A fun-loving couple takes the leap in sunny Mexico
BY COLLEEN MCNAMARA SEPTEMBER 11, 2015Sheila and Esteban met while Sheila was vacationing in Cabo in 2012. Though Sheila was from Vancouver, and Esteban from Cabo, they dove into life together head first. Fast forward three years and their love story has come full circle. The couple said their “I do’s” at an intimate sunset ceremony in Palmilla this summer.
When it came to planning the big day, Sheila and Esteban both knew they wanted to keep the style of the wedding simple, and let the natural vibrancy of Cabo do the work. “The vision I had for our wedding was simple and elegant” says Sheila, adding, “I wanted something soft, romantic, and pretty all at once. Nothing over the top.”
To find the perfect venue, she and Esteban visited several villas in Cabo, but when they laid their eyes on Casita 378, the search was over. “I stepped onto the beautiful open concept terrace and gasped! There was even an archway in place for the ceremony. It was made for us!” smiles Sheila.
Of course, there’s a lot of preparation to undergo before walking down the aisle. Sheila confirms this celebration was a true team effort, ensuring that by the time the wedding bells rang, she was ultra-relaxed. Not only did her sisters-in-law jump in and help out, and Esteban was hands-on too.
Sheila stresses the importance of having an “insiders” expertise if you’re planning a destination wedding, because tracking down all the right vendors requires a certain level of knowledge. “You need a concierge in the area, a wedding planner, or something; knowing where to look for the best of everything is vital.” It just so happens that Esteban works as a concierge in Cabo, so needless to say, his address book was filled with all the right people. “Esteban took care of a lot – like ensuring we had a great chef for the meal, and finding all of the right vendors in Cabo for things like chairs, table settings, and so on. He did a great job keeping with our color scheme of silver, light grey and beige, the small details that matter.”
As every bride and groom hopes, the sun was shining for their big day. “I was getting my hair done, and Esteban was FaceTiming me as he finished setting up, I couldn’t want to get there and see it for myself!” says Sheila. She walked down the aisle, surrounded by 12 of their closest friends as golden sunset rays drenched the terrace for, what she describes as a “short and sweet!” ceremony. The couple segued into married life in a fun, lively way, perfectly befitting their style as a couple. “We blasted some Persian tunes before dinner and had a big dance party!”
Their chef for the evening, Lorita, blew everyone away with a spectacular meal. “I love to cook, I love to eat, and I know good food” says Sheila, “so having a delicious dinner for our guests was important to me.” Lorita delivered, with a baked beet salad, seafood chowder, a classic filet mignon, and homemade salmon tortellini. A light dessert finished this decadent meal. “My husband is a true chocoholic… but I convinced him a coconut mango mousse was the way to go for dessert. And it was the perfect way to conclude the meal” says Sheila.
After coffee, the newlyweds danced under the stars with their closest friends. Like many couples, Sheila and Esteban look back on their special day, and only wish one thing: that it could have lasted a bit longer. While that’s impossible, there is, of course, the possibility of carrying on the celebration in another way. So, they’re traveling up the pacific coast to Vancouver do just that. “We’re having a big fat Persian wedding in the fall too. I can’t wait!” says Sheila.