Two grooms, one desert sky, and a weekend that moved like music. Dave and Michael’s wedding in San Miguel de Allende unfolded across three days of cinematic rituals, color-saturated design, and live performances by their closest friends. With a vision they called “Guanajuato Glam,” they brought beloved guests into a vibrant, emotionally layered world of their love — blending Jewish traditions, Mexican textures, and personal expression at every turn.
Location: San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico
Style: Vibrant, cinematic, unconventional
Time of planning: 1 year
Number of guests: 108
Setting: Resort
Season: Spring
Dave and Michael met in New York City, where they both lived on the Upper West Side, instantly connecting over their shared love for adventure, travel, music, and theater. Years later, during a sunset hike in Joshua Tree National Park, they proposed to each other at the top of a mountain overlooking Barker Dam. Today, they live in Silverlake, Los Angeles, where Dave works as a general medicine doctor and academic teacher, while Michael creates films, theater, and live events. Their wedding brought them back to one of their favorite places — San Miguel de Allende — to celebrate with dear guests across a full weekend of vibrant, personal, and unconventional festivities.
Welcome Day
Before the weekend officially began, Dave and Michael walked through the streets of San Miguel de Allende with LA76 Photography, capturing intimate portraits across the colorful cobblestone alleys, vibrant bougainvillea, and historic architecture. They strolled hand in hand beneath lush greenery, paused in front of the town’s red facades and stone fountains, and finished under the dramatically lit towers of the Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel, blending the city’s charm into their story from the very first frames.
That evening, they kicked off the festivities with a private family dinner at Terraza La Vista, followed by drinks with friends at Mama Mia in the town center. Set under glowing star lanterns and soft café lights, the group gathered around fire pits, sharing laughter, toasts, and conversations in the warm courtyard surrounded by trees and rustic stone walls. The relaxed evening set the tone for the vibrant days ahead.
Second Day
Friday afternoon started with a playful “beach” party at La Playita Beach Club, just steps from their venue at Our Habitas. Guests gathered under striped umbrellas and canvas cabanas on soft sand, sipping margaritas while music played in the background. The natural swimming pools quickly became the center of the afternoon, with friends and family jumping in, floating on colorful inflatable rings, and splashing together beneath the warm spring sun.
That evening, the celebration continued with the Welcome Bazaar, hosted by their brothers. The outdoor space glowed under café lights as guests filled the open-air courtyard surrounded by desert trees and natural textures. Long wooden tables were set for dinner, where everyone gathered for a relaxed evening of tacos, tequila toasts, and live performances by family and friends.
Throughout the night, music became the heart of the celebration. Friends took turns performing under string lights, while guests laughed, sang along, and toasted to Dave and Michael. Against the backdrop of San Miguel’s desert landscape, the Welcome Bazaar turned into a private concert under the stars, bringing everyone together in a way that felt deeply personal and entirely theirs.
Couple's Morning
The morning unfolded slowly inside the warm, earthy suites of Our Habitas. Dave and Michael got ready side by side, laughing, talking, and sharing quiet smiles as the light filtered through the windows. Their closest friends helped them with the final touches. The atmosphere was calm, intimate, and joyful, with moments of tenderness as they held hands, exchanged glances, and stayed fully present in these first hours of the day.
For the ceremony, both grooms chose tailored looks that reflected their refined yet relaxed style. Michael wore a light grey jacket layered over a crisp white shirt and pleated beige trousers, while Dave paired his beige blazer with warm chocolate brown trousers and a coordinating pocket square. Both completed their looks with polished brown leather loafers, keeping the silhouettes clean and sophisticated. Their outfits blended muted earth tones that perfectly echoed the natural textures and colors of San Miguel, capturing the understated elegance of their wedding day.
Ceremony
Set in a quiet grove just beyond the resort, the ceremony space opened under wide desert skies. At its center stood the chuppah, draped in soft white fabric, with delicate yellow blooms and loose greenery cascading down from each corner. Woven rugs marked the center aisle, and natural wood chairs formed a loose circle around the altar, blending seamlessly into the open landscape of scattered trees and dry earth. The scene felt airy and organic, with the soft wind moving through the drapery as guests arrived.
Before the ceremony began, everyone walked together across the property — crossing fields, under trees, and over a small bridge — turning the walk into its own celebration. Live musicians played guitar and trumpet covers of “We Found Love,” “Heaven Is A Place On Earth,” and “Si Nos Dejan,” adding a playful rhythm to the procession. Friends and family stood to share The Seven Blessings, each stepping forward to offer words, while above, Michael’s father’s tallit and Dave’s mother’s wedding veil were woven into the chuppah, anchoring the moment with personal meaning.
The moment built gently toward the final ritual. With laughter and applause from the guests surrounding them, Dave and Michael broke the glass together, sealing the ceremony under the soft desert light. The scene was intimate, joyful, and fully grounded in the meaning they had created together.
"We never walked down an aisle, nor did our parents “give us away.” Instead, we chose to involve all our loved ones in the ceremony. Everyone played a role, contributing music or one of the seven blessings."
Decor & Setting
The reception space opened under a transparent canopy, letting the golden light of San Miguel pour through as the sun dipped lower. Dozens of glass lanterns hung above the tables, suspended from black metal frames wrapped in strands of greenery. The long wooden tables were paired with light rattan chairs and dressed in a minimalist combination of neutral runners, black plates, and simple linen napkins. Escort cards, each decorated with small pressed flowers, welcomed guests to their seats, blending natural elements into the design.
Florals by FlorKlor Studio played with color and texture — mixing ocher yellow, soft green, deep pinks, and unexpected elements like local fruits, pine cones, and dried botanicals. Terracotta vases and ceramic vessels grounded the centerpieces, while scattered greenery softened the edges. In one corner, a casual lounge with rattan seating overlooked the hand-painted dance floor inspired by traditional Mexican tiles. The historic chapel ruins, softly lit behind, framed the entire setting with layers of texture and atmosphere.
Private Moment
As the sun dipped lower, Dave and Michael slipped away for a quiet moment in the open desert. The soft golden light filtered through the trees as they walked hand in hand, pausing beneath the towering cactus branches. They stood together, exchanging smiles, forehead touches, and quiet embraces as the last light of the day wrapped around them. The landscape faded gently into the background, leaving only the two of them fully present in the moment.
LA76 Photography captured these intimate minutes with a calm, observant eye — preserving not only the stunning scenery, but the stillness between the couple. The images reflected exactly what made this wedding feel so personal: nothing staged, nothing rushed, simply honest connection as the evening unfolded around them.
Reception
After changing into their reception looks — Dave in a deep rust satin set and Michael in sleek white — the couple made their entrance through the chapel ruins, champagne in hand, as guests gathered around the dance floor. The evening opened with their first dance to Nikka Costa’s version of “Nothing Compares 2 U,” followed by a parents’ dance to Sheryl Crow’s cover of “Sweet Child O’ Mine.” Then came the Hora, lifting both grooms into the air as their guests circled them, clapping and cheering under the hanging candlelit lanterns.
Dinner unfolded beneath the glow of hanging lanterns, as guests gathered around long wooden tables for a menu curated by Chef Santiago Preciado of Comunidad. They served Mexican dishes, all crafted with local ingredients and traditional wood-fired techniques inspired by the Otomí culture.
The tables carried names of cities that marked Dave and Michael’s travels together, adding another personal layer to the evening. Each guest had also received a personalized milagrito – the traditional Mexican heart symbol of San Miguel de Allende. As dinner unfolded, friends and family stepped up one by one to offer heartfelt toasts, filling the space with laughter, stories, and emotional moments.
As the night progressed, the energy shifted to the dance floor. Confetti cannons burst while “Dancing On My Own” set the tone for the party. Guests filled the floor, dancing late into the evening under the open sky. In a small surprise tucked into the chapel ruins, a lounge space glowed with red light, where Michael’s hour-long silent film looped quietly — a cinematic tribute to their life together, filled with shared memories and love.
"We are incredibly grateful to the local community in San Miguel de Allende for being so warm and welcoming for our wedding celebration. Working with local planners and vendors was a wonderful experience, and we will never forget the love and care that were shown to us."
Advice from the couple:
• Don’t be afraid to break tradition or re-interpret it to make your wedding unique. We decided to forgo traditional elements such as groomsmen or bridal parties, a “sweetheart” table, or a wedding cake. We never walked down an aisle, nor did our parents “give us away.” Instead, we chose to involve all our loved ones in the ceremony. As a queer couple, we felt that our wedding was inherently non traditional, and we decided to lean into that – creating new rituals and opportunities for magic. The celebration felt more authentic to us as a result.
PHOTOGRAPHER LA76 Photography | PLANNING & DESIGN Penzi Weddings | VENUE & CUISINE Our Habitas San Miguel | FLORAL Flor Klor Studio | DJ Mason Worth Dunn | DESIGN SUPPORT Jesse Tombs | PRODUCTION SUPPORT Morgan Jesse Tombs | GROOMS Dave & Michael
