San Miguel de Allende Magic: Matt and Ian's Desert-Inspired Destination Wedding at Instituto Allende

Love Story

Their story began in 2016 in a student organization at college in Washington, DC. Matt had just joined the group organizing TEDx events when Ian returned from studying abroad. Their friendship blossomed over a shared passion for travel after Ian introduced Matt to Vietnamese pho at the local campus pub.

That first summer apart proved unbearable for the new friends. Hearts longing for connection, they each cashed out precious frequent flyer miles to rendezvous in New York City. There, sleeping on a borrowed dorm mattress and exploring the city with stars in their eyes, they shared a weekend that would change everything. By the time they bid goodbye to the city lights, they had surrendered to what their hearts already knew – they belonged together.

Years of adventure followed as they traversed the world side by side, collecting memories across 18 countries. Then came a February evening in 2023, when Ian orchestrated a moment as breathtaking as their love story. Against the canvas of an orange desert sunset in Pioneertown near Joshua Tree, California, with friends watching from a distance and a disguised photographer capturing every heartbeat, Ian knelt in the desert sand. In that perfect moment, with the vastness of the desert stretching before them like their future together, two paths officially became one.

After 513 days of thoughtful planning, Matt and Ian's vision came to life in a celebration that truly reflected their nine-year journey together. The couple welcomed 125 guests from across the globe to share in their Mexican destination wedding.

"We set out on our venue search without too many geographic restrictions in mind knowing we have family and friends spread out across the country and world," Matt explains. "We did know that we wanted something open-air that felt close to the raw beauty of nature, whether that was by an ocean or in a desert."

Their search began in Toronto, Canada, but wasn't yielding the perfect match. "We had the idea of looking into San Miguel de Allende,where Matt had visited with his family several years prior," Ian shares. "As soon as we began looking at venues there, we realized that it was an incredible fit because it blended the charm of a small historic town with the warmth of Mexican culture and hospitality." The location held special significance for Matt, who had studied abroad in Mexico during high school and "had developed a deep affinity for the country."

Their wedding style drew inspiration from the landscape that witnessed their engagement. "We were inspired by the warmth of the desert in our Joshua Tree proposal and had no trouble continuing that style in San Miguel de Allende," Matt describes. "We chose rust orange as the core color which was incorporated into the wedding party dresses, boutonnieres and flowers."

Rather than traditional bachelor parties, the couple created a more intimate experience. "In lieu of a bachelor party, we invited our wedding party to stay with us in a historic villa overlooking the town the days of the wedding," Ian explains.

What inspired them most during the preparation process was the meaningful coming together of their diverse backgrounds. "Matt and Ian come from very different backgrounds, and our family and friends live all around the globe," they explain. "We really wanted our ceremony and celebrations to reflect the entire fabric of our lives, including the blending of our cultures, spirituality and families. It was so special to us that our loved ones would come from all over to celebrate with us, and the many stories that were crossing paths in that moment."

Above all, they emphasized, "We wanted to create an experience for our guests that put the joy and love front and center."

Groom getting ready

Both grooms prepared for their special day at a historic villa—formerly the home of Mexican tenor Pablo Vargas—with breathtaking views over San Miguel de Allende.

"We worked with SuitSupply to design tuxedos with custom white silk jackets inscribed with "mint," our initials, and our wedding date on the inside pocket," Matt explains proudly.

The getting-ready experience was intimate and meaningful, shared with their closest family members. "We were there with Matt's younger sister, Jacqueline, as well as some members of our wedding party. Ian's brother, Ron, also joined before we all set off for the photoshoot. It was special to have our siblings right by our side," the couple recalls.

The villa's long atrium in the great room, with its terracotta-color brick ceiling and historic pieces, provided the perfect backdrop for their pre-wedding photos.

Ceremony

Guests were welcomed to the Instituto Allende courtyard by a string trio playing renditions of the couple's favorite songs, including "Yellow" by Coldplay. Paper fans, parasols, and water were provided to keep everyone comfortable in the Mexican sunshine. "The entire open-air courtyard is surrounded by murals from artists, as well as natural plants and blossoming trees," they describe.

For their processional music, the couple chose "Por Ti Volare" by Andrea Bocelli. "The translation, "For You, I Will Fly" felt particularly fitting for our love for each other as well as our shared passion for aviation," Matt explains.

One of the most touching moments incorporated Mexican wedding traditions. "One of the most special moments from the ceremony was the lasso ceremony," Matt shares. "The lasso, or "el lazo," is a Mexican wedding tradition where a string of rosary beads or flowers is placed over the shoulders of the couple in the form of a figure eight to symbolize love and unity. Ian's brother and cousin took part in placing it over us, helping to symbolize the commitment we made to each other and how we are now "bound" together."

The couple wrote their own vows, leading to an emotional exchange. "We also wrote our own vows, which became a teary occasion when Ian was reading his," Matt remembers.

The youngest member of their wedding party, Matt's cousin, served as ring bearer, "decked out with a rainbow bowtie" and fully prepared for his important role.

Wedding Venue & Decor

The couple's desert-inspired color palette of burnt orange and cactus green came to life throughout their venue. "One of our favorite touches was a neutral colored wavy fabric that was added to the tent as decor," Matt describes. "As guests entered for dinner, the wavy tent was illuminated with an amber glow and it blew gently in the wind, adding an additional element of movement."

They worked with their florist to magnify the presence of the central fountain in the courtyard with a "blossoming burst of flowers," one of Matt's favorite design elements.

A unique personal touch came in the form of "mojigangas"—traditional paper mache puppets designed to look like the grooms. "They danced with our guests during the cocktail hour. The mojigangas also formed an arch for us as we made our grand entrance back into cocktail hour," Ian explains with delight.

Instituto Allende captivated the couple with its authentic Mexican character. "Ultimately, we fell in love with Instituto Allende because of the colorful murals, the lush greenery throughout the space, and that were able to transport our guests through multiple areas of the venue as the night progressed by starting in the courtyard and then moving through a hallway decorated with murals to the grand pergola with a view of the iconic Parroquia church," they share.

Cocktail hour

Reception

For their first dance, Matt and Ian chose "At Last" by Etta James. "Matt had always had a soft spot for the classic song," Ian explains. "It resonated us because we had known each other for nine years and taking this next step in our relationship felt like a long time coming."

The couple went the extra mile to make the moment special: "What made the song extra special was that we taught ourselves the choreography, practicing off of a YouTube video we had found online. We practiced for hours in our living room and even in parks around DC until we felt confident, which was entirely worth it when we were able to shine on the dance floor and give our guests a show!"

The reception featured signature cocktails that celebrated their union—a traditional Mexican carajillo and a MINT mojito, cleverly named after their combined initials (Matt/Ian/Noel/Tang). Frozen tamarind, hibiscus, and guava margaritas kept guests refreshed during cocktail hour.
Dinner included tuna tartar, tortilla soup, a choice of fish, chile poblano or steak, and a red velvet wedding cake created by their planner/caterer team, Penzi.

One particularly poignant moment occurred during dinner. "When "My Way" by Frank Sinatra came on, we turned to each other as the lyrics and song resonated with us. As we looked out at all of the guests under the amber candlelight glow, we realized that this incredible moment was the culmination of living our life "our way" without regard to traditions or norms."

The couple praised their wedding vendors for helping create their dream celebration from afar. "We loved working with our wedding planners and other vendors," they share. "They were all very welcoming, professional, and easy to work with, especially because we were undertaking the journey from far away!"