A Fun, Festive Wedding at Cabo's Flora Farms

Despite attending Beverly Hills High School just a couple grades apart, Ashley Nachum and Brandon Allen took years after that to connect. Actually, it took bumping into each other at a shoe repair shop for the two to get together. (They immediately called their respective best friends to report running into each other—and say that they thought the other one was cute!) And four years later, on an anniversary vacation at Amangiri, Brandon proposed.

And despite their SoCal roots and desert engagement, these two beach lovers knew they wanted a destination wedding, and selected a spot with great weather, sand, fantastic food, and plenty of tequila. So on November 18, 2017, they invited 150 guests to watch them say “I do” at Flora Farms in San Jose del Cabo, Mexico. “Ashley maintained a vision for her wedding that was extremely simple,” says event planner and designer Bonnie Chase of Bliss Events. “She wanted the tablescapes to be simple but elegant, with low votives and rustic green garlands, but nothing tall or overwhelming.”

Keep reading to see more of this festive (and fun!) wedding, photographed by Sargeant Creative.

During the destination wedding weekend, guests stayed at the Cape, Thompson Hotel, where they kicked off the three-day party on Thursday night with a bonfire and fireworks.

The couple introduced their natural-meets-rustic theme on the weekend's invitation suite, which was printed on ivory linen paper and adorned with a succulent illustration.

On the big day, the bride got ready at the wedding venue, Flora Farms, with her mom, sisters, and friend/celebrity hairstylist, Adam Campbell. The girls lounged in embroidered Sloan pj's by Ali Hoffman as they relaxed and got dressed. When it was time, the bride slipped into a custom Monique Lhuillier gown, Aquazzura shoes, and jewelry by Jacquie Aiche.

Ashley’s friend and hairstylist Adam Campbell styled her locks for the occasion, pinning her hair back with custom rose gold Jennifer Behr hair clips.

Brandon’s stylish wedding look comprised a navy Gucci suit with a Prada shirt, Lanvin tie, and Garrett Leight sunglasses with custom blue lenses.

The bride and groom's flowers coordinated in shades of muted green, ivory, and burgundy.

When Ashley and Brandon selected their wedding destination, there prerequisite was that there had to be plentiful tequila! So, naturally, on the day itself, the bride and groom took a shot before they walked down the aisle.

The couple placed personalized maracas at each seat so guests could shake them during their first kiss.

The ceremony took place in a truly natural setting as bridesmaids walked through the property's mango groves. The scene was set with wooden benches and potted plants, which were added to decorate the makeshift aisle.

The chuppah was the biggest priority of the Jewish wedding, and the bride and her planner looked to photos of large structures with wild greenery and simple blooms for inspiration. “We asked [the floral designer] to drape the top of the chuppah with my grandfather’s tallit, which looked beautiful and was a touching way to honor him,” says the bride.

The couple was all smiles as they exited as newlyweds!

Cocktail hour took place nearby, where lounge areas were set up for comfort. "Our planner and Maria from Baja Boutique Rentals collaborated to create several small lounge areas made up of neutral furniture and rugs, that went well in the boho-farm environment," Ashley says.

"We love succulents, so it was important that we had succulents in our floral arrangements," says the bride. "We also used mini potted succulents for our escort cards, and had a welcome sign hand painted with the same succulents that were printed on our wedding invitations."

After cocktail hour, guests walked over to the main attraction: a light-filled reception space!

Tables were arranged for dinner in a square formation, under strings of lights that created the illusion of a tent. Here, guests dined on a carefully selected (and local) menu of homemade burrata salad, roasted chicken, freshly caught fish, and pearl pasta.

And after several hours of dancing, guests were given even more food—homemade wood-fired pizzas as a late-night snack!

"We didn’t even stop the party from dancing when it was time to cut the cake," recalls the bride. "We snuck off and I surprised Brandon with our own Dodger bobble heads as a nod to his favorite sport team!"