One Couple's Artsy, Opulent 5-Day Wedding Weekend in the Mountains of Colima, Mexico
Marina and Yaniv describe their first meeting as two paths colliding during one sunset at Burning Man in 2022. Maybe it was fate that brought them together in the middle of the desert, but the moment Yaniv decided to bike up to the woman he saw walking, neither could know they’d be engaged only twelve hours later. They spent those hours getting to know each other, and though he didn’t (yet) have a ring, Marina says, “Only weeks later, he got down on a knee with a diamond. Our story is very crazy, and we recognize how rare this is.”
The adventurers and entrepreneurs shared a love for art and nature, and that led them to a five-day wedding weekend at the luxurious Hacienda De San Antonio in Mexico. Blending a bit of “magic with impeccable attention to detail” for their artisanal-inspired design, the couple wanted a true celebration for their friends, families and loved ones to make memories. “This week was an opportunity for us to weave artistry, community, and individuality–which we prioritize–into a singular vision of fashion and glamour that embodies our shared adventures, the culmination of a love story and our future,” Marina adds.
The first night of their festivities was an homage to Frida Kahlo, with their fifty nearest and dearest flying in to enjoy a dinner surrounded by artwork and color. “We made personalized gift bags for each of the guests with custom-made ponchos that I designed and had Pays produce in Mexico City,” Marina says of the welcome bags. Local artisans had crafted the ceramics on display, and the embroidered chairs featured Yaniv and Marina’s custom crest. The couple wore all red, complete with silks, feather roses, and capes that cinched their looks. Day two gave them a picnic with views of Volcán de Colima, and chic keepsakes for the guests: hand-etched Inti hats featuring the custom crest from the night before. That night, guests were treated to dinner in the hotel’s courtyard under hanging silver stars. Both Francesco Tristano, a classical pianist, and a female mariachi band performed for this memorable night before the big day.
Their theme for the wedding day was “Ceremony of Reflection,” where 48 mirrored columns decorated the beachfront ceremony spot. The bride says, “The [columns] were meant to reflect the natural beauty around us and our beautiful friends. It was meant to be minimalist yet grand.” Marina walked down the reflective aisle, surrounded by classic white florals with greenery that tied in with the jungle around them. As one of her eleven looks for the weekend, she wore a corseted tulle dress in white with pearls, a cascading veil and a bouquet of white orchids. The dress itself was a nod to her ballet days, with ruffles of tulle for a princess gown style. Her groom, Yaniv, wore a cashmere ivory tuxedo with a matching ivory silk bow tie to complement the white theme of their ceremony space.
What followed was a glamorous reception with an “enchanted” aesthetic of hanging greenery, crystal chandeliers with floral accents and long dining tables in rich hues of red, pink and green. “The reception… was incredibly colorful and lush, with jewel tones and opulence to liven up the mood. I chose deep hues that were saturated and created the richness of the evening,” says Marina. She changed into a custom Berta gown, silk tulle with an embellished cape, while their loved ones enjoyed caviar and champagne.
“I was really excited to surprise my dad for our father-daughter dance with a Bulgarian folk track from my childhood. He had no idea what I had chosen, and watching him tear up as the song came on was worth everything to me,” she says of planning this dance with her dad. Yaniv’s track for the first dance was “La Vie En Rose,” and Sly 5th Avenue DJed the event. Following their dinner, their team of vendors transformed the beach from the ceremony into a Studio 54-inspired space with a disco heart installation overhead.
To round out the final events, everyone was invited to a day-after poolside soiree with 1950s-era music and a Lake Como vibe. Rhye and his band gave a performance for the “Velvet Jungle” party on Saturday, while Diplo ended the lavish weekend with a set at the Sol de Occidente Castle. Both Marina and Yaniv attribute their hardworking team of vendors for bringing such an extravagant affair to life. “Choose your wedding planner wisely... Planning-wise, you will never feel like it's finished, so at some point, you have to let it all go and enjoy,” Marina advises future couples. And with how much fun the couple and their loved ones had during this destination wedding, it’s a testament to their own advice to just bask in the moments while they occur.