Brook + Mark by Los Ébano

Timeless, Romantic, and Authentic.

Tell us a little about yourselves, what you do, what you love…

It’s funny—I’m a girl born and raised in Colorado who never had much interest in the outdoors and always craved more of a city life. Meanwhile, Mark grew up in Chicago and moved to Denver for the very lifestyle I’d always resisted. He likes to joke that I’m the girl he thought he’d meet in Chicago, but he had to come all the way to Colorado to find me.

We met while working at a travel company, and travel became the thread that shaped our relationship from the start. It’s how we first discovered San Miguel de Allende, long before we were engaged. The city left its mark on us—the colour, the culture, the way it feels both timeless and alive—and when it came time to plan our wedding, it was the only place that felt right.

I’ve always been someone who leads with feeling—curious, creative, and a little impulsive. Design has been my way of making sense of the world, and in both work and life, I look for beauty, meaning, and connection. Mark is wired differently. He’s steady, thoughtful, and structured, the kind of person who listens more than he talks and makes everyone around him feel at ease. Where I dream, he executes. Where I rush in, he considers. That balance is the heart of our relationship—we’re opposites in so many ways, but it’s what makes us work.
At our core, we’re deeply family-oriented. Our siblings and their spouses aren’t just relatives—they’re our best friends—and we both cherish our relationships with our parents.

Today we live in Denver with our mischievous munchkin cat, Eloise—Mark in real estate acquisitions, me in interior design—and our lives are anchored by family, shaped by travel, and balanced by the differences that make us who we are.

How/where/when did you meet – and what were your first impressions

Mark and I met standing outside the elevator on his very first day of work in Denver. He had just been hired as my teammate at a job I’d only started a few weeks earlier. Even though it’s been nearly eight years now, I’ll never forget shaking his hand for the first time. If you had told either of us then that we’d end up marrying “the quiet, a little nerdy guy” and “the neurotic, type A, crazy girl,” we never would have believed you—but life can be funny that way. From that first meeting, we went from a dynamic duo at work to steadfast—yet platonic—friends before, slowly but surely, catching feelings more than two years later.

We helped each other through breakups, traded dating advice, pushed each other professionally, and built a true friendship that became one of the most meaningful relationships of my life. But still—I never wanted more. Then one day, sitting at my desk while a friend told me about the Euro trip Mark was gallivanting on, it hit me. That all-too-familiar flutter in my stomach—butterflies. I remember sitting there, dumbfounded, thinking: You have got to be kidding me. And here we are.

No one believes me when I say it really did take more than two years to feel something deeper for Mark (men and women can’t really be just friends, right?). But I love that about our story—our path wasn’t conventional, but it was perfect for us. By the time we finally fell in love, we already knew each other’s flaws, fears, and history. We had seen the worst in each other and chose one another anyway. From teammates to friends to love—our story is proof that sometimes what you’re searching for has been standing right in front of you all along.

Tell us about the vision you had for the mood and style of your wedding. (theme, key styling elements, florals, colour palettes etc.).

Early into planning, I tried to consolidate my vision into three words: Timeless, Romantic, and Authentic. Looking back, we really did stay true to that throughout the creative process. It was those three words, what they meant to me visually, our vendors’ incredible ability to turn my scattered ideas into something tangible, and our desire to keep the weekend deeply personal yet rooted in San Miguel that ultimately shaped the aesthetic of our wedding.

The Parroquia, San Miguel’s iconic pink church, became the anchor for our palette. While pink isn’t a colour Mark or I naturally gravitate toward, it felt essential to honour the city’s identity. Our florists built from that inspiration, layering rose, terracotta, and mauve with modern, moodier tones that gave the palette sophistication. At Casa Cariño, our welcome events took on a warm, old-world feel framed by colonial architecture and iconic city views. For the wedding itself at Casa Cien, the vibe shifted—lush gardens and a more contemporary design became the backdrop for chandeliers, dramatic draping, and long banquet tables that created the romantic garden party I’d always imagined. (But really—the Pinterest board I first shared with our team included images I’d saved circa 2013.)

To root the design in Mexico, we wove in small but intentional details: a mariachi band at cocktail hour, menus decorated with whimsical illustrations, and a hand-painted dance floor inspired by local tile. Together, these choices made the day feel timeless and romantic, but most importantly, authentic to both us and the place we love.

What styling and visual elements worked best for you? (could be things, the florals, particular hire products or your marquee, etc., something the stylist created or simply just the scenic beauty of your location or the existing design of your venue).

Looking back, one of the things I’m most proud of is how the aesthetic of our events truly complemented the energy and atmosphere we wanted to create. At Casa Cien, the drapery, hanging garden, and chandeliers were stunning, but more importantly, they made an expansive space feel intimate and intentional. Our three long tables were the same: they were beautiful, but they also created the conversational dinner-party feel we wanted. Finally, our hand-painted tile dance floor, inspired by my favourite home in San Miguel, was another highlight—it became the centrepiece of the night, grounding us in the destination while giving the celebration a playful, personal touch.

I loved how all of our details felt curated and personal without ever feeling fabricated or forced. Everything flowed naturally, as if it were an extension of the spaces and the destination itself—a goal we’d had from the beginning, and one I’m so happy we achieved.

What did you enjoy most about the planning process, and do you have any tips for couples starting their wedding planning journey?

What I enjoyed most about planning:

What I loved most about planning our wedding was also what I hated most: realising that I am, in fact, horrible at wedding planning, for someone who works in a creative field, that was humbling. I froze under the pressure of articulating my vision and the fear of letting loved ones down—terrified of miscommunicating, of sending vendors in the wrong direction, of getting it wrong. Emails went unanswered, Pinterest boards stayed private, and the more I cared, the harder it became to follow through.

Thankfully, where I fell short, Mark showed up—and to say he handled 99% of our planning might be an understatement. He managed timelines, payments, and every vendor conversation, all while squeezing ideas out of me to ensure the end result reflected my vision. I said in my vows that Mark is the doer to my dreamer, and our planning process was the perfect example of that. So while I hated the pressure I felt, I loved watching my husband step in so fully and turn that pressure into an event that was truly us. His support became the most special part of the process, and I love him for that.

Advice:

Mark and I agree that there are two pieces of advice we think are most important for anyone planning their wedding.

Trust your Vendors:

If you’re intentional when choosing your vendors, then you’ve already hired them for a reason—so give them the space to do what they do best. This not only takes some pressure off you, but it also gives them the freedom to follow their instincts and provide their best work, rather than being boxed in by micromanagement. Chances are, you’ve never planned a wedding before—meanwhile, they’ve built their careers in this industry. Mark and I trusted our team from the outset, and it paid off. Yes, we were very involved, but we always let our vendors lead us rather than the other way around. That trust gave them the ability to elevate our vision in ways we never could have achieved on our ow,n and we are both very glad we set this intention early on in our planning process.

Tell us about your vendors. Were there any standout suppliers you would like to make special mention of?

I loved all of our vendors, but I have to give extra kudos to our planners at Penzi Wedding & Events, because nothing would have been possible without them. Years before Mark and I were even engaged, I read a 2017 Vogue Weddings article about a couple who got married in San Miguel. It mentioned that they had worked with Penzi, and I remember thinking: If I’m ever lucky enough to get married in San Miguel, that’s who I want planning my wedding. So when we finally hired them, it felt surreal.

We worked with Flor and Patricio, and from the very beginning, they were everything you could hope for in planners—calm, patient, unflappable, and somehow always making even our most elaborate ideas feel possible. Their operation was one of the most impressive things I’ve ever witnessed: flawless with logistics and execution, but just as importantly, deeply supportive of us. They were amazing partners to Mark, who carried the majority of the planning weight on our end, giving him the confidence, clarity, and partnership he needed to keep everything moving forward.

Beyond the logistics, they also brought so much creativity and heart to the process. They had this gift for translating scattered ideas into something cohesive and beautiful, always elevating our vision while keeping it true to us and to San Miguel. It never felt transactional—it felt like they were just as invested in making the weekend special as we were.

I only wish every couple could experience the level of care Penzi gave us. They didn’t just plan our wedding; they gave us the freedom to be fully present the entire weekend, knowing everything was taken care of. That kind of gift is rare, and we’ll never stop being grateful for it.

Tell us about your main outfits, what was unique, and is there a story?

Brook: For our welcome party, I wanted something truly special and was willing to take a fashion risk to get there. I’d had a particular dress saved on my Pinterest board for years, a limited-edition Zimmermann piece that was no longer available. I had given up on ever finding it when, one day, a package arrived at my door—a gift from my mom, who had scoured the internet until she tracked one down. It was a few sizes too big, so she literally sewed me into it the night of the party, but it was completely worth it. Knowing how much effort she put into finding that dress made it even more special, and it was so beautiful- I truly felt like I was wearing a work of art.

For the ceremony, finding the dress wasn’t easy. I tried on more than thirty dresses before I found the one—by chance, during an appointment in Connecticut while visiting my grandmother, Loretta. She couldn’t travel to Mexico for the wedding because of her health, so sharing that moment with her is something I’ll cherish forever. Loretta was my fashion icon—one of my greatest idols and role models—and I’ll never forget seeing myself in the mirror, turning to her, and catching the look of pride in her eyes. On the day of the wedding, I wore one of her aquamarine rings as my “something blue.” At one point, I told my aunt how much I wished Loretta could have been there, and she said, “She was—you look exactly like her today.” I’d always seen Loretta as so beautiful, so this was the best compliment I could imagine. Now that she’s gone, that memory of her standing beside me in the salon while I wore my dress feels even more precious, and I love that I found so many ways to carry her with me on my wedding day.

My gown itself was a romantic Verdin Bridal A-line with a strapless sweetheart neckline and delicate appliqué, paired with a matching cathedral-length veil that ended up being one of my favourite parts of the look. I fell in love with the dress before realising the designer was Mexican, which later felt like a small but meaningful way to honour our destination.

For the reception, I initially envisioned a bridal mini but struggled to find exactly what I had in mind. Instead, I pivoted and chose a sleek Galia Lahav evening gown with a structured, glittering corset and draped fabric that complemented our décor and Mark’s white dinner jacket. Then, just one month before the wedding, I came across Galia Lahav’s new ready-to-wear collection, and right at the top of the page was the perfect mini. My mom (once again) encouraged me to go for it, and I’m so glad she did. My photographers even captured a picture of me excitedly sprinting to go change into my third dress—a look I completed with my favourite sneakers.

I love how each of my looks felt perfectly in sync with the way the night unfolded—from our romantic ceremony to a dance floor that never slowed down until 1 AM. Every moment transitioned seamlessly, and somehow, without even realising it, my dresses reflected that progression.

Mark: Mark knew from the start that he wanted a black-tie dress code, and I happily agreed. While we had to convince both of our dads that tuxedos were not optional, I think even they would admit it was worth it once they saw how dapper everyone looked.

Mark designed a semi-custom tuxedo and a white dinner jacket at our local Suitsupply. As a wedding gift, I surprised him with a pair of cufflinks I found in San Miguel just days before the wedding—featuring understated Mexican detailing that subtly tied his look back to the destination. It was the perfect finishing touch—simple, meaningful, and uniquely him.

Tell us about your wedding and engagement rings.

Before we got engaged, I gave Mark a few ideas for rings but had no idea which direction he’d take. When I opened the box and saw an oval diamond in a bezel setting, I loved it—timeless and unique at the same time. For my wedding band, we went a more delicate route: a thin, art-deco–inspired design that complements my engagement ring without competing with it.

For Mark, we also wanted something traditional with a subtle twist, so we chose a gold milgrain band. It has the classic look of a simple gold band, with just enough detail to make it feel distinctive.

What were one or two elements that were most important to you both that you were happy to spend a little more on? (food, photography, florals, the venue, your outfits?).

Guest Experience/ Entertainment

For us, our priority was always our guest experience. It was never lost on us how much we were asking of people by hosting our wedding in San Miguel, so anything we could do to make sure they felt celebrated and had the best time possible was where we put most of our energy (and budget). We definitely treated ourselves too, but never at the expense of our guests.

Our entertainment is probably the best example of this. At first, we assumed we’d save in this area by skipping a live band—most of them would have wrapped up by 10 p.m., while our venue went until 1 a.m. But when it came down to it, we ended up splurging on our DJs anyway after we considered the potential implications of cutting corners on something that has such potential to make or break how much fun a wedding can be. It was worth every penny. They played the entire night, never lost energy, and were incredible at reading the room. The dance floor literally never stopped, and it turned into the best wedding dance floor Mark and I have ever been part of. Watching our guests have the best time on our dance floor for hours on end was 100% worth the investment.

Photography and Videography

Another area we never hesitated to invest in was photography and videography. With everything we were asking of our guests by hosting in San Miguel—and the amount of love and effort that went into the weekend—it felt so important that it be captured in a way we could hold onto forever. Part of this was for the people who couldn’t be there. My grandmother Loretta, who was still alive at the time but unable to travel, was able to watch hours of beautiful footage from our videographers. I even printed an extra set of details for her—a program, menu, and a name card—so she could set them up while she watched and really feel like she was part of the wedding. She later told me through tears that the videos made her feel like she had truly been there with us. Now that she’s passed, it gives me peace to know she was able to experience our wedding in her own way, even though we had chosen a destination she couldn’t join us at in person.

And of course, it was for us too. As much as we tried to be present in every second of our weekend, there’s just no way to see or remember it all. Having people we trusted by our side—capturing not just what things looked like, but what they felt like—was priceless. And beyond their artistry, what I didn’t realise until afterwards was how much their presence would shape the way we experienced the weekend. Neither Mark nor I are naturally comfortable in front of a camera, yet they went above and beyond to make us feel at ease and actually have fun. These are the people who are literally with you all day, and ours showed up not just as documentarians, but as companions, collaborators, cheerleaders, and friends. Looking back, I can’t imagine the weekend without them.

Welcome Party

Was there a favourite moment (or two) that you will treasure always?

Private Ceremony Reading:

One of the most meaningful moments of our wedding weekend was the private reading we had with our officiant, Oliver, a few days before the wedding. We knew that during the ceremony, we might be too overwhelmed to absorb the words he had worked so hard on, and we didn’t want to miss the chance to take it all in. So instead of hearing it for the first time in front of everyone, we carved out a quiet moment—just the three of us—for him to share it in private.

What we thought would be a practical decision ended up being one of the most special and intimate parts of the weekend. Without any pressure or distractions, we could feel the full weight of what Oliver had written. It was a safe space to react honestly—to cry, laugh, and let ourselves feel everything—without hundreds of eyes on us.

It also meant so much to us how seriously Oliver treated being our officiant. He FaceTimed with my parents (who he had never met), met with our siblings, and even read emails from my friends to ensure he captured both of us—Mark, who he had known since childhood, and me, who he had only met a few years earlier.

Hearing the ceremony first in that private moment allowed us to soak it all in before the whirlwind of the wedding day. And most importantly, it reminded us how lucky we are—not just to be marrying each other, but to be surrounded by people who love us enough to create moments this meaningful.

Walking Down the Aisle

One of the moments I will never forget happened just as I was walking down the aisle. In the weeks leading up to the wedding, I had become set on having a string quartet play one of Mark’s and my favourite songs for that moment. Mark wasn’t entirely convinced hiring the string quartet was necessary, but we made the last-minute change anyway.

What I didn’t consider was that our wedding fell just days after Mexican Independence Day—a time when fireworks are set off from dawn until dusk. So the second I took my first steps down the aisle and the song began to play, a massive round of fireworks exploded overhead, completely drowning out the music. I know that sounds magical, but because it was still light outside and the fireworks were behind me, I couldn’t see them. In the moment, all I knew was that I couldn’t hear the song I had so carefully chosen—and that I couldn’t have cared less. I was just happy to be walking down the aisle with my dad toward Mark, and nothing could have ruined that for me at that point.

It’s the perfect example of how, when you get the big things right for your wedding, the little things truly don’t matter. Looking back, it almost felt like the universe was teasing me—this is what you get for overthinking something unimportant, Brook—and we still laugh about it.

Kicking Off the Dance Floor

Another one of our favourite moments of the night happened right after our first dance. Because our wedding took place on September 21st, we knew we had to incorporate “September” by Earth, Wind & Fire—but we wanted to do it in a way that felt fun and natural, not overly cliché. So, we decided to use it as the official kickoff to our dance floor.

As soon as our first dance, “May I Have This Dance” by Francis and the Lights, ended, our DJs immediately transitioned into the opening chords of “September”. The second the song started, a huge roar of excitement erupted from our friends, and within moments, they were all rushing onto the dance floor. Standing there with Mark, watching the energy in the room completely shift, is a moment I’ll never forget. It was the perfect way to start the party, and from that point on, our dance floor never slowed down- not for a moment.