An Architect’s Party-Coded Desert Wedding in Los Cabos

Raúl and Santiago envisioned a wedding that felt less like a single-day celebration and more like an immersive weekend shared with the people they love most. They found the perfect canvas at Wirikuta in Los Cabos, where monumental stone pyramids, the raw beauty of the Sea of Cortez, and a towering mango tree shaped every moment of the experience. Architecture and design were at the heart of every decision. As architects, the couple approached the celebration with an eye for thoughtful details, creating a custom monogram that appeared throughout the weekend, writing handwritten notes for every guest, and weaving deeply personal touches into every corner of the event. Fashion echoed the same refined vision: Raúl wore a sculptural silk ensemble, while Santiago chose an exquisitely hand-embroidered design rich with symbolic details. Together, every element reflected a celebration where architecture, craftsmanship, and heartfelt storytelling came together with remarkable ease.

Our Love Story

The Day We Met

We met and dated briefly in 2018. At the time, we were at different points in our lives, and our paths didn't align. Three years later, we found our way back to each other during the pandemic. By then, we had both matured, and our paths had finally aligned. It didn't take long before we fell in love.

The Proposal

Santiago proposed during a road trip through Portugal. We were halfway through the trip in Sintra, staying at Valverde Palácio de Seteais, an 18th-century palace. He had arranged a private dinner in the most beautiful salon at sunset for the proposal. When the moment came, he was so nervous he couldn't even say, "Will you marry me?" Instead, he simply got down on one knee with tears in his eyes. I got down on my knees too and said YES.

The Engagement Ring

There wasn't a traditional engagement ring. Instead, Santiago bought two identical watches—one for each of us—and had them engraved with the location and date of the proposal: Sintra, 05-20-25.

Our Wedding

The Vision

Since the proposal, we had been talking nonstop about all the ideas we had for our dream wedding. We've always dreamed of having a unique, unconventional wedding that reflected our personalities and our relationship while still honoring certain traditional elements, such as the dances with our mothers. In the end, we found the perfect balance between the two. There were two key aspects of the wedding. The first was the destination: we wanted an entire weekend getaway by the beach with all of our loved ones celebrating our love together. The second was the lighting and scenography. We hired visual and lighting designer Erick Estrada, who transformed the party into a full-scale festival experience. It was absolutely mind-blowing.

The Location

Raúl's favorite place in the world is the Sea of Cortez, so we knew we wanted to find a venue in or near Baja California. During a scouting trip to Los Cabos, we discovered an otherworldly venue called Wirikuta, which features three large-scale rocky pyramids. We fell in love with it at first sight. It was unlike anything we'd ever seen and exactly what we had been searching for. Additionally, Hotel El Ganzo is part of the same group that owns the venue, so we arranged a full hotel buyout, ensuring that everyone staying on the property was there for the wedding.

The Ceremony

The ceremony took place beneath a 25-meter-tall mango tree in a semicircular setting, with us standing in front of our guests. We entrusted both of our mothers and Natalia (Raúl's sister) with writing and delivering speeches for the ceremony, and they absolutely exceeded every expectation. Afterward, we read our vows and exchanged rings. It was the most magical and emotional ceremony we could have ever asked for.

The Reception

Whenever we go to a restaurant, we order everything to share, so we always knew we wanted our reception dinner to be served family-style.

We served Campeche-style ceviche, yellowfin tuna tartare, Greek salad, and hummus as appetizers. For the main course, guests enjoyed braised red snapper and vegetarian lasagna.

The Special Touches

We're both architects, so we're obsessed with the small details. We were deeply involved in every stage of the planning process and came up with several personal touches. At our studio, we designed a logo featuring our initials, which appeared everywhere—from the invitations and menus to the dance floor—becoming the emblem of the wedding.

We also wrote handwritten notes to every guest thanking them for being there. We surprised guests whose birthdays fell during that week with birthday cakes, sparklers, and candles. We created custom placemats featuring the initials of couples getting married the following year, and we provided custom-made fans and parasols for every guest during the ceremony.

Our Favorite Moment

We both agree that our favorite moment was either the ceremony or our first dance. One of our DJs created a special edit of "Can't Help Falling in Love," making it even more meaningful and unforgettable.

Our Style

The Grooms' Looks

Raúl's look was custom-made and designed by Mexican designer Kris Goyri. He wore a three-piece ensemble conceived as an exercise in quiet precision—clean, minimalist tailoring reimagined through sculptural proportions and unexpected geometry. Crafted entirely from silk crêpe, the fabric had an almost porcelain-like quality: crisp yet fluid, with a luminous softness that felt impeccably refined. The jacket explored subtle architectural gestures through asymmetrical cut lines and a delicate oval opening at the back, revealing just enough skin to introduce an understated sense of sensuality. Paired with softly ballooned trousers, the silhouette felt modern and sculptural while remaining timelessly elegant.

Santiago's look was designed by Nelly Guinand, founder of Guinand Condesa. The piece was meticulously hand-embroidered using luxurious silk threads, tonal sequins, glass beads, pearls, and dimensional yarns to create an intricate textile landscape across sheer silk organza. Flying birds soar through beaded palm trees while hidden tigers emerge discreetly within the embroidery, inviting the eye to discover intimate symbols woven into the couple's story. Paired with a fluid silk blouse and impeccably tailored silk trousers, the look balanced transparency, texture, and refined contemporary menswear craftsmanship.

Our Advice

For the Planning Process

Enjoy the process. It can feel overwhelming at times, but the truth is that time flies. Try to make the most of the planning journey because it becomes part of the memories you'll cherish forever.

For On The Day

Be as present as possible. Take a moment to appreciate everything happening around you—the incredible work that went into creating the celebration, every person who traveled to celebrate your love, and every unforgettable moment. Most importantly, dance your feet off. The grooms set the energy for the entire wedding.

For Post-Wedding

We stayed in Los Cabos for a few extra days with some of our closest friends and family, enjoying the beach, reliving the wedding, sharing photos, and reminiscing about our favorite moments from the weekend.