I can hardly believe I’ll be married in exactly two months — it still feels wild! It started to feel real last week when Bridger and I were in Mexico for some rest and to tick a few wedding boxes: touring our rehearsal dinner spot, staying one night at our ceremony venue, and doing our menu tasting. I’ve never looked forward to a day more in my life.
I didn’t grow up designing every tiny detail of my wedding in my head. I always knew I wanted to get married, but I didn’t obsess over every element. Maybe I’m not a Type A planner in that sense, and that’s been helpful.
To go way back: Bridger and I have known each other since middle school. We dated briefly in eighth and seventh grade, reconnected in high school, and have been together ever since — more than nine years now. He proposed one day before our nine-year anniversary in Cabo, Mexico. I kind of saw it coming, but it was still a lovely surprise and perfect timing for us.
We always knew we’d be together forever and didn’t want to rush into a big, expensive wedding before buying a home. Everyone does things differently, and skipping that pressure felt right. Who cares what other people think?
The Planning Experience
Planning over the past four months has honestly been a breeze. Once we chose the venue and date — and after I found my dress and our wedding planner — things fell into place. I do think personality matters: some people thrive on every decision, while others prefer to focus on the big picture. For me, the most important thing is who I’ll be marrying. The little details, like napkin folds, aren’t worth losing sleep over.
I’ll give another update after the wedding — things can always change — but so far, so good.
The Dress
My dress is on its way from Brisbane, Australia. I was naturally drawn to an Australian designer — it’s my favorite place in the world. In late November I flew to LA with my mom and a bridesmaid to visit the Grace Loves Lace showroom. It was everything I hoped for: a wonderful stylist, gorgeous gowns, and a magical experience. If you’re someone who isn’t overly excited about dress shopping, try to enjoy it — you’ll never get the chance quite like that again. Try on dresses you love and ones you wouldn’t normally choose. The dress I picked is the most comfortable I’ve ever worn, and I can’t wait to wear it on the day.
I visited a couple of bridal shops in Seattle before Grace Loves Lace and learned something from each appointment. Recommended local shops I tried included a&bé Bridal, The Dress Theory, and BHLDN.
The Venue
Before the proposal we assumed we’d marry in Washington, but after Bridger popped the question in Cabo, we both knew the wedding had to be there. Cabo has been part of our relationship from early on and now holds a special place in our story: friendly people, stunning landscapes, and a sunshine vibe that feels like home.
The Cape Hotel has been on my radar for a while — friends and family had great things to say about it. It’s about 40 minutes from the airport and 15 minutes from downtown Cabo, which is a great location. We stayed one night after I hosted workshops nearby and even saw whales migrating each morning from our balcony. The hotel instantly felt like the right place: our ceremony spot is on an upper terrace with a view of El Arco, where Bridger proposed. It’s a dream setting and we feel so lucky to celebrate there.
Rehearsal Dinner
I was set on including Flora Farms in our wedding weekend. Every trip to Cabo includes recommendations to visit this working organic farm and restaurant. We’d never made it until this trip, and luckily they had availability the night before our wedding for a rehearsal dinner in their Potting Shed. Their farm-to-table focus and sustainable ingredients fit our values, so it felt right to share that experience with our guests. The property offers cooking classes, a spa, cute shops, and several event spaces. I’ve been working with their events coordinator, Erika, who has been so helpful.
The Planner
One challenge with a six-month timeline is vendor availability — especially a planner. I knew I needed help, particularly for a destination wedding where local relationships and Spanish-language navigation matter. I found our planner through Instagram after researching past Cabo weddings and vendors. Bonnie Chase from Events By Bliss stood out: organized, detail-oriented, and experienced with budgets and busy wedding weekends. She had availability for our date and has been a gem: supportive, practical, and present for site visits and our menu tasting.
Menu Tastings
The menu tasting was one of the most joyful parts of planning. Bridger and I narrowed down dishes and got so excited about the food — guacamole and churros might be on the menu and I’m here for it. The caterers even delivered cake samples to our room — three flavors for Bridger and one dairy-free, gluten-free option for me. There’s a baker in Cabo who specializes in allergen-friendly cakes, which was such a relief. I’m already looking forward to tasting everything again on the wedding night (and trying not to smudge my makeup when Bridger “accidentally” shoves cake in my face).
Photographer & Videographer
Choosing photographers and a videographer felt huge — these are the images and footage we’ll use to relive the day. A friend introduced me to Marci, who photographed our engagement session and did a beautiful job. Since she’s experienced with destination weddings and we already felt comfortable working with her, she was an easy choice for the wedding.
Video felt essential to me from the start. Photos are priceless, but a film brings emotion and motion back to life. After researching local talent, we selected Ana and Jerome for videography because their work felt right and they have experience at our venue.
That’s the update for now. We’re continuing wedding planning until the big day on April 26th and I’ll share more afterward — from how I asked my bridesmaids to what I found most stressful, and how I’m preparing physically and mentally. If there’s anything specific you want to hear about, let me know and I’ll cover it in another post.
xx
Rachael