and a fireworks display lit up the night sky.
Kennedi and Jake’s wedding weekend at Nobu Los Cabos had it all - from cigar rollers to a mariachi band to a custom ceremony buildout to the bar design of our dream - the perfect marriage of organic details and modern design made this minimalist wedding one for the books.
Photo: Duey PhotoDesign, styling and planning: Mae&Co CreativeFlorals: Noble Floral CoVIDEO: KENNIDY NICOLE FILMS
VENUE: NOBU LOS CABOSRentals: WAREHOUSE RENTALS LOS CABOSMUSIC: DJ ALEX UPDIKEENTERTAINMENT: PURE CABOPaper goods and signage: IVORY & STONELet us plan your dream day
The Sea Ranch Lodge, Sonoma County, California
AN INTIMATE WEDDING AT SEA RANCH LODGE
Nestled in the stunning meadows and cliffs of the northern California coast, The Sea Ranch Lodge is the ultimate destination for a luxury Sonoma County wedding.
There’s always been a timeless draw to the Sonoma Coast, and Sea Ranch is no exception. Our team was enamored by the simplicity and beauty of this place, and we knew that designing a wedding at Sea Ranch Lodge was our kind of party - one that took all the right kinds of risks while honoring the inherent beauty of the space.
Set on 53 acres of dramatic Northern California coastline, the original Sea Ranch buildings were built in the 1960s as an architectural study exploring how to live in harmony with the natural surroundings. Classically understated and carefully preserved, every detail of the Sea Ranch Lodge proves that this coastal enclave is the ultimate expression of luxury. With a focus on architecture, design and ecology, the Sea Ranch Lodge inspired us to create a wedding that feels untraditional in the most brilliant way.
Pulling inspiration from the coastal landscape, we pulled in natural earth brown colors to echo the surrounding cliffs, soft grays to mirror the coastal fog and elegant ivories to contrast the warm wood of the Sea Ranch Lodge. We designed this celebration to honor the harmony between land and sea, drawing on dirt, stone and silk textures to create a modern, timeless wedding design at this historic venue.
For our wedding ceremony design, we worked with Unwritten Florals to create a textural floral aisle built into the organic wood beams of the lodge’s Ocean Deck. Balancing subtlety and complexity, single seats lined each side of the aisle, broken apart by dramatic floral installations with grass and wildflowers - integrating the textures and materials from the surrounding cliffside meadows into the built environment with elegance and ease.
For the reception, I've been saying round tables are making a comeback since 2022... I just didn't say how. But when I saw the hard lines of the mid-century architecture at Sea Ranch Lodge, I knew the contrast of round tables would juxtapose this luxury Northern California hotel property perfectly.
We designed the reception within the Open Meadow - one of Sea Ranch’s most unique celebration spaces. With panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean stretching as far as the eye can see, we knew this natural landscape would provide unparalleled contrast for our luxury reception design. Combining silk, muslin, grasses, silver, thin-lined glass, stoneware, artichokes and florals, we designed this modern tablescape to be a textural masterpiece. We let luxury silk cascade organically into the earth, elevating the dynamic round tablescape design. And thoughtful details like garlic scapes and artichokes gave an artful nod to the lush produce and regional bounty that inspires the culinary offerings at Sea Ranch Lodge.
For this warm spring afternoon wedding on the Northern California coast, we wanted every detail to feel modern and minimal. Time slows down at Sea Ranch, and as our couple enjoyed the plein air reception set in the midst of coastal meadows above the soaring cliffs, we knew we created something special. This luxury Sea Ranch Lodge destination wedding blended natural beauty with coastal elegance through bold choices in texture and design - an absolute dream for us.
Photo: Anni GrahamDesign, styling and planning: Mae&Co CreativeFlorals: Unwritten FloralsVENUE: Sea Ranch LodgeHair and Makeup: Margaret SniderLet us plan your dream day
The Madrona Hotel, Sonoma, California
Healdsburg wedding in sonoma county
The Madrona Hotel, a true hidden gem tucked away in wine country in Northern California, is a destination wedding venue in a league of its own.
Last fall, our team traveled to Healdsburg to design at this dream venue, an estate hotel that blends unique history, an idyllic location and luxury experiences that reflect Napa and Sonoma’s unparalleled hospitality. Built in 1881, the Madrona Hotel features timeless interior and exterior spaces – from buttery vintage wallpaper to emerald-green gardens, every corner of this historic estate inspired our 1940’s old world design for this event.
Pulling inspiration from this luxury wine country venue, we knew we wanted to curate a timeless, French-inspired, old money feel that blended seamlessly with the space. Throughout both the ceremony and reception designs, we leaned into quiet luxury, finding ways to pull inspiration from whipped butter and vintage velvet to put an extravagant twist on the everyday.
For our ceremony design at The Madrona Hotel, we worked to create contrast within cohesiveness. The ceremony space featured the quintessential rolling greens of Sonoma wine country, so we worked with Noble Floral Co. to build dimension through luxe, monochromatic and monobloom florals. Light wood chairs and linen umbrellas lined the aisles, with dramatic florals contrasting the soft ivory seating and shade. The scalloped umbrellas created a unique flair, adding a St. Tropez-inspired touch that brought a modern twist to this Victorian, old money setting.
For the reception, we leaned into the growing trend to feature experiences over details. As we head into 2025 and beyond, more and more couples are prioritizing the food and experience for their guests, and we wanted this Madrona wedding reception to feel elemental and experiential, swapping big floral arrangements for dirty martinis and whipped butter.
With elevated caviar and cocktail pairings, we mirrored the epicurean delights with a lived-in luxury tablescape design. Inspired by the Madrona’s Victorian sensibilities, we layered a lavish patterned linens with rich velvet napkins, vintage silverware, scalloped plates and modern stoneware to create a multi-dimensional design. Artful details, like heads of garlic and monobloom florals added subtle depth the design, and Italian calligraphy and slingback chairs balanced traditional elements with modern trends.
Inspired by lived-in luxury and the storied details of the Madrona Hotel, this is one of our favorite designs to date. Leaning into the muted brick, blush and ivory tones of this luxury Healdsburg wedding venue – incorporating lush florals, iconic buildings, stunning style, warm bread and favorite cocktails – this Madrona Hotel wedding was an absolute dream for us.
Photo: Anni GrahamDesign, styling and planning: Mae&Co CreativeFlorals: Noble Floral CoVIDEO: EMMA K
VENUE: The Madrona HotelRentals: Nuage Designs, Casa de Perrin, Bright Event RentalsPaper goods and signage: Creative Line & CO.Let us plan your dream day
The Other Side, Eleuthera, Bahamas
Jenna + Thomas
From the very beginning, Jenna and Thomas wanted their wedding weekend to feel like a big party, a carefree and elegant destination celebration. On my first phone call with Jenna, she told me that her and Thomas wanted something unique. We spent dozens of hours researching to find a location that checked ALL the boxes and made her and Thomas feel like their wedding weekend was 100% their own - and when I found The Other Side hotel in the Bahamas, our couple was sold.
Creating an elegant weekend wedding experience for our couple and their guests is our specialty. The venue sits on Eleuthera, an island accessible only by boat, but we took this challenge in stride to create something wholly unique and custom for our couple. We pulled our inspiration from the lush tranquility of the island, starting with a welcome party at The Other Side’s Ocean View Club. Local steel drums invited guests to settle in, enjoying a vibey space filled with tropical hues, beachwood and intimate lighting.
For Jenna and Thomas’ wedding day, we pulled inspiration from Eleuthera’s surroundings. Beige, white and pink hues reflected the surrounding sands; the soft and subtle blues echoed the Caribbean sky and sea. Guests stepped off the boat onto the island, greeted by custom fans and champagne flutes, and we knew this day was going to be special. Every detail - from the ceremony layout to the customized linens - contributed to this wedding’s high-end, ethereal feel.
We designed the ceremony to emulate the landscape and surrounding views throughout this island in the Bahamas. Our team built a custom ceremony aisle over the pool, elevating a standard beach wedding to feel luxe, lush and completely unique.
We worked with Noble Floral to create a floating cloud ceremony with mono bloom clusters. Fluffy whites, like the clouds, walking over the infinity pool, like the ocean. Everything about this modern and romantic concept was cohesively created to make you feel like the beauty around you was only being enhanced, not compromised.
As guests made their way to the cocktail hour, we curated a custom space that felt both elevated and casual. Custom pillows and table linens played perfectly with the bridesmaid couture and the blue thistle florals. Custom linen signage and bar menus brought a sense of elevated magic to the beachfront set up.
Creating the reception dinner was a huge source of inspiration for the wedding day. Our team filled the space with elegant chiffon draping and a large, lush hanging installation, casting an otherworldly, dreamlike glow over the evening. We added elevated details throughout the tablescapes, including pearl white dining sets and silver-rimmed glasses. Natural elements, including sand and wheat grass, swirled around candles and florals, creating a romantic atmosphere for a night of celebration. With shoes kicked off and sunglasses on, guests took to the dance floor twirling to the late night croons of a saxophone playing out over the nearby waves and the DJ set.
Jenna and Thoma’s wedding weekend in the Bahamas had it all - from the floating ceremony buildout to oyster shell candles to signature Caribbean cocktails - the elevated and experiential details from this island wedding speak for themselves. This wedding at The Other Side hotel will forever live in our minds as one of the most otherworldly designs we’ve ever created, and we couldn’t be more grateful to Jenna and Thomas for trusting us to go beyond their wildest dreams.
Photo: Chelsea Gee PhotographyDesign, styling and planning: Mae&Co CreativeFlorals: Noble Floral CoVENUE: The Other SideRentals: Nuage DesignsPaper goods and signage: Wildhouse InkLet us plan your dream day
Where to Get Married in Mexico in 2024
Mae&Co Creative’s venue heat map: our favorite luxury hotels and wedding venues in Mexico for 2024.
At Mae&Co Creative, we pour our everything into curating luxury events worldwide, and we love planning destination weddings in Mexico. While Cabo and Cancun have been popularized by resort weddings, we believe in finding high-end venues in more untouched and undiscovered corners of this beautiful country. Whether you’re looking for perfect surf, colorful countryside or cosmopolitan glamor, we have our pulse on where to get married in Mexico in 2024, and these are the best venues you haven’t heard of yet.
Casona Sforza
High-design is trending on Mexico’s Oaxacan coast, and we can’t get enough of the luxury adult hotels and wedding venues in Puerto Escondido. This coastal paradise feels like Tulum did 10 years ago, full of undiscovered blue waters, wellness retreats and jaw-dropping wedding venues in Mexico. Nestled in the beachside jungle, Casona Sforza is new to the scene, but this coastal property designed by legendary architect Alberto Kalach is already making waves. Imagine feeling unmoored from time and space basking in a private pool on the morning of your wedding day, celebrating with your closest pals at Casona Sforza’s mixology bar, then hosting an open-air reception inspired by nature. Perfect for buyouts and destination wedding weekends, this luxury hotel is sure to find its way to the top of 2024 wedding venue hit lists.
Galopina
Lauded by Conde Nast, Dwell, Arch Daily and premier design critics, Galopina is the Yucatan’s hidden jewel. As a four-room property, this luxury hotel is an ideal venue for micro weddings and intimate destination weddings. The understated minimalist luxury is a perfect canvas for events - the sharp, structural walls offer a stunning backdrop for a ceremony. And Galopina’s bold design stands apart, ready to invite modern wedding design and neutral luxury installations for an art-inspired ceremony in Mexico’s Yucatan jungle. We’re calling it: this will be one of the best destination wedding venues in Mexico in 2024.
Hotel San Cristobal Baja
Todos Santos is a romantic paradise in southern Baja California, and Liz Lambert’s iconic Hotel San Cristobal has some of our favorite venue spaces on the peninsula. Todos Santos is brimming with boutique properties that are perfect for an eco-conscious, modern wedding, but Hotel San Cristobal remains the most iconic destination venue in the area. With a range of charming event spaces - including private beachfront to an antique abalone cannery to an intimate stone chapel, this is the perfect space for the couple seeking something equally low key and sophisticated.
Paradero
As a Todos Santos wedding planner we’ve spent years cultivating rich relationships with local vendors, and Paradero is one of our favorite wedding venues in Baja California. It's a one-of-a-kind minimalist luxury accommodation, set in a stretch of quiet untouched coastal Baja, and we’re endlessly inspired by the intentional design of Paradero. Whether you’re inspired by wabi sabi interiors, poolside elegance or panoramic rooftop views, Paradero exudes the five-star luxury that you want for a destination wedding in Mexico.
Luna Escondida
Luna Escondida is a hidden gem waiting to be discovered in historic San Miguel de Allende. For couples inspired by colorful cityscapes and cobblestone pathways,San Miguel de Allende feels like a small slice of European countryside in the heart of Mexico. Luna Escondida's luxury wedding venue space features stunning gardens, conservatory-inspired villas and tranquil scenery adaptable for an atmosphere destination wedding in central Mexico. If you’re craving an idyllic retreat that feels like Italy in Mexico, Luna Escondida is one of the best places to get married in 2024.
Casa Adela
Set just outside San Miguel de Allende, Casa Adela offers couples a private slice of serenity away from all the city hustle. A long-time favorite hotel spot for luxury travelers, Casa Adela has revamped their space to offer full buyouts exclusively, making it the perfect place for a secluded, private space for high-profile clients and discerning travelers. Whether you’re searching for a Mexican countryside oasis or artistically designed spaces, Casa Adela has it all with mountain and valley views at every turn. Our pro tip: say I do on the rooftop terrace before enjoying cocktails on the pool terrace before ending the night by candlelight in the citrus garden.
Proyecto Publico Prim
Step back in time at Proyecto Publico Prim, a colonial-era historical space that once housed revolution leaders, a cigar company and some of the most iconic weddings in Mexico City. As Mexico City continues to emerge as a fine-dining and architectural hot spot, Proyecto Publico Prim is steps from Michelin star dining and the country’s finest art galleries. But the space itself is the true attraction: it’s an eclectic and elegant estate fit for luxury destination weddings in Mexico’s most cosmopolitan city.
Ex Convento San Hipolito
Ex Convento San Hipolito offers a refinded display of Mexico's colonial and architectural legacy. Wildly romantic, this space pairs natural history with elegance. This destination wedding venue is adaptable for large and intimate events, with spaces including vine-covered courtyards, salon rooms with exposed brick, open-air spaces with columns and colonial arches. As one of the most versatile wedding venues in Mexico City, this is one of our favorite places to get married in Mexico in 2024.
Ready to start planning your dream wedding? Hit us up!
Top 5 Desert Wedding Venues
We love a desert venue. As destination wedding planners, we’ve travelled all over the globe to design and style elopements and celebrations, but we have a special place in our heart for modern desert weddings. We love the vastness of the desert. We love the way the moon rises to create a canvas between the earth and sky - it’s the perfect backdrop for a unique, luxury wedding. We love the versatility of the desert, too, as the textures and landscapes inspire different designs based on the venue, location, couple, etc. So whether you’re planning a luxurious, sophisticated party for 200 guests or a small, minimalist celebration for two, here are our top five places for an intimate and bougie desert wedding.
Amangiri
Amangiri is a 5 star, luxury resort that lies within 600-acres of private desert wilderness in Southern Utah. The modern and simplistic architecture of this hotel venue features clean lines, natural materials and uninterrupted views of the surrounding desert and mesas. But Amangiri is more than a luxury hotel, it’s a staggering landscape of canyons, mesas, mountains, and desert with so many unique locations, and every wedding we create in this space is a unique, one-of-a-kind experience.
If you’re seeking adventure, this venue offers unparalleled access to slot canyons hikes, desert helicopter rides, and unlimited exploration. But if you prefer a bougie retreat, you’ll love the multi-course meals and state of the art spa facilities. We love that there’s truly something for everyone at Amangiri - with luxurious, private rooms, full service spa amenities and privileged access to National Parks and Lake Powell guests of Amangiri experience the convenience of a high-end hotel with easy access to speciality guided adventures. An added bonus? The staff at Amangiri will do anything and everything to ensure your stay at the resort is absolutely unforgettable and bespoke.
Click here to read more about Amangiri weddings, designed by Mae&Co creative
Images from Laurken Kendall
Willow House
The Willow House is a modern desert retreat, located on 250 acres of private land and boasting stunning, unobstructed views of the beautiful Chisos Mountain Range. The clean lines and muted tones of the building blend into the vast surrounding desert - at Willow House, the design options are truly endless.
This desert wedding venue feels unique. Set in Terlingua just outside Big Bend National Park, the venue boasts access to some of the state’s largest ocotillo plants and some of the most colorful floral and fauna in Texas. Yet the brutalist style casitas evoke a neutral, modern feeling, perfect for a contemporary desert wedding. With 11 unique casitas on the property and a modern gourmet kitchen, the Willow House is the perfect place for a weekend-long wedding celebration with your closest friends and family. And with a new patio structure in progress, this desert wedding venue promises to be one of the most under-the-radar boutique hotels in 2021.
Click here to read more about our most recent wedding at the Willow House, designed by Mae&Co Creative
Images from Karra Leigh Photo
Under Canvas
With locations all across the United States, Under Canvas offers adventurous couples the perfect place for a bohemian-inspired wedding. While each Under Canvas glamping wedding venue lets you experience the great outdoors with modern comforts, every location is unique. We love the desert Under Canvas locations in Moab, Grand Canyon, Zion, and Lake Powell where you enjoy can luxurious, safari-style canvas accommodations with unparalleled access to nearby national parks.
If you’re inspired by the American Southwest, we have endless design ideas for Under Canvas Zion: a haven located upon 196-acres of remote desert terrain, surrounded by views of soaring sandstone cliffs and majestic red rock. And if you love adventure, we think you’ll love Under Canvas Lake Powell-Grand Staircase: this location is perched on a Canyon Rim Plateau with easy access to Horseshoe Bend, Antelope Canyon, and Glen Canyon, the Lake Powell Marina and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Park. Regardless of which Under Canvas location you choose, we promise these venues are the perfect mixture of high-end comfort and big-time adventure.
Images from Dawn Photo
Casa Santal
Located just outside of Joshua Tree National Park, Casa Santal is a modern, desert paradise. Designed as an artist’s retreat on a bluff overlooking a valley of Joshua Trees, this minimalist home boasts panoramic views from every angle. If you value Wabi Sabi design aesthetics, we can’t think of a better place for you to tie the knot in a place that marries love of design and nature.
Casa Santal caters to high-end, desert elopements with options for a private chef, yoga and massage offerings to help you enjoy the space and relax and feel pampered. We love the sexy, luxe feel of this Joshua Tree desert venue, and we think this is the perfect place enjoy some of the best views in the Mojave Desert. With canyon views, a large deck, and a shaded pergola, this venue has so many options for a unique ceremony space that will allow you and your guests to celebrate and enjoy the scenery.
Image from Anni Graham
The Joshua Tree House Tucson
The Joshua Tree House in Tucson, also known as the Posada House, is a 5 suite inn bordering the west side of Saguaro National Park in Tucson, AZ. Situated on 38 acres of land with a forest of Saguaro cactus, native plants, and an abundance of wildlife this is a space to reflect, reset, and create.
Each suite has its own unique feel. And when you book all of the suites for this Arizona desert hotel venue, you have access to a chef's kitchen, pool, rooftop lounge, yoga room, dining patio, fire pit, and living room with a projector, in case you want to end your wedding celebration with a movie night. This venue is perfect for off-beat desert brides who are ready to throw the party of the century. And trust us, we’re the team you want to have by your side to bring this bash to life.
Images from JTH Tucson