When Aliett and Parke began planning their wedding, tradition wasn't their goal – they were searching for a feeling. They found it in Careyes, Mexico, a hidden gem on the Pacific coast where rugged cliffs meet wild beaches and colorful villas perch above the sea like sculptures. Inspired by the sun-washed hues of the architecture and the surreal landscapes, the couple envisioned a weekend that felt more like a cinematic escape than a wedding. Guests were greeted with cocktails before the ceremony and wandered through gardens before taking their seats beneath white umbrellas.
As the sun dipped low, guests were led to a villa framed by bold yellow architecture, and a sweeping view of the ocean. There, textured tablescapes came to life, layered with vintage-inspired details. The floral arrangements featured orange tulips that were opened until they looked wild and sculptural. And the bride? She floated through it all in a custom Annie’s Ibiza look. Designed over months, it echoed the sculptural forms of the venue and felt undeniably, perfectly like her.
Our Love Story
The Day We Met
Aliett was a junior at Columbia University in 2017 when she ran into a friend on campus who invited her out that night—and asked if she could set him up with one of her friends. He brought Parke along to The Flower Shop on the Lower East Side. Parke arrived in full Peaky Blinders attire (for a costume cocktail party)—tweed vest, cap, and all—which left Aliett both confused and intrigued. They bonded over the fact that Parke’s parents had recently moved to West Palm Beach, FL, where Aliett grew up. They dated casually for a few months before becoming close friends for the next four years. In 2021, after a spontaneous road trip through Portugal, they finally made it official.
The Proposal
We were in France for a friend’s wedding in Biarritz and planned a road trip along the coast to Cap Ferret and Arcachon. I had mapped out the entire itinerary—like I always do—so I truly didn’t suspect a thing. We had never talked about rings or timelines, so when Parke proposed on the balcony of our bungalow overlooking the bay, I was completely surprised. By pure coincidence (or subtle mom-planning), I happened to be wearing a white bikini my mother had sent me. It was quiet, intimate, and perfect—no friends, no photographer, just us. We kept it to ourselves for a few weeks, which made sharing the news in person with our loved ones even more meaningful.
The Engagement Ring
A year before the proposal, Parke began designing my engagement ring with a close friend who works at Oscar Heyman. Though we’d never discussed rings, he knew I loved vintage fashion and Art Deco design. The result was a ring that felt like a true reflection of me—a testament to how deeply Parke knows me, how closely he listens, and how intuitively he picks up on my style and spirit.
Our Wedding
The Vision
I was captivated by the architecture—vividly colored villas perched on cliffs overlooking untouched coastline. The homes were bold, mystical, and cinematic, reminiscent of Slim Aarons’ golden days in Capri or Acapulco. We fell in love with the energy and decided to shape our wedding weekend around showcasing the unique design of each private home, with sweeping views and pristine beaches as the backdrop. I wanted our friends and family to feel like they were on a vacation planned by us—with intimate conversations over drinks and dinner, and opportunities to relax on the beach or completely send it with our closest people.
The Location
We had a two-year engagement and struggled to find a destination that truly felt like us. Parke had just one requirement: it had to be on the ocean—and come with no rules. I discovered Careyes, Mexico while researching nearby Cuixmala, and was instantly captivated. The dramatic, rugged coastline, wild beaches, and bold, artistic architecture felt untouched and cinematic. Over three days, we hosted events at four stunning venues: Casa La Huerta for the welcome party, Casa La Ceiba for the ceremony, Sol Oriente for the reception, and Lilo Beach Club for the beach party.
The Ceremony
Careyes doesn’t offer a one-size-fits-all venue—and we loved that. We wanted to showcase the architectural magic of these private villas, many of which are only visible from the sea. Although we were in a coastal town, I knew I wasn’t a barefoot-on-the-beach bride. Instead, each venue’s natural beauty spoke for itself, with awe-inspiring moments around every corner. My ceremony rules were: a dramatic entrance, untraditional seating, and pre-ceremony cocktails.
Guests were welcomed at the entrance of the villa with cocktails under large white umbrellas, accompanied by a live band. After about 20 minutes, they were guided down a garden path to the ceremony, held in a courtyard at the front of the villa. Palms shaded the guests, and we incorporated the villa’s existing large ceramic pots and lush plants into our floral design. The band was originally supposed to play a cover of Mystery of Love, but at the last minute, they switched to Margaret by Lana Del Rey—changing the lyrics to include “Aliett.” I didn’t even realize it until my friends sent me videos the next day.
The Cocktail Hour
It felt cinematic—designed to engage all the senses. Guests were welcomed by two lines of mariachi musicians as they arrived, setting the tone immediately. The villa’s striking yellow walls, bold architecture, and sweeping 300-degree ocean view created a truly surreal atmosphere. Every time a guest turned a corner, we heard the same reaction: “Oh my god.”
Across the cove stood a mirrored villa, painted orange, forming a dreamlike symmetry that made the entire setting feel almost imaginary. It’s rare to be so present in a space while simultaneously able to visualize exactly where you are.
The Reception
After cocktail hour, the mariachi band led guests upstairs to dinner and dancing beneath the stars, framed by dramatic cliffs and a soft ocean breeze as the sun dipped below the horizon. I envisioned long banquet tables encircling the palapa to encourage connection and intimacy. With just 90 guests, it was important to us that everyone mingle, meet, and feel part of something shared.
Designing around the villa’s bold yellow architecture was no easy task. I wanted layered, textured tablescapes that evoked the mood of a retro supper club in Havana or Capri. Our florist spent months sourcing deep green Michoacán clay candelabras that I knew would ground the entire design. Rather than relying on lush florals, I let the ceramics do the storytelling: hand-selected plates, vintage-inspired glassware, and custom paper goods gave the tables depth and character. I wanted rich greenery and organic movement, with a single floral moment that could tie it all together. Our florist opened up orange tulips so they looked wild and sculptural—suddenly they became something entirely different. They brought the whole tablescape to life.
The Special Touches
My college roommate, who’s designed for both of my beauty brands—Fazit Beauty and LaBruna Skincare—created custom stationery for each wedding event. I sent her over 25 pages of mood boards, and she captured the essence of it all. One of my favorite details: the round bar on the first floor of the cocktail hour venue, centered around a giant palm tree—it felt like The Tropicana Club in Cuba meets The Beverly Hills Hotel in the ’50s and ’60s.
Our Favorite Moment
Just before dinner, Parke and I slipped away upstairs to sit on the villa’s ledge overlooking the ocean. The sun was setting, and we took a moment to soak in the beauty of it all—this wild dream of a wedding we’d envisioned, now unfolding around us with our core people.
Our Style
The Bridal Looks
Having modeled for bridal brands growing up, trying on gowns felt performative—none of them felt like me. After exhausting every designer in NYC and LA (and diving deep into vintage), my mom and I flew to Paris and London. That’s where we wandered into Annie’s Ibiza, one of my favorite boutiques. Annie had just launched a bridal capsule collection that was vintage-inspired, artful, and fashion-forward. Over the next year—with countless Zoom fittings and a few more London trips—we created a custom four-piece look: a corset, overskirt, mini tulle layer, and long underskirt, all designed to be worn again in different ways. The structure echoed the sculptural architecture of Careyes.
For the after-party, I wore a custom lace dress by Kristin Mallison made from lace from my mother’s wedding gown. My jewelry was entirely vintage, sourced from my favorite estate jeweler in West Palm Beach. Shoes were the biggest challenge—my dress was a soft champagne tone, not bright white. Just two weeks before the wedding, I found the perfect pair: vintage 1990s Manolos in beige textured leather, adorned with teardrop pearls—from a little shop around the corner from my apartment. Meant to be.
Something Blue: A tag stitched inside my dress: “Made for Aliett Cora”. Something Used: Vintage Manolos and vintage estate earrings. Something Borrowed: My mother-in-law’s heirloom lace handkerchief (carried by every bride in her family for the last 100 years), and lace from my mom’s wedding dress, wrapped around my bouquet. Something New: My custom dress and veil To the welcome party, I wore a vintage red jacquard and embroidered Elie Saab gown with vintage clutch, earrings, and shoes. To the beach party, I wore a white one-piece by Ziah with a sheer white Marlies Grace dress over it and red-and-white Roger Vivier platforms.
The Groom’s Looks
Parke wore a custom white silk tuxedo jacket with a shawl collar and double-breasted silhouette, paired with silver pheasant cufflinks I gifted him. His wing-collar shirt and silk bowtie were made by Budd’s in London.
Bridesmaids’ Looks
Parke gifted his nine groomsmen custom slippers monogrammed with their initials. I didn’t plan to have an official bridal party, but my closest girlfriends serendipitously arrived in shades of orange, yellow, and pink—echoing the vibrant villas of Careyes. My maid of honor wore vintage Etro, and my mom wore a custom Silvia Tschersi gown.
Our Advice
For the Planning Process
Talk to Past Couples: Speak with other brides and grooms who’ve worked with your key vendors—especially your planner/coordinator and venue. They’ll have helpful insight on what worked and what didn’t. Involve Your Partner: Brides—loop in your groom! Even with a wedding planner, there’s still a lot to handle. Assign clear roles and give your partner responsibilities they can truly own.
Make It About You: Every choice—your design, venue, entertainment—should reflect your vision as a couple. Skip the trends, ignore outside opinions, and trust your instincts. This is your moment to get creative and make it yours. Push for Early Timelines: Many vendors won’t focus on your wedding until just a few weeks out. Push back on that. Last-minute, emotional decisions often lead to compromises you didn’t want to make. Get things locked early so you can actually enjoy the lead-up.
For On the Day
The morning of, I wanted to do things that grounded me. I had coffee with my husband, a slow breakfast with my girls, and a calming “getting ready” playlist to ease into the day. One thing I wish I had done: take a spiritual moment to truly center myself. The emotions are real—excitement, nerves, overwhelm. Make space to clear your head before it all begins so you can receive the love around you, feel those emotional moments deeply, and not just move through the motions of the plan.
Stay connected to your partner throughout the day and night. So many of our friends told us to take moments during the celebration to pause and take it all in together—that advice was gold. And finally: when you arrive at your events, stop planning. You are the guest of honor now. It’s not worth giving headspace to logistics. No one will notice the little things. Let it go—and enjoy every moment.
For Post-Wedding
Before you leave, collect anything sentimental—place cards, menus, notes, or décor you want to save. You’ll be glad you did. Ask your friends to send over all their photos and videos. The little behind-the-scenes moments they capture are often your favorites. Most importantly, carve out a few days post-wedding to decompress with your partner. Whether it’s a beach, a chaise lounge by the pool, or just somewhere quiet—it’s the perfect time to reflect, laugh, cry, and take it all in together.
Vendors
Photographer: Efege Photo, Visor
Videographer: Zirafa Films
Planner: Roldán Milan
Florals: La Dahlia
Table Design: Casa Meraki, Ideando
Venues: Casa La Ceiba
Entertainment & Music: Lamar Club, Nielson Music
Hair & Makeup: Vlamur
Catering & Cake: Concepto Catering
Stationery: CASTUDIO
Style
Bridal Dresses: Annie's Ibiza, Kristin Mallison, Elie Saab, What Goes Around Comes Around
Beach Outfit: Marlies Grace, Ziah
Bridal Shoes: Manolo Blahnik
Wedding & Engagement Rings: Oscar Heyman
