Juan Pablo and Rodrigo

Have you ever wondered what a wedding planner's wedding would look like? Let's take you there with Juan Pablo and Rodrigo's Mexican wedding. Set on a private estate in Tequila Town, Mexico, wedding planner Rodrigo took the wedding concept he had sketched on a napkin just ten days into their relationship and turned it into a reality, complete with gothic archways that later lit up with the LGBTQI+ flag on it.

Photographer Camila Urrea & Valeria Bross | Location Tequila Town, MEXICO

“…10 days into the relationship, over dinner, I asked JP if he had plans to get married. He was obviously shocked by the question and said no.”

How and when did you meet?

Rodrigo: JP’s best friends hired me to do their wedding. A couple of months into the planning and becoming closer friends than clients, they insisted on fixing me up with him. We went on a double date, and it’s safe to say it’s been one of the worst dates ever. I think that double “first” dates are always uncomfortable. I guess there’s tons of pressure, and neither I nor JP were up for it. So, it came out all wrong. We did not even ask for phone numbers once it was over.
A couple of months later, I was planning a wedding. It turned out that it was JP´s cousin who was getting married. After a couple of tequilas (from his side, I don’t drink and work), we started talking and had a good time. We went on a date that week, and since then, we have been inseparable.

What was the first thing you noticed about each other?

Rodrigo: I noticed JP’s eyes the most when we met. It sounds cheesy, but I felt I “saw” him through them. I could tell how sweet and loving he was. 

Juan Pablo: I loved that from the moment we had a chance to talk, I felt that I had known him all my life, conversation flowed very easily, and we always had something to talk about. I also liked his confidence and his sweet smile. 

Any standout moments in your relationship?

Juan Pablo: I think living through the pandemic together was definitely a standout moment in our story. Lockdown started, and we were able to drive to a condo we own at the beach. We thought it would be a 10-day lockdown, so we packed our bags and headed there, without knowing what was in store for us. I’m terrible at packing; I usually pack double or even triple the amount of clothes I need, “just in case” something comes up. This time, since we were not going to do a thing and just stay in, I packed like 3 things in total. As we all know, we were there for much more than 10 days. Lockdown was obviously hard. But in retrospect, it gave us a chance to truly know each other, enjoy each other’s company, and even gave us a small idea of what married life would probably look like. We had just moved in together 2 weeks before lockdown, so we went from 0 to 60 in literally 14 days. I obviously don’t miss the lockdown and everything that came with it worldwide. But I miss this small bubble of time when it was just us two. 

Have you ever faced any issues of non-acceptance?

Rodrigo: We both faced non-acceptance issues when we came out 10 and 20 years ago. Especially from our families. It’s been a long and hard process. We were both cut off and expected to “change”. Thankfully, with time, therapy, and tons of love, today we have all the love, respect and acceptance from our families and people we love. Our whole families (which being Mexican, are big) attended our wedding and were a part of it all since day one. We are truly grateful to have lived it this way. 

What does marriage mean to you?

Rodrigo: Marriage means finding that person with who you are willing to share it all and spend all the time you have on earth with. It means looking for someone who will share your dreams, doubts, fears, achievements, and everything in between with true joy. In today’s world, it's become a statement as well. Living in the society we do, and deciding to be a part of it, we think marriage helps to give out the message of love and acceptance. We decided to throw a big, three-day wedding, to show our friends and family how a same-sex wedding is the same as the ones they usually attend. Maybe 90% of our guests had never attended a gay wedding, so we sought to have them see and live how when love is true and real, gender and preference are not issues.

Who proposed and how?

Rodrigo: JP proposed after 2 years together. The who was previously discussed, the how was definitely not. He really went above and beyond to surprise me. As an event planner, I’m used to getting tons of enquiries and meetings. He managed to have an LA TV Producer reach out and tell me one of his clients was interested in meeting to possibly plan their wedding. Tons of e-mails, NDA Contracts and messages came back and forth for about two months before the “real” meeting in December. I was never told who the “secret” celebrity was, but he made it seem like someone BIG. The meeting date came, I had to fly to Punta Mita and meet my client at a secret location. All of this was to avoid info getting filtered to the press, supposedly. I arrived at this breath-taking hotel by the ocean, where we had spent our one year anniversary. The idea did cross my mind for a second, to be honest, but then I thought it was just the nervousness of meeting this huge celebrity kicking in. Before I knew it, while I was waiting for my client, my favourite song started playing in the background, a letter was handed to me, and when I turned around, he was kneeling in front of me. I was obviously shocked and filled with joy. He gave me this amazing vintage Cartier Santos watch that had once belonged to his family. My mother-in-law. We spent a couple of days there and then headed back home to celebrate with friends and family. 

When did you get married?

Rodrigo: We got married on December 11, 2021. It was a three day weekend, starting off on Friday with a welcome party, Saturday with the wedding and ending Sunday with a farewell party. It all took place in Tequila Town in Mexico. JPO’s family owns a 100-year-old tequila company, Casa Orendain, so when deciding on a venue, it was clear it had to be done there.

Juan Pablo and Rodrigo’s story continues below ↓

What was the main influence behind your wedding day?

Rodrigo: 10 days into the relationship, over dinner I asked JP if he had plans to get married. He was obviously shocked by the question and said no. It was a very blunt no. I didn’t mean to scare him or make him think I was proposing, I asked because of our age difference, I knew it was probably something he did not even think of. He returned the question and I said yes, very bluntly as well. He got curious and asked how I imagined my wedding. I said it all depended on who I would get married with. “If it, were you, for example, I would probably do something like this”. I took a napkin and a pen and drew a wedding then and there. I said how since he had a Tequila heritage, it made sense to get married there. I drew a wedding over the agave fields overlooking the fields and valley. We laughed it off and that was that. 2 years later when he proposed, we discussed the idea and decided it was something we would love to do. It was all designed around the location. 6 months before the wedding, while moving things around, I found the napkin he had kept hidden inside a book. It was very romantic, to be honest. But the biggest surprise was to find out that, that drawing was made on December 11 2018, and we got married December 11 2021. I did not have doubts before, but after realising this, I knew that it was written we would be together.

What was the most important thing to you surrounding your wedding?

Rodrigo: As a designer, it was very important to respect the concept and idea behind it all. The whole wedding was designed on the premise that the Agave Landscape was the main character. We had to build everything from scratch. It was a 17 day build up. The kitchen and bathrooms had to be built, but I did not want them to be seen at the event. So, we decided to cover the whole area with mirrors in order to “hide” the service structure and replicate the landscape. It was always a dream of mine to do just two tables for a wedding, one for each newlywed. So that was that. I had my 150 people table, and JP had his. I designed the layout trying to make it as long as possible to have longer views of the landscape. So it came out being a rectangular set up, 111 meters long, divided by four main areas. Services, ceremony, dinner and party spaces. The gothic archway was designed to give the wedding an architectural décor, which had a LED band that later lit up with the LGBTQ+ flag on it. We kept the flowers simple, having only different kinds of Brazilian Proteas. Black ceramic vases made in Oaxaca accompanied the flowers which were set over a carrara marble runner. 

Where did you find the bulk of your inspiration?

Rodrigo: The main inspiration for our wedding was the napkin I drew two years back. It was all designed around the agave field and landscape. It was clear we wanted something minimal, but at the same time very impactful. When thinking about this, I could not help but to think about my architectural background and look to do what architecture does best, create and transform amazing spaces using lines and structures. As a planner and designer, I always thought planning my wedding was going to be super easy, but honestly, it was far from it. JP helped a lot to give me the inspiration I needed to start the project and deliver all of it.

What was the most difficult thing about planning your wedding?

Rodrigo: I think that it took time for me to understand that I had to wear two hats and be able to take one on and off at times. I had my groom hat and my planner hat. In the end, I think I got it, it just took time for me to realise it. 

Any advice for other couples planning their day and finding it difficult to navigate the journey?

Rodrigo: Hire a good wedding planner! Lol. Jk. It is ok to be nervous, it´s a big step in anyone´s life,  just let your heart guide you, and don’t be afraid to share and communicate any feelings you have. We all deserve happiness and love.

In a snapshot

What song did you walk down the aisle to? Cannon in D by Pachelbel

First dance song? Yellow by Coldplay

Any family sentiment or traditions incorporated? We did it all in tequila town, which has strong bonds with JP’s family heritage. 

Juan Pablo and Rodrigo’s Team

Photographer Camila Urrea & Valeria Bross

Videographer Gallo Media & Lighthouse Photo Cinema

Venue Tequila Town (private properties)

Suits Rodrigo White Ralph Lauren Purple Label Tux, Juan Pablo Navy Blue three-piece Zegna Tux

Planner  Rodrigo Mora (groom)

Flowers Michelle Pourroy 

Stationery  Casa Donato

Celebrant Sergio de las Casas (mutual Best Friend)

Catering I Latina Banquetes

Flooring and Structure Soporte Eventos

DJ Capital Dj’s Alan Espinoza

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