Real Wedding: Sloan & Connor

Authentic wedding in Cabo San Lucas

Sloan and Connor's wedding in Cabo San Lucas was a vibrant and special event full of lasting memories and sheer beauty. The couple chose an amazing Mexican resort town for their celebration to surround themselves with gorgeous scenery and authentic local culture. Read through to discover all the planning details of this amazing love story organized by our member Marianna Idirin.

Tell us a little about yourselves. How did you meet? What do you do for a living? What are your hobbies?

We met after one of Connors football games in 2013 through my sister. I was the little sister that tagged along to everything. We lived separate lives for awhile, but always kept in contact. There were always invisible strings at play, We reconnected after I graduated college and Connor moved to Indianapolis full time, from there our story started...Connor started his financial services business almost 10 years ago. In his free time he enjoys snowboarding with his family and Harry Potter. His absolute favorite time of the year is Christmas. I am a interior designer that is constantly seeking inspiration. I constantly have the urge to travel, try different foods, and find the vibe!

Can you share your engagement story?

It was a dream. We booked this trip during COVID dreaming of the day we are lucky enough to travel again. There was this AirBnB that I dreamed of visiting in Joshua Tree. The whole time leading up to this trip I thought this was when it was going to happen. My friends, family, and Connor kept talking me out of it. I guess that should of been the clue when everyone was telling me no. All the signs were there but we just decided on the custom ring a few months before so no way it could of been ready, right? We got to our AirBnB and the first thing I always need to do is unpack. I started getting us set up for the week and Connor starts yelling my name. I franticly run up to the roof and he turns around, gets on one knee and I black out. Right there in the sunset, in a place I dreamed of visiting, the love of my life is on one knee. The tears start and don’t end. Im crying because its unreal and I never thought it would happen, especially in the pjs I was in....We spent the rest of the week just Connor and I under the sun and the stars of Joshua Tree.

Did you have any pre-wedding events, like a rehearsal dinner or bridal shower?

Our rehearsal was also put on by Marianna & team. It was tacos and tequila on the beach that turned into dancing and a memorable night.

Where was your wedding? Why did you choose this venue?

Our wedding was in Cabo San Lucas. Fun fact: my wedding was the first time I have ever been to Cabo! We chose this location because it was dear to Connor and his family. He comes from a large family that loved to take trips to Cabo and all of their favorite memories happened there. The church we got married in was one of the Churches that the Ryans’ would attend Easter mass. The reception was at the breathtaking location of Esperanza. There is no question why we chose this location. The moment I saw the cliffs and heard the waves crash against the rocks I knew it was the place to celebrate!

What was the concept behind your wedding and how did you find your inspiration?

I wanted everything to feel natural yet different. The venue was artwork in itself so we needed the vibe to correspond nicely. I think I provide Marianna & Her team 1,000+ inspo photos. What we realized is that I am a flower girly. I seriously LOVE flowers. The team decided that flowers would always be the main focus of the decor in the church and on the tables.

How long did it take to plan your wedding? Did you encounter any challenges during the planning process?

The challenges were planing a wedding site unseen. Having Marianna Idirin a and her team was a blessing. They would FaceTime us and walk us around our locations and answer every questions when I was second guessing it.

How many guests did you have? And what was the seating arrangement at the wedding like?

We had 68 guests! We thought it would be smaller but couldn’t be happier that more people chose to celebrate! Setting arrangement were actually pretty easy. Luckily our friends and family get along with everyone so we just placed them wherever.

Tell us about your outfits. How many different styles have you tried?

Connor had a custom tux with vans. I had 3 different dresses for the two nights. My rehearsal set was from Anthropology. It was a challenge to find something that would work on the beach with no shoes. My wedding dress was for-sure a challenge. I can’t even count how many stores I went too, how many dresses I tried on, the amount of emotions I had. It came down to crunch time and I just had to block out all the thoughts and go dress shopping myself. I walked into Dimitra’s Bridal in Chicago and saw this dress just hanging there that had the sleeves that I wanted. I didn’t ask any questions I just said I want to try that on and it was a perfect fit. No alterations needed, just a change in slip color. It was truly an emotional feeling that it was THE DRESS. Still to this day I think about my dress and just want to go put it on. It was so comfy, it was so dramatic, it was so detailed, it was so me. I would of worn my wedding dress the whole night but I knew I wanted something more loose to dance in. My mother found a local seamstress that does custom dresses. We worked for few weeks on this custom dress that was still elegant but better for dancing.

What was your first dance song? Did you choreograph or improvise?

'Lifetime' by Justin Bieber. There were a millions songs we listened to and thought “maybe this is it...” but there was no song that every word hit home like Lifetime. We probably should of choreographed but this song makes us just want to hug each other and dance, so that’s what we did.

What was the most memorable moment from your wedding day?

The giant waves splashing over the rocks, sprinkling our table while looking up at our loved ones enjoying the best dinner of our lives. We can still feel this moment when we look at our photos.

Are there any vendors that you would like to tell us a little more about?

Marianna Idirin & Team (Frida, Anilu, & Brenda) were everything to us. They made it so special. They kept us calm and they were there every step of the way. This team is so incredibly talented. I had no doubt that the wedding would be incredible from the moment I started working with them. Our dearest Camila Urrea was truly a gem. Her vision. Her vibe. Her love! She was everything I needed and more to be by my side during such a stressful time. She felt like a best friend to me during our weekend. Her photography speaks for itself. It’s unmatched.

What advice would you give to couples who are currently planning their wedding?

Relax. It goes by so fast. Make decisions on what will make you happy, not anyone else.

Were there national/religious traditions at your wedding and how did you implement them?

We are catholic so getting married in a church was important to us.

Did you have any special or unique elements (such as a signature cocktail or a fragrance) at your wedding?

Lets talk skinny margs...or we should call them Sloan’s margs. They are the only thing people can talk about.

What helped you cope with the anxiety before the wedding?

Nothing. Feel it. Acknowledging it. Its going to be there but don’t let it consume you. I am a firm believer that if you take the time to acknowledge your feelings they are easier to manage in the long run. I had so much stress the whole year leading up to the wedding week, then the week of I had nothing to worry about.