A FULL-FILLED DESTINATION WEDDING WEEK IN CABO
Courtney never expected to encounter the love of her life on a work trip to Montreal; but that’s exactly where she met Kevin Kerston in 2018.
“I was immediately drawn to his laid-back personality and charming smile,” she recalls. “He lived in Austin, Texas and I was in Ottawa, Canada, but it didn't matter. Our connection was electric right away and for almost two years, our love flourished as we flew back and forth to see each other almost every month. I finally made the move to be with him in Texas on March 20, 2020. I was not supposed to move for several months, but I was forced to make a quick decision as the borders between Canada and the US were closing due to the pandemic. It was an incredibly dramatic and last-minute call that I almost didn’t make. The closure was only supposed to be 30 days and my chances of getting my visa would be better if I waited. Call it intuition, but something inside me told me I had to go. So, I risked it all and left with only two suitcases in hand. Looking back, I cannot even imagine the alternative.”
A Sonoma Proposal
Kevin popped the question six months later, when the couple was visiting his hometown of Sonoma with some close friends and family.
“We were enjoying a wine tasting at a family friend’s beautiful boutique winery,” Courtney shares, “when Kevin stood up to make a toast – something out of the ordinary for him. I was so confused! He forgot everything he was going to say. He just blurted out: “Uh… Will you marry me?” I was so surprised and full of love that I didn’t hesitate to say yes!”
Everyone around them erupted into cheers and laughter, and the group celebrated their Sonoma proposal all night long. From the gorgeous winery setting, to having their loved ones present, Courtney and Kevin were thrilled with their engagement; and they were even more excited to start planning their future together as an engaged couple.
Planning a Destination Wedding in Cabo
Selecting a location for their big day was a “no brainer.” From the start of the planning process, Courtney and Kevin were set on planning a destination wedding in Cabo.
“Mexico is so near and dear to our hearts, having vacationed there many times together,” Courtney adds. “So, planning a Cabo wedding was a dream come true. We knew we wanted to have a week-long celebration with our closest family and friends. Many of them, including our parents, had never met due to the distance and the pandemic. It was our number one priority to make it an immersive experience that was full of fun, love and laughter, bringing together everyone we love in a breathtaking location.”
The couple’s dream team of wedding talent included their planner, Lynette Dow from Amy Abbott Events, who they refer to as their “fairy godmother” throughout the entire experience.
“For 20 months,” says Courtney, “she helped make our dream tangible one step at a time, while simultaneously calming my type A, anxious personality. The process was not without challenges, as our initial venue left us scrambling when it announced it would be indefinitely closing and cancelling all events halfway into our planning process.”
She continues, “Our photographer, Marlies Hartmann of M. Hart Photography, who we also brought on board 20 months in advance was everything and more. Her work is truly magical, and she gave us the greatest gift we could ever ask for – a piece of our special week we can hold onto forever. The same is true for our wedding video captured by Meraki Weddings.”
“Our love had brought us together from opposite sides of the continent.”
A Destination Wedding Week in Cabo
The wedding week festivities kicked off with a happy hour at Nobu on the beach, where the couple and their guests sipped on cocktails and watched the sun set over the ocean. That was followed by a delicious dinner at Nobu restaurant, where they enjoyed what Courtney calls “some of the best sushi we've ever had.”
The next day was a lively pool party, followed by a vibrant Moroccan-themed welcome party. Nobu was decked out with teepees, colorful lanterns, beautiful rugs, and plenty of pillows for lounging. Despite the strong Pacific winds, the music kept everyone dancing all night long, and it was the perfect way to kick off the week of festivities.
On the day before their wedding, the bride and groom had their rehearsal dinner tucked in the foothills of San Jose del Cabo at ACRE – a lush sanctuary set on 25 acres of abundant greenery. The food was incredible, and the setting was romantic. Everyone spent the evening surrounded by candlelight, laughter and the sounds of nature.
When the big day finally arrived, the bride and groom prepared themselves at Nobu; but things weren’t as seamless as planned.
“We had a few speedbumps along the way,” Courtney shares. “I was so sick the night before, I needed an IV team to come in at midnight; and Kevin got so sunburned the days before that his face was peeling and we had to send the makeup team to fix him. We laughed so hard at our first look, but they did an amazing job. He looked so handsome.”
Laughter truly is the best medicine, as the rest of their wedding day was truly a dream come true. Walking down the aisle at the Sunset Monalisa restaurant in Cabo, Courtney was the stunning BERTA bride she’d always dreamed she would be. While overlooking the ocean and the famous Cabo arch, the sun slowly set, transforming the sky into a breathtaking canvas of oranges, pinks, and purples. It was the perfect atmosphere for a destination wedding in Cabo.
“As we exchanged our vows and became husband and wife,” says the bride, “I was overcome with emotion. Kevin is my soulmate, and I was grateful for every moment that we shared together. Our love had brought us together from opposite sides of the continent, and it had brought 80 of our family and friends, hailing from six different states and three Canadian provinces, together in that moment too.”
The couple’s vision of a modern, yet natural wedding was brought to life with a color palette of whites, ivories, golds, and greens. The musical acts helped the evening evolve perfectly, from Cabo Strings at the ceremony, to Mariachi during cocktail, Spanish guitarist Francisco Alatorre at dinner and finally the lively reception DJ, Alex DJ Cabo Events. Personal touches such as meaningful cities instead of table numbers, life-size cut-outs of the couple’s beloved dogs, dog-themed signature cocktails, a Dutch wishing tree, and the traditional Jewish hora dance made the wedding unforgettable.
As the night progressed, fireworks lit up the sky, adding to the magical atmosphere, and the bride changed into a gorgeous Christie Nicole bridal party dress. The night was filled with tequila cocktails and dancing under the stars. Towards the end, a bus full of wood fire pizza showed up to take everyone on a 2 a.m. ride back to Nobu, which was a big hit.
“It was a night that we, as well as our guests, will cherish for a lifetime,” Courtney states. “The next month, we jet off on a European honeymoon to Santorini, Positano, Cannes, Monaco and Ibiza continuously reminiscing about our special week. A week that was everything we dreamed of and more.”
WEDDING TALENT
Location: Sunset Monalisa, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; Planner & Event Design: Amy Abbott Events; Floral Design: Cristina G Cabo; Wedding Dress: BERTA; Bridal Salon: Impression Bridal, Houston, TX; Cake: Sunset Monalisa, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; Photography: M. Hart Photography