Bougainvillea and Baja: A Terracotta-Toned Seaside Wedding at The Cape in Cabo San Lucas
Bougainvillea, Baja and the beach. Those were the vibes for Samuel and Cabell’s destination wedding in Cabo. The resort city played a major part in their love story, from falling in love with the location two years into dating and getting engaged at one of their favorite hotels two more years after that. The couple initially met in a different type of terrain, however, in Denver, Colorado, while playing in a flag football league. From there, they shared a love of travel, especially in Los Cabos, Mexico. While staying at Las Ventanas al Paraiso in 2023, the men took their relationship to new heights. They say, “Cabell orchestrated a beautiful surprise, and after dodging a long series of questions about the weekend from Sam and on their way to a non-existent dinner reservation in town, Cabell was able to get Sam over to the majestic tree on their plaza, and while overlooking the ocean at sunset, he popped the question. It was a setting that spoke to our shared passions—a place where the horizon seemed to promise endless adventures.”
Before long, the couple would be sharing another important milestone in Cabo, this time at the perfect beachfront resort: The Cape, a Thompson Hotel. Cabell and Samuel began planning a destination wedding around the beauty of the tropical landscape, local flora and fauna and bringing a touch of masculine decor to match their shared style. The grooms focused on colors and design choices that would tie into the location itself, Baja’s sandy beaches and sprawling waters. “For the color palette, we chose terracotta and green with accents of magenta to match the bougainvillea flowers found throughout Cabo… The pops of color created the perfect juxtaposition against the darker colors of The Cape,” they add, also incorporating other local elements like pink garden roses, cacti and agave plants.
The night before the big day, they hosted a rehearsal dinner that tied more into local architecture and style. “The rehearsal dinner was held at a venue that featured more traditional Mexican design, so we ran with the fiesta theme and incorporated lots of bright colors,” the grooms note, including their own special attire for the evening. “For the rehearsal dinner, we chose colorful shirts from the Sayulita Shirt Company in Sayulita, Mexico (another favorite destination of ours in Mexico).”
As for the wedding day? The two men chose matching linen suits, straight from Denver, and in the perfect sandy hue to match their seaside ceremony. But they did include little touches to differentiate their wedding looks from one another, like matching ties in distinct shades of blue. “And since our suits matched on the outside, we picked linings that were in the same pattern but different colors (green and blue). Cabell’s mother passed away not too long before the wedding, and Hermes was her favorite store, so we chose ties from there in her honor,” the couple says. To complete the fit, both wore brown Louboutin Oxfords for “dancing the night away.”
Overlooking the shimmering blue waters, the grooms stood in front of an asymmetrical floral altar, with greenery surrounding the wooden chairs where guests were seated. Samuel and Cabell exchanged vows in a meaningful, special ceremony that incorporated their own cultures. They say, “During the wedding ceremony, we incorporated the Jewish tradition of breaking the glass. This tradition was important for us to incorporate both because of the religious symbolism and also as a shared tradition.” Cabell’s parents loved the meaning behind this so much that they even included this tradition in their own Baptist wedding.
Sprinkled throughout the reception were the same floral displays of bougainvillea and rich pink shades, but in a new form than the ceremony’s arrangements. The outdoor space still gave gorgeous views of the seas, and guests dined beneath string lights with candlelight brightening each table. The newlyweds brought custom details to the party, too, like monogrammed drink koozies and bags. But they also added their wedding logo to a custom design on the blue dance floor. A decor element reminiscent of the nearby beach. There were plenty more surprises in store for their loved ones, something that was especially memorable for the couple. “We loved sharing the time with all of our friends and family in a place that has become so special to us… And who could forget the awesome time we had on the Pelican yacht with our wedding party? We also loved seeing the surprise on our guests’ faces when the fireworks went off after we cut the wedding cake at the reception,” they muse.
Their team of vendors truly brought their vision to life, from the rehearsal dinner to the last firework setting off in the night sky. “First and foremost, choosing to hire a wedding planner was a game-changer. We could not have pulled off the wedding of our dreams without professional help,” Cabell and Samuel say. “This was particularly true for a destination wedding where having a local planner who already has the contacts and relationships was essential.” Despite the crucial help their wedding team offered, the newlyweds note that one of the most important aspects of wedding planning was choosing what felt right for them. That kept the event “uniquely” theirs, for memories they wouldn’t trade and an unforgettable bash that gave their loved ones a true getaway.