Serai & Nathan
THE DETAILS
Wedding Date: 24.04.24
Location: Mérida, Mexico
Catering : Bravo Catering
Cocktails : Tahiti Mixology
Stationary + Signage : Number Nine Design
Bride's Gown : Trish Peng
Hair & Make Up : Germy Terrón
Groom's Attire : T.Begg Tailoring
Rings : The Diamond Shop
Photographer : Gaby González Fotografía
Videographer : Tan Weddings
Flowers: Florenza
Wedding song: Adore You by Nao | I Will Always Love You by Whitney Houston
Q: Tell us the story of how you met.
A: We had crossed paths through mutual friends for years, but it wasn’t until the Boxing Day races in 2014 that our story truly began. After a few too many tequilas, I boldly asked to buy Nathan a drink at a bar. He was a bit confused but equally intrigued, and soon learned that my idea of a drink was a "grenade"—a vodka Red Bull with a Jager and tequila shot balanced on the rim. The night ended with us as the last ones standing, dancing away into the early hours. And so, with a mix of fate, friends, and a few unforgettable grenades, our journey together began.
Q: Tell us about the proposal story…
A: It was a running joke that the picturesque Greece was where this ABBA-loving dreamer, imagined getting engaged, but Nathan, the true romantic, had other plans. As we traveled, he saw the perfect opportunity to propose in the magical Turkish town of Cappadocia, surrounded by his siblings. As dawn broke, with hot air balloons filling the sky, Nathan proposed, and I found myself absolutely lost for words. It couldn’t have been more perfect. After I managed an "of course," we popped Champagne and savored the moment in our little love bubble. The ring, however, was a bit more logistically challenging to arrange as Nathan did not want to carry it around for the 10 weeks prior. So our groomsman, Logan, collected it from Sera at The Diamond Shop, on route to the UK where he met with Nathan's sisters who were meeting us in Turkey.
Q: What was your biggest source of inspiration when planning your wedding? Did you have a specific theme/aesthetic?
A: Most people probably expected a larger than life party with 150+ guests, and frankly, we couldn't envision our special day to be anything but. Given our love for travel, a destination wedding was always in the cards. We wanted to curate a day grounded in love and rich in culture, using raw, natural materials. Travertine stone, found mostly in Turkey and Mexico, inspired our palette, allowing the beautiful hues and uniqueness of San Antonio Hool stand out.
Q: What was your most memorable moment from your wedding day?
A: Aside from the beauty of our ceremony, conducted by one of our closest friends Monique, the highlight had to be the surprise Mariachi band that greeted us as we arrived at cocktail hour. They played Mexican-inspired versions of some of our favourite songs, like 'I Just Called to Say I Love You' by Stevie Wonder, all while dressed in fresh white suits and matching hats. It couldn't have been more perfect, adding a spicy touch of culture to our celebration.
Q: Tell us the story behind your dress. Did you always know what you wanted it to look like?
A: It’s fair to say finding the perfect dress was a journey. I never really knew what I wanted, and after a girls' trip to Melbourne in early ‘23, I assumed a bold, structured, dramatic dress was my calling. However, my mother suggested I try a fit-and-flare dress. To be nice, I gave it a whirl and was wildly surprised. So over lunch with Trish, I mentioned a recent psychic reading that predicted I'd keep changing my mind until the very end where Trish boldly said, "I'm so happy to do it!". We collaborated on a few techniques and after a solid 150 hours later, I was left speechless. It perfectly blended enough flare while remaining timeless.
Q: Did you have a honeymoon after the big day? If so, where did you go?
A: Ah we prefer to call it a "familymoon," haha! Our beautiful son Storm joined us. Casa Cuixmala had been on my bucket list for almost a decade, so it made perfect sense to head to the west coast of Mexico and unwind in the picturesque palace with its breathtaking checkered pool. Mind blowing. We then went to the Bahamas, which Storm picked, as his dream was to swim with the pigs and nurse sharks down in the Exumas. We’re hoping to have an ‘adult only’ honeymoon next year in Ibiza? haha
Q: What piece of advice would you give to future brides who are planning their special day?
A: The best decision Nathan and I made was each having one non-negotiable— his was the videographer, and mine was the venue. We then wrote down the three most important things to us as a couple and prioritized those : amazing food, great cocktails, and only the best of our music. We kept everything else simple and didn't overcomplicate the process. Attending a few of our closest friends' weddings leading up to ours helped us realise what we, as guests, actually noticed and cared about, and what was truly important to us.
