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Wildflowers, Whimsy, and Queer Joy at This Cecil Green Park House Garden Wedding

Kenzie and Blair originally pictured getting married somewhere tucked away into a forest or on a picturesque mountain. Then they had to account for more than half of their guests flying in. Cecil Green Park House gave them the greenery and outdoor setting they wanted without making the trip complicated for everyone coming to Vancouver. It was the first venue they found, the only one they toured, and the search ended there.

The film-school sweethearts, who started dating just as the world shut down in March 2020 and moved in together the very next day, planned a colorful summer garden party that borrowed from their favorite seasons: spring for Blair and fall for Kenzie. There were wildflowers and pastels mixed with richer shades, a symbolic ceremony led by their moms, and their guests found everything from a dirty soda bar to a quiet room stocked with games and sensory items. It was relaxed, playful, and unmistakably Kenzie and Blair.

What We Love About This Cecil Green Park House Wedding:

  • Kenzie and Blair’s moms led their symbolic wedding ceremony
  • A dirty soda bar gave sober guests their own fun drink menu
  • A quiet room offered games and sensory items for guests who needed a break
  • Bridesmaids chose their own dresses with one rule: include a floral pattern
  • Kenzie did Blair’s wedding makeup, just as she regularly does at home
  • Guests left messages through postcards, an audio guestbook, and a shared digital camera app

Finding the Venue First, Then Building a Queer-Friendly Vendor Team

Once Kenzie and Blair found the venue, the rest of the vendor search moved quickly. An event coordinator friend recommended Sweetheart Events, which led them to their planner Kay. Her bio mentioned reality TV, and they were basically sold before the first conversation.

Kay helped assemble the rest of the team. Kenzie and Blair specifically looked for vendors who were queer-friendly, openly supportive allies, and genuinely kind people they would feel comfortable having around on such an important day. They ended up booking their first choice for nearly every vendor.

Doing Each Other’s Makeup Before Their “Final Look”

Kenzie is a makeup fanatic, and doing Blair’s makeup has become one of their regular rituals. They decided their wedding morning shouldn’t be any different, so Kenzie did Blair’s makeup before doing her own.

They already knew what each other’s dresses looked like. Their hair wasn’t a secret either, since they’d signed their legal marriage papers earlier that morning while Kenzie was getting hers done.

Instead of staging a traditional first look, they waited until they were both completely ready and did a “final look.” After spending much of the morning getting ready together, it was their first chance to stand back and see the whole picture: “Okay, we’re actually getting married.”

Asking Their Moms to Lead the Ceremony

Because the paperwork had already been handled that morning with an officiant, Kenzie and Blair could structure the ceremony however they liked. Their moms stood at the front with them and gave a speech about their relationship and the life they’d built together before symbolically ordaining them in front of their guests.

For a couple whose relationship began with Blair thinking Kenzie was a total valley girl and Kenzie thinking Blair was kind of a nerd, having their moms be the ones to retell the story years later was a fitting way to send them into married life.

When Kenzie and Blair’s Wedding Dress Plans Completely Switched

The bridesmaids received a color palette and exactly one instruction: “include a floral pattern.” Beyond that, they could go for it. Each person chose something that suited her own style instead of wearing a matching look. The mix of prints and colors worked easily alongside the wildflowers without asking everyone to dress alike.

Kenzie and Blair’s own wedding fashion took a less predictable route. Blair had always imagined wearing a simple, classic gown, while Kenzie pictured herself in something with color. By the wedding, they’d completely switched.

Kenzie spotted her dress on Pinterest, tracked down the designer, and discovered there was only one Vancouver retailer. She emailed the store about that exact dress, and they ordered it that day. A month later, she tried on three others before finally putting on the Pinterest find. The search was over.

Blair tried the classic dresses she’d always imagined for herself, but nothing seemed quite right. Then Pinterest served up a colorful dress from the same designer Kenzie had originally considered. 

Making Space for Sober and Neurodivergent Guests

Kenzie and Blair readily admit they are “definitely not DIY people.” Their personal touches focused less on handmade décor and more on how their guests could participate in the day.

They turned engagement photos into postcards where friends and family could leave notes, set up a custom photo booth and audio guestbook, and used a QR-code digital camera app so guests could add photos from their own perspective.

The dirty soda bar came from knowing that many of their friends and relatives are sober. Kenzie and Blair supplied their caterers with recipes, while their planner created custom stickers for the cups. “Suddenly we had our own little dirty soda shop!”

They also set aside a dedicated quiet room for their neurodivergent friends and loved ones. Games and calming sensory elements gave anyone who needed it somewhere to decompress and recharge before heading back to the party.

Their Advice: Start Earlier and Bring Tupperware

There is one part of the timeline Kenzie and Blair would change. They deliberately planned a slow morning, but in hindsight, they would have started hair and makeup earlier and taken those extra hours on the other side of the schedule. “Our biggest advice: do the early hair and makeup. Just get up at 6 a.m. The wedding day adrenaline will keep you going!”

Their second recommendation is even more practical: pack a cooler and bring a Tupperware container. Between nerves, photos, excitement, and talking to guests, they barely got to eat the food they’d spent months choosing. “Pack it up and enjoy it later when you can actually sit down, breathe, and realize you’re starving.”

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Capri Kimberly
Second Shooter – Dylaina Photography
Event Planning – Kay Salem
Venue – Cecil Green Park House
Floral Design – Blossom & Vine
Catering – Sage Catering
Officiant – Sweetheart Events
DJ – DJ Sherry Freeze
Videography – Greyhouse Visual
Makeup + Hair Styling – Beauty En Route
Wedding Dresses – Eva Lendel + Teuta Matoshi
Bridal Accessories – Hillberg & Berk
Bridesmaids’ Apparel – Azazie
Rings – Michael Hill
Rentals – Bespoke Decor
Photobooth – Lumen Booth

 

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A Colorful, Sunset-Toned Destination Wedding at Hard Rock Los Cabos

October 9, 2026 | justine

Bright sunset colors, ocean views, mariachi music, and more than 100 guests made Sarah and Eric’s destination wedding unmistakably Cabo. Against the clean, modern spaces of Hard Rock Los Cabos, they added vibrant florals, natural rattan, and warm textures, with the Sea of Cortez framing it all.

The celebration stretched across several days, with a welcome cocktail and dinner before the wedding and a yacht outing afterward. After seeing Junebug vendor LUXE Destination Weddings plan Eric’s brother’s wedding in Punta Cana just months earlier, Sarah and Eric brought the team on to handle everything from guest travel to the week’s events. It was a completely different setting and style, but a team they knew they could trust with more than 100 guests traveling to Mexico.

And it all started with Eric sliding into Sarah’s DMs. A fun conversation quickly turned into something more, and, as they put it, “from our first date, we just knew.”

What We Love About This Hard Rock Los Cabos Wedding:

  • A ceremony on the lawn overlooking the Sea of Cortez
  • Bridesmaids in different vibrant and pastel dresses
  • Mariachi music and custom cocktails during cocktail hour
  • A reception under a canopy of fairy lights

Featured Vendor:
Luxe Destination Weddings

Adding Color and Natural Textures to a Minimalist Venue

The couple chose Hard Rock Los Cabos in large part because its modern, minimalist design already suited their style. The ceremony location sealed it: an open lawn overlooking the Sea of Cortez. Natural rattan, warm textures, bright florals, and sunset colors added warmth to the coastal setting. For the ceremony, an elevated platform and floral arch created a focal point overlooking the water.

The reception had its own built-in details, including a tiled floor and bright mural. Custom signage joined the florals and natural textures, while a canopy of fairy lights stretched overhead as the sun went down. “Choose a venue that already reflects your vision and personal style, so you can enhance what’s there rather than reinventing the space,” Sarah and Eric advise.

Taking a Quiet First Look Before the Ceremony

Before joining their guests, Sarah and Eric had a first look. It gave them some time alone, settled their nerves, and meant they could walk into the ceremony already having seen each other.

The ceremony centered on a raised white platform framed by towering arrangements of pink, red, yellow, and orange flowers, with smaller flower clusters lining the aisle. Natural wood chairs worked with the outdoor setting, while the ocean stretched out behind the space. Their vow exchange ended up being the part they remembered most.

Afterward, they stayed back briefly with Fabi for portraits around the resort. Then they joined their guests at cocktail hour, where a live mariachi band was playing and custom signature cocktails were being served.

Choosing Photography and Content as Early Budget Priorities

With the resort’s program covering food and beverage for the week, Sarah and Eric had more flexibility elsewhere in the budget. They prioritized custom details and florals, along with photography and content coverage.

Sarah had already been following LUXE’s social accounts when she found photographer Fabi Rosas and content creator I DO Diaries. Fabi’s photography, particularly her film work, caught their attention. Paola from I DO Diaries documented both the welcome boat day and wedding, including the less staged moments happening behind the scenes. The resort’s curated list of in-house vendors simplified the rest of the process since the teams already knew the property.

Mixing Bright Bridesmaid Dresses With Neutral Suits

Color wasn’t limited to the flowers. Sarah’s bridesmaids wore a mix of vibrant and pastel dresses instead of matching gowns, giving each person some variation while staying within the overall palette.

Sarah wore a fitted gown with a deep V-neckline, softly draped detailing through the bodice and waist, and a thigh-high slit, paired with a long veil. Eric chose a tailored light beige suit with a white shirt, black tie, and black loafers, while the groomsmen also wore neutral tones.

Giving Guests Time to Explore Cabo

Sarah and Eric wanted the trip to include more than the wedding, but they also wanted guests to have time to enjoy Los Cabos independently. They used five event hours included by the hotel to host a welcome cocktail and dinner on their first night in the destination. It gave everyone a chance to gather before the wedding while leaving the rest of the trip relatively open.

After the wedding, the group headed back onto the water for a yacht day through Pelican Cabo, which Sarah and Eric hosted as a thank-you to everyone who had traveled to Mexico. “Our advice would be to consider a destination wedding,” they say. “It gives you the opportunity to create an entire experience with the people you love, not just one day.”

Seeing the Reception Space for the First Time With Their Guests 

Cocktail hour and the reception were held in the same area, giving Sarah and Eric an unexpected reveal after the ceremony. When they arrived, the decor was finished and their friends and family were already gathered there.

By then, the sun was beginning to set and the fairy lights overhead were becoming more visible. Speeches from friends and family followed, along with Sarah and Eric’s first dance, before the reception shifted fully to the dance floor.

There were no last-minute mishaps to solve. Sarah and Eric describe the day as seamless, from the slower morning getting ready with friends through the final dance. After spending the week together in Los Cabos, that final party brought everyone back into the same place one more time.

Why They Recommend Starting With the Right Venue and Planning Team

Along with choosing a venue that already suits the wedding you have in mind, Sarah and Eric recommend putting real consideration into who will manage the destination logistics. “Most importantly, hire a planner you trust,” they say. “Having an experienced team manage the details allows you to stay present, enjoy the process, and truly experience your wedding week.”

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Fabi Rosas
Event Planning – LUXE Destination Weddings
Venue – Hard Rock Los Cabos
Floral Design – Emporio Arte Floral
DJ + Live Music – Inspire Event Solutions
Makeup + Hair Styling – Styling Trio
Rentals – Zuniga Decor

 

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A Vibrant Moroccan Wedding Weekend That Brought Two Families Together for the First Time

October 7, 2026 | justine

Brittany’s family lives in the United States. Moha’s lives in Jordan. Their parents had never met in person, so when the couple began planning a destination wedding, they searched for somewhere that could bring everyone together. Morocco became their meeting point.

Their Moroccan desert wedding weekend began with a Katb el Kitab in the Agafay Desert, where guests ate tagine, danced under the stars, and watched a fire show with the Atlas Mountains in the distance. The following day, the celebration moved to Levantine, a Moroccan villa where both families stayed together and, between the scheduled events, had time to simply hang out.

What We Love About This Moroccan Desert Wedding:

  • A Katb el Kitab in the Agafay Desert followed by dinner and a fire show
  • Both families staying together at Levantine after meeting in person for the first time
  • Moroccan tile-inspired place cards handmade by Brittany
  • Custom silk scarves made by Moha’s mom and waved around the dance floor
  • A traditional Amaria that lifted Brittany and Moha above the reception crowd

Finding a Meeting Point Between the United States and Jordan

Morocco wasn’t a destination Brittany and Moha had initially considered. It emerged while they were looking at the map. “We knew from the beginning that we wanted a destination wedding,” Brittany says. “My family is based in the United States, while Moha’s family lives in Amman, Jordan, so we wanted to find somewhere that could bring both sides together in the middle.”

A halfway point was the starting criterion. Morocco soon made sense for other reasons too. Brittany and Moha love traveling, and the country offered the color, architecture, food, and sense of adventure they were looking for.

Travel had been part of their relationship from the beginning. The two actually met because Brittany joked to a mutual friend who worked at Delta that she should date someone with flight benefits. Her friend happened to know a single coworker: Moha. “She sent Moha a picture of me, and somehow, the rest really was history,” Brittany says. “We always joke that after our first date, we simply never stopped hanging out.”

Starting the Weekend With a Katb el Kitab in the Agafay Desert

The Saturday welcome event doubled as Brittany and Moha’s Katb el Kitab, taking the place of a conventional rehearsal dinner. Guests headed into the Agafay Desert, with its rocky landscape and views toward the Atlas Mountains. After the ceremony, everyone sat down to a Moroccan buffet with dishes including tagine, then moved into dancing. A fire show closed the night.

For guests who had traveled from different parts of the world, the Moroccan desert wedding weekend began outside the city and immediately introduced them to the place Brittany and Moha had chosen. The next day brought everyone back to Levantine for the wedding ceremony and reception.

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Featured Vendor:
Anna Valentine Photography

Bringing Their Civil Ceremony Photographers All the Way to Morocco

Two years before Morocco, Brittany and Moha had a small civil ceremony on May 25, 2023. Brittany found photographers Anna and Rob Valentine through Instagram while searching for someone who understood what she wanted for the intimate day. At the end of that ceremony, she gave them a warning.

“I told Anna and Rob that I wanted to have our wedding internationally in two years, and that they were going to have to come with us to photograph it,” she remembers. “They laughed and said, ‘We’d love to. Just let us know!’” 

Having Junebug vendor Anna Valentine Photography in Morocco was one of Brittany’s non-negotiables when assembling the wedding team. Anna and Rob had photographed the couple’s legal marriage before an international wedding was even on the calendar, and now they were there for the next one.

    

Choosing a Grace Loves Lace Dress Brittany Had Been Eyeing Since She Was 12

Brittany had been saving Grace Loves Lace dresses to Pinterest since she was around 12 years old, so she knew exactly where to start when it was finally time to shop.

She chose the Sol gown, a design that happened to be retiring just that year. “The second I tried her on, I knew,” she says. “I had the biggest smile on my face, and there was just this feeling that I couldn’t shake. As cheesy as it sounds, I really do believe the dress chooses you.”

Working With Levantine’s Existing Color, Tilework, and Architecture

A strict wedding color palette never became part of the plan. Brittany and Moha instead worked with what was already around them: warm earth tones, Moroccan tilework, greenery, textured surfaces, and the architecture of each space. Levantine existing colors and intricate architectural details already matched what they had pictured, so they focused on additions that worked with the villa instead of changing it.

The venue also gave the weekend something they hadn’t been able to get from a traditional event space–their families could stay together. Because Brittany’s family was coming from the United States and Moha’s from Jordan, the wedding marked the first time their parents met in person. Staying at the villa gave everyone time together before, during, and after the scheduled events.

“Some of our favorite memories were actually those quieter moments in between the celebrations,” Brittany says. “Everyone sitting together, laughing, getting to know one another, and simply being together.”

A Best Friend Officiant and Writing Their Vows by Hand

Their best friend, Dr. Humie “Humam” officiated the ceremony at Levantine. He had known Brittany and Moha since early in their relationship, which gave him plenty of material for a speech filled with their history and humor.

Brittany and Moha also wrote their own vows by hand and read them to each other during the ceremony. “There weren’t many dry eyes in the audience,” Brittany remembers.

For the heat, guests were given custom fans printed with the couple’s names. This particular personalized wedding detail had a very practical job, too. As Brittany puts it, “Moroccan heat is no joke.”

Hiring a Planner in a Country They Had Never Visited

Initially, Brittany and Moha thought they could handle the planning themselves. There was one fairly major complication: they were organizing an international wedding in a country neither of them had visited.

They eventually hired Widad of Morocco Go Events, who helped them navigate local venues, vendors, and logistics from abroad. Their first trip to Morocco finally happened in December 2024, and the plans changed almost immediately. Their original venue unexpectedly fell through while they were there.

Widad arranged three new venue tours. One was Levantine. “The moment we saw it, we fell in love,” Brittany says. “It had everything we had been looking for and felt so authentically Moroccan that we could immediately picture our wedding there.”

Making Tile Place Cards, Cocktail Napkins, and Silk Scarves for the Dance Floor

Some of the smallest details from the weekend are now sitting in guests’ homes. Brittany made Moroccan tile-inspired name settings for each person, which doubled as individual keepsakes. Since the wedding, she has spotted them displayed at friends’ houses.

Their Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Maggie, couldn’t make the trip to Morocco, but she still appeared during cocktail hour. Custom napkins featured her face.

Moha’s mom contributed something specifically for the reception: custom silk scarves. Once dancing started, guests waved them above their heads, filling the dance floor with color and movement.

Joining a Traditional Moroccan Amaria at the Reception

One of the biggest reception moments required Brittany and Moha to leave the ground entirely. They incorporated the Amaria, a Moroccan wedding tradition in which the couple sits on a decorated platform or chair and is lifted above the crowd as guests dance, sing, and cheer around them.

From their seats above the reception, Brittany and Moha could look down and see their families and friends together below. “It was incredibly surreal and honestly so much fun,” Brittany says. After spending months figuring out how to bring guests from the United States, Jordan, and elsewhere to one place, the view from the Amaria gave them exactly that.

What They Learned From Planning an International Wedding

After organizing a Moroccan desert wedding from abroad, Brittany and Moha’s first recommendation is straightforward: bring in a local planner early. They also suggest paying close attention to the less glamorous logistical details. Rehearse anything involving microphones, audio, or music, and physically confirm decor placement and setup whenever possible. 

Conversations and plans on paper don’t always translate exactly once everything is inside the actual venue. And when something still goes differently than planned, Brittany has another reminder. “The funny thing is, no one else knows what was supposed to happen,” she says. “And they certainly won’t remember those little things afterward.”

“Soak up every second. Look around. Take it all in,” Brittany says. “The day goes by unbelievably fast.” Their Moroccan desert wedding gave them more than a single day together. It gave everyone a few days in the same place.

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Anna Valentine
Event Planning – Morocco Go Events
Venue – The Levantine Marrakech
Officiant – Dr. Humie
Makeup + Hair Styling – MarwaGlam
Wedding Dress – Grace Loves Lace
Groom’s Apparel – SuitSupply

 

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