A dream destination wedding at The Ace Hotel in Palm Springs, California

“When you know, you just know,” Theresa Vitale says, adding to the sentiment of her wife Heidi, who says she fell in love at first sight.

Theresa proposed on Christmas morning with the help of the couple’s son, Barron. She took him aside after opening gifts, and had him put on a T-shirt that read, “Mommy, will you marry TT?” Heidi accepted, but had a surprise that she and Barron had kept secret as well. Pulling out a ring for Theresa, she popped the question, resulting in a double proposal.

It took eight months for Theresa and Heidi to plan their dream destination wedding at Ace Hotel and Swim Club in Palm Springs – the place where they stayed when they first started dating. Since it was a full-on weekend getaway in the sun, the brides designed canvas tote bags for their guests, filled them with goodies, and passed them around to everyone staying at the hotel. Throughout the weekend, the totes could be spotted being used as pool bags.

With the venue’s beautiful setting and desert mountains as the backdrop, the floral décor was kept simple for the big day with tons of greenery flowing throughout. During the ceremony, Theresa read her own vows to Barron, and her uncle – Joseph Vitale – spoke about marriage equality and his integral part of legalizing gay marriage in the United States.

The reception that followed couldn’t have been more spectacular. Dinner was served on long, family-style dinner tables, so everyone could converse and enjoy each other over a comforting spread of Italian bread, salads, salmon, hanger steak, roast chicken, and smashed potatoes. There was also a traditional Rugby Drinking Boat Race, with Heidi’s side of the wedding vs. Theresa’s side, followed by everyone jumping in the pool. The pool also played host to the Aqualillies, a synchronized swim team, who performed to Prince music as a surprise from Theresa. 

“Our wedding had it all and then some,” says the couple. “There was love, laughter, New Yorkers, Norwegians, dancing, Rugby Boat Races, Italians, synchronized swimmers, Tina Turner dances, Michael Jackson impressions, both brides jumping in the pool, and not a dry eye in the house.”

Two days later, the newlyweds jetted off to Tulum, Mexico for their honeymoon. “We fell absolutely in love with Tulum,” they share. “Between the laid-back atmosphere, bike rides through the town, and not one ounce of stress on the beach, we were in heaven. We absolutely loved the cenotes, which are natural swimming holes formed by the collapse of limestone creating these amazing caves you can swim in. We took a day trip there and it was a once-in-a-lifetime trip.”