There is something undeniably enchanting about a wedding that breaks from the traditional mould, and Mackenzie and Emilio’s modern, Mexican wedding celebration at La Casona San Miguel de Allende, in the heart of Guanajuato, Mexico, in October 2023, is the perfect example.
Mackenzie, a talented jewellery designer with a passion for vintage fashion, wore two vintage Issey Miyake pieces – both finds from renowned LA boutique, Tab Vintage – each gown reflecting her unique sense of style and love for timeless design. She got ready alongside her husband to be and carried a contemporary bouquet which featured a single flower type.
Guanajuato’s historic beauty provided the most stunning backdrop for a day filled with love, colour, and joy – a testament to the couple’s effortless style and connection and the vibrant atmosphere that was created by their wedding planner, Paula Balderas. If you’re someone who finds inspiration in the unconventional, I hope this wedding story resonates with you. Every detail, from the fashion to the flowers, was a reflection of Mackenzie and Emilio’s shared values, blending tradition with a fresh and contemporary outlook on love and celebration. Enjoy!
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The Dress
Everything I wore was secondhand or vintage; I wore two vintage looks – the first was an Issey Miyake gown from 2007. The second was a Pleats Please by Issey Miyake set from 1989.
I wanted a white dress not a wedding dress and I wanted it to be vintage or second hand. I collect vintage Issey Miyake and it felt too good to be true when I saw Tab Vintage in LA had two gorgeous white Issey Miyake looks. I highly recommend Tab Vintage – they have a beautiful collection of designer vintage pieces that can be purchased online or in store.
My favourite was the Pleats Please set. It was so nice to change out of my day-dress and put on an elastic waisted sculptural set of this design in the evening. I loved that my dresses were different from any other bride I had seen and that both looks were by one of my all time fave designers.
I wore my vintage Rolex from 1994, the year I was born. Emilio gave it to me for Christmas last year. Diamond earrings and gold ring with a jade cabochon from Halloween, other gifts from Emilio.
A diamond tennis bracelet and a gold ring from my Dad. He passed away 5 years ago so it was like having a little piece of him on the wedding day. A diamond pinky ring from my great grandmother.
‘My shoes were The Row’s ‘Bare Leather Sandsals‘ and my scent was Dyptique Rose.
I didn’t have any bridesmaids or flowergirls.
How They Met
We met on hinge in 2019. He asked me what my ideal date was and I said having tacos and going for a walk afterwards. So that’s what we did minus the walk. Our first date was on September 2, 2019 at Taqueria Habanero in Washington, DC. I was a flight attendant at the time and I got called in to work a flight later that night. So we met for lunch and from that day on we have not been apart for more than a few days.
A few years and the pandemic later, Emilio finished his residency and we moved to Philadelphia for his new job at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. After being in Philly for about a year, we went to Halloween, a jewelry shop here and looked at rings. Halloween has been around for about 40 years and they only advertise through word of mouth. It’s a very special place.
Elton John and Stevie Nicks both have had pieces made by Henry the owner. I was convinced I would know when he would propose because we had picked the diamond together.
He was picking it on Friday so I assumed he would ask after that. I did not know this until later but Halloween had called Emilio on Wednesday to say the ring was ready. Two days early.
On Wednesday, he told me that he had to pick up some mail and packages that got sent to our old apartment in DC. Then he asked if I wanted to go down to DC the next day and we could get dinner at Taqueria Habanero. So we did. We ran our errands in DC and went to dinner.
At the end of the meal, Emilio got up to use the bathroom and took a while. Long enough that I was concerned.
We walked out of the restaurant and I started walking to the car and he said wait I have to tell you something. I was so caught off guard, I asked if someone had died. I was that surprised. He got down on one knee in the exact spot where we first met 3 years earlier and asked me to marry him.
We had a small courthouse wedding August 26th and then our larger wedding in San Miguel de Allende the next year.
Note From The Wedding Planner
Words by Paula Banderas, Wedding Planner
In a world where traditions are constantly evolving, Mackenzie and Emilio’s tory stands out as a testament to breaking norms; their wedding was a celebration of love, pure and simple. There were no rigid protocols dictating ‘no seeing the bride before the wedding’ or conforming to societal norms. This wedding was about being, existing, enjoying, and above all, celebrating.
The couple got ready together, the bride wore two vintage dresses and the colour palette was white with pops of vibrant hues – the bouquet featuring a single red flower.
The meetup began right at the cocktail hour, kicking off the wedding with drinks and mingling.
The ceremony seamlessly transitioned into the reception, where Emilio’s father and sister shared heartfelt words, to which everyone nodded in agreement, raising their glasses in a toast to the couple.
When people hear that the groom’s mother planned the wedding, skepticism often arises. But let me assure you, with my biggest smile: this was one of the most relaxed weddings I’ve experienced in all my years as a wedding expert.
The couple entrusted the execution to seasoned professionals, allowing themselves to truly relax in the joy of the moment.
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The below suppliers and venues are featured in this article, but are not part of the Love My Dress Wedding Directory.
Annabel View all Annabel's articles
Founder of Love My Dress. Passionate Podcaster and Editor. Annabel lives in rural North Yorkshire with her husband and business partner Philip, their two daughters and menagerie of furry hounds. She loves photography, meditation, walking, being outdoors and star gazing. She is fierce when it comes to championing talent within the wedding industry and when she's not working on Love My Dress, she supports her husband Philip in the running of the family's sustainable flower farm and floral design business, Moonwind Flowers. In 2013, she became a published author.
