At once modern and rugged, elegant and understated, this intimate Amangiri elopement is proof that creating beautiful designs in the most remote places is always well worth it. 

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Elopement, Wedding Manda Worthington Elopement, Wedding Manda Worthington

Kima Tulum, Quinta Roo, Mexico

A Few of our Favorite Weddings in Tulum

Kima Tulum is an under-the-radar jungle oasis just outside of Tulum’s city center. This modern villa is located on a sprawling private estate, a world apart from the energetic hustle of Tulum, but still close enough to enjoy the city’s crystal blue beaches. This off-grid wedding venue is a design-lover’s dream come true: the beautiful, white-washed walls give the exterior a warm, Mediterranean feel, while the interiors blend Ibizan style and rich Mayan culture with natural, locally sourced materials.

This Tulum venue offers a perfect alfresco setting for a destination wedding, featuring rich jungle greens and vibrant textures throughout the idyllic space. And with three luxurious guest suites, a stunning lap pool, and private gardens throughout the property, you’re able to enjoy a completely private stay and keep the party going long after you’ve said “I do.”

Katherine & Daniel’s Wedding

Earthy, modern, sophisticated, unique — this stunning destination elopement at Kima Tulum was all of those things and more. 

To create a one-of-a-kind luxury wedding at this completely off-grid and remote venue we created a unique color palette that would play off the rich, jungle greens. Using Kima Tulum as our inspiration, we worked with Best Day Ever Floral Design to incorporate bold, dark grey, blues throughout the floral elements and tablescape to create contrast against the greenery in Tulum while complimenting the cool, modern lines of the venue. And to play up the earthy feels of Tulum, we sourced unique, soft black rentals from Archive Rentals to help modernize our palette. With black fringe chargers at every table setting, muted black taper holders, dark rattan-style hanging lanterns, and black-framed wishbone chairs, we loved incorporating a dark accent to make the design pop. 

We utilized the venue’s locally-sourced wood tables for the elopement reception, but we added our own touch of intimacy by adding overhead string lighting and hanging pendants to illuminate and elevate our dinner nook. And with added terracotta, brass, and sand tablescape details, all of the tablescape design elements worked together to create a romantic intimate vibe — perfectly capturing the warm feel of an evening under the stars in Tulum’s coastal jungle. 

Photography: Kape Photography / Design & Styling: Mae&Co Creative  / Venue: Kima Tulum / Florals: Best Day Ever Floral Design / Officiant: Pastor Noe / Hair & Makeup: Prep Tulum

Paulina & Gabe’s Wedding

This destination wedding at Kima Tulum was so special, because it was not easy to get to. After months of planning, venue changes, replanning, and so many pivots in the face of a global pandemic, Paulina and Gabe’s jungle wedding at this off-grid resort ended up feeling exactly like it was meant to be. 

For Paulina and Gabe, we love the unique challenge of creating a wedding design that would contrast the jungle while complimenting it at the same time. We built a custom modern, minimalist frame for the ceremony backdrop, providing a sense of structure against the wild and lush jungle background. While the rigid shape of the arch worked in contrast to the wild feel of the jungle, the dark wood complemented the natural setting perfectly. To build on the idea of our design working in contrast and in tandem with the jungle setting, we worked with Best Day Ever Floral Design to juxtapose bleached and fresh palms, creating a unique ceremony design.

For the reception, we drew our inspiration from Kima Tulum: a luxury wedding venue in the heart of an off-grid setting. A place completely unexpected, and completely enchanting. We believe intimate romance can be found in this most exotic places, so we wanted to elevate the magic this secret Todos Santos wedding venue by making the reception to look like it grew out of the jungle. All of the florals on the tablescape are inspired by the jungle. And to elevate the wild, jungle feel we dusty pink and soft coral colors throughout the modern tablescape design — matching the bold colors of the tropical anthuriums. We loved playing with height and dimension for this design too, choosing tall taper candles to match the oversized palms. We loved every detail of this intimate reception design, from the pink crystal glassware to the rattan fringe chargers, from the string lights to the modern place settings, everything worked in tandem to set the tone for a perfect evening under the stars dancing to a local mariachi band.

We work hard for our clients. From a complete replan and postponements to the completely remote venue, from the hurricane and storms rolling through the city to building structures in the middle of the jungle, we mean it when we say you won’t have to worry about a thing on your wedding day. We’re so thankful for our clients who trust us 110% to plan, design, coordinate, and take care of them — even in the most remote and hidden places.

Photography: Monique Serra Photography

Design & Styling: Mae&Co Creative

Venue: Kima Tulum

Florals: Best Day Ever Floral Design

Officiant: Pastor Noe

Rentals: Archive Rentals

Live Music: Mariachi Tulum

DJ: Pure Pulse

If you’re interested in how Mae&Co can make your day extra special and unique to you, we’d love to hear from you

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Top 5 Desert Wedding Venues

We love a desert venue. As destination wedding planners, we’ve travelled all over the globe to design and style elopements and celebrations, but we have a special place in our heart for modern desert weddings. We love the vastness of the desert. We love the way the moon rises to create a canvas between the earth and sky - it’s the perfect backdrop for a unique, luxury wedding. We love the versatility of the desert, too, as the textures and landscapes inspire different designs based on the venue, location, couple, etc. So whether you’re planning a luxurious, sophisticated party for 200 guests or a small, minimalist celebration for two, here are our top five places for an intimate and bougie desert wedding.

Amangiri

Amangiri is a 5 star, luxury resort that lies within 600-acres of private desert wilderness in Southern Utah. The modern and simplistic architecture of this hotel venue features clean lines, natural materials and uninterrupted views of the surrounding desert and mesas. But Amangiri is more than a luxury hotel, it’s a staggering landscape of canyons, mesas, mountains, and desert with so many unique locations, and every wedding we create in this space is a unique, one-of-a-kind experience. 

If you’re seeking adventure, this venue offers unparalleled access to slot canyons hikes, desert helicopter rides, and unlimited exploration. But if you prefer a bougie retreat, you’ll love the multi-course meals and state of the art spa facilities. We love that there’s truly something for everyone at Amangiri - with luxurious, private rooms, full service spa amenities and privileged access to National Parks and Lake Powell guests of Amangiri experience the convenience of a high-end hotel with easy access to speciality guided adventures. An added bonus? The staff at Amangiri will do anything and everything to ensure your stay at the resort is absolutely unforgettable and bespoke. 

Click here to read more about Amangiri weddings, designed by Mae&Co creative

Images from Laurken Kendall

Willow House

The Willow House is a modern desert retreat, located on 250 acres of private land and boasting stunning, unobstructed views of the beautiful Chisos Mountain Range. The clean lines and muted tones of the building blend into the vast surrounding desert - at Willow House, the design options are truly endless.

This desert wedding venue feels unique. Set in Terlingua just outside Big Bend National Park, the venue boasts access to some of the state’s largest ocotillo plants and some of the most colorful floral and fauna in Texas. Yet the brutalist style casitas evoke a neutral, modern feeling, perfect for a contemporary desert wedding. With 11 unique casitas on the property and a modern gourmet kitchen, the Willow House is the perfect place for a weekend-long wedding celebration with your closest friends and family. And with a new patio structure in progress, this desert wedding venue promises to be one of the most under-the-radar boutique hotels in 2021. 

Click here to read more about our most recent wedding at the Willow House, designed by Mae&Co Creative

Images from Karra Leigh Photo

Under Canvas

With locations all across the United States, Under Canvas offers adventurous couples the perfect place for a bohemian-inspired wedding. While each Under Canvas glamping wedding venue lets you experience the great outdoors with modern comforts, every location is unique. We love the desert Under Canvas locations in Moab, Grand Canyon, Zion, and Lake Powell where you enjoy can luxurious, safari-style canvas accommodations with unparalleled access to nearby national parks. 

If you’re inspired by the American Southwest, we have endless design ideas for Under Canvas Zion: a haven located upon 196-acres of remote desert terrain, surrounded by views of soaring sandstone cliffs and majestic red rock. And if you love adventure, we think you’ll love Under Canvas Lake Powell-Grand Staircase: this location is perched on a Canyon Rim Plateau with easy access to Horseshoe Bend, Antelope Canyon, and Glen Canyon, the Lake Powell Marina and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Park. Regardless of which Under Canvas location you choose, we promise these venues are the perfect mixture of high-end comfort and big-time adventure. 

Images from Dawn Photo

Casa Santal

Located just outside of Joshua Tree National Park, Casa Santal is a modern, desert paradise. Designed as an artist’s retreat on a bluff overlooking a valley of Joshua Trees, this minimalist home boasts panoramic views from every angle. If you value Wabi Sabi design aesthetics, we can’t think of a better place for you to tie the knot in a place that marries love of design and nature.

Casa Santal caters to high-end, desert elopements with options for a private chef, yoga and massage offerings to help you enjoy the space and relax and feel pampered. We love the sexy, luxe feel of this Joshua Tree desert venue, and we think this is the perfect place enjoy some of the best views in the Mojave Desert. With canyon views, a large deck, and a shaded pergola, this venue has so many options for a unique ceremony space that will allow you and your guests to celebrate and enjoy the scenery.

Image from Anni Graham

The Joshua Tree House Tucson

The Joshua Tree House in Tucson, also known as the Posada House, is a 5 suite inn bordering the west side of Saguaro National Park in Tucson, AZ. Situated on 38 acres of land with a forest of Saguaro cactus, native plants, and an abundance of wildlife this is a space to reflect, reset, and create. 

Each suite has its own unique feel. And when you book all of the suites for this Arizona desert hotel venue, you have access to a chef's kitchen, pool, rooftop lounge, yoga room, dining patio, fire pit, and living room with a projector, in case you want to end your wedding celebration with a movie night. This venue is perfect for off-beat desert brides who are ready to throw the party of the century. And trust us, we’re the team you want to have by your side to bring this bash to life. 

Images from JTH Tucson

Ready to start planning your dream Desert wedding? Hit us up!

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Ecotrust, Portland, OR

Styled Wedding Shoot

This industrial rooftop wedding was defined by effortless elegance. Every element of the design for this sleek rooftop ceremony reflected the couple’s modern, sophisticated style. Set above the city skyline, we wanted to create a design that celebrated the bold height of this wedding location, a modern wedding design that incorporates the tall, sleek lines of the city.

Instead of diminishing the striking city skyline, we wanted our design to really capture the experience of a place; being part of the city’s heartbeat, recalling the feeling of watching the sun spill over the rooftop as you say your vows, it’s so significant. And by creating a design that augments the dynamic height of an urban rooftop wedding and frames the city, we designed a unique venue that is so much richer and bolder in the memories of our couple’s wedding day.

To create a sophisticated rooftop celebration that really captures the feeling of a trendy, chic city wedding, we honed in on the details. We designed and built a custom arch, knowing that we needed to create an original piece to frame the city backdrop. At Mae&Co, we specialize in being able to bring custom backdrops from concept to creation. The arch where you say your vows frames an everlasting moment, and we bring value to our couple’s by incorporating structures and elements that reflect the couple’s style. And for this modern rooftop wedding, we knew we wanted to create a custom frame with strong, architectural lines that would create a timeless, high fashion feel.

While our custom arch may be the biggest part of our design, we made sure every detail captured the opulent feel of this wedding. The custom invitation suite by State of Reverie features modern, elegant typography and the muted tones match the sophisticated feel of this elegant event. 

The lush tablescape design incorporates tall floral installations by Good Seed Floral, creating a dynamic shape that plays in conversation with the rooftop terrace views. Touches of gold flatware, smoke glassware, and cream florals create a timeless, elegant feel. And the modern lines of the centerpieces and tablescape chargers elevate the design to blend perfectly with this unique, urban space in NW Portland’s charming Pearl District. 

Every detail worked in harmony, as cascading blooms intertwined with brushed metals and soft fabrics fell gently on modern table settings - mirroring the way the bride’s soft pink veil swirled around her modern, structural gown on the top of this rooftop wedding venue. And when the couple descended to the city’s core, the sophisticated setting on this modern rooftop lingered. 

Want us to design your modern rooftop wedding celebration? Check out these sophisticated rooftop venues we love!

If you’re interested in how Mae&Co can make your day extra special and unique to you, we’d love to hear from you

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Top Boutique Hotel Destination Wedding Venues

From Mexico to California; Portugal to Morocco - our team has been a part of planning countless high-end events all around the world. With years of experience and industry knowledge under our belts, we’ve compiled a list of our top 10 favorite destination wedding venues spanning the globe.

Autocamp Yosemite

Just a 3 hour drive from busy San Francisco, California you’ll find this beautiful compound in the woods on the outskirts of Yosemite National Park. Onsite modern lodging options are convenient for a weekend celebration - custom designed Airstreams, cozy cabins and luxury glamping tents. Between the mid-century modern clubhouse, large grassy area and onsite pond, there are countless, unique spaces to exchange your vows or host the party of your dreams.

Spend the morning hiking Yosemite Falls or say your vows at Glacier Point and then head back to AutoCamp for a beautifully styled reception. With space for up to 130 guests - this is the perfect place to combine intimacy and adventure.

Image by Mary Meck

Photo by Anni Graham

Amangiri

This 5 star, luxury resort lies within 600-acres of private desert wilderness in Southern Utah and only a 30 min drive from the famous Antelope Canyon. The modern, simplistic architecture of the venue features clean lines, natural materials and uninterrupted views of the surrounding dunes and plateaus. With the vastness of the property and the high-end style of the common areas, you can truly have your wedding as raw and wild or as extravagant as you want, all within the beautiful walls of the surrounding desert.

Send your wedding weekend going for a hike though Antelope Canyon or lounging by the pool… This venue will even arrange a helicopter ride for stunning aerial views if desired! From the most intimate high-end events to luxury large-scale celebrations, Amangiri is the idyllic place to pamper your guests (and yourself) and host a truly stunning wedding like no other.

Images by Laurken Kendall

Hotel Santa Caterina

This historic, 5 star luxury hotel is perched on the cliffs of the rustic Amalfi Coast with Mediterranean architecture, colorful tile and endless rows of lemon trees adding to the already quintessential Italian feel. The staff is incredibly helpful in working with the Mae&Co team to make any couple’s dream come true. The immaculate dining room is an elegant sun filled room with floor to ceiling windows where you can overlook the sea and nearby town of Amalfi while toasting with local wines and enjoying the highest quality Italian dishes.

Have your ceremony in the garden, your cocktail hour along the cliffside pool and your reception inside the beautiful and elegant private dining area. This venue is a show stopper for those wanting to run away and get married in the heard of Italy’s famous Amalfi Coast.

Korakia Pensione

This Mediterranean-style resort in the Southern California desert is truly an oasis. Unique to the area and gorgeous in nature, boasting curated Moorish architecture, stunning pools and lush gardens. If you’re looking for a cross between Spanish vibes with Moroccan architecture, earth tones mixed with pure white stucco and palm trees against rolling desert hills - Korakia is your spot. With onsite bungalows and guesthouses, this venue is perfect for a multi-day destination event for up to 130 guests. Not to mention, the weather in Palm Desert is next to perfect all year round.

Images from @Korakia

Image by Christy Dawn

Willow House

This modern desert retreat is located in West Texas, just 6 miles from the incredible Big Bend National Park. Located on 250 acres of private land and boasting unobstructed views of the beautiful Chisos Mountain Range, the options at Willow House are truly endless.

The clean lines and muted tones of the building blend in to the vast surrounding desert, allowing for a design as bold and bright or as minimal and earthy as you like. The twelve onsite, luxury casitas can sleep up to 26 guests - making this the people location for an intimate celebration. You and your guests can spend a long weekend hiking, stargazing and exploring all of the beauty that the Texas desert has to offer.

Image by Melissa Marshall

Acre Baja

Just on the outskirts of San Jose del Cabo, a charming desert town on the Baja Peninsula, you’ll find Acre, a private jungle oasis tucked within the sprawling hills. From the boutique, luxury treehouses surrounded by palms to the elegant, tiled mango orchard, every corner you turn at Acre is bursting with both modern architecture and lush, tropical gardens.

The flow from the grassy ceremony site to cocktail hour by the pool, followed by dinner and dancing in the orchard makes for seamless transitions and an altogether effortless event. Their onsite award-winning bar and restaurant - serving authentic dishes made from locally sourced ingredients - can cater an event from as small as 20, or as large as 500. Rent out all 12 treehouses and you and your guests can keep the party going as long as your heart desires.

Pink House Azores

Just a two hour flight from Lisbon, lies the magical island of Saõ Miguel, which is home to the infamous Pink House; a historic barn, renovated to reflect simple, contemporary aesthetics and spaces. Surrounded by tranquil gardens and abundant fruit orchards, this space is idyllic for hosting an intimate destination event.

With 5 acres of beautifully manicured land, there are countless spaces to host the events of your special day. We love the idea of utilizing the gardens for both ceremony and reception, with cocktail hour revolving around the property’s stunning pool. Between the main house and the smaller studio, the pink property can accommodate 7 guests overnight. But not to worry, San Miguel has both modern, high end hotels and charming Airbnbs scattered throughout this vibrant, European island.

Images by Melissa Marshall

Cedar Lakes Estate

This high-end, private estate in the Hudson Valley is just 70 miles from bustling New York City. Mixing rustic architecture with modern amenities, this upstate venue is timeless and the idyllic place to spend a long weekend celebrating your marriage, surrounded by the people you love most. The estate boasts immaculate indoor and outdoor spaces for events of any size and the luxury onsite lodging, spa and restaurant ensure all of your needs are met, right onsite.

A mountain top ceremony, cocktail hour by the lake, followed by dinner in the expansive 5,400 sq. foot barn is the perfect flow for a luxury event. However, with multiple different venues onsite, you can select the spaces that suite you, your style and your guest count best.

Kima Tulum

Just a few minutes from the vibrant city center of Tulum, this modern oasis is situated on 2.5 acres of lush, private, jungle. With three luxurious guest suites, a stunning lap pool and beautiful, secluded spaces this tropical villa is the idyllic space for a small destination event.

We love this space because unlike most venues, this space is entirely yours. With a full buyout of the property, you’re able to enjoy a completely private stay and create a truly curated event with the vendors of your choice.

Images by Patrick Vollert

Beldi Country Club

This luxury Marrakech venue offers both culture and convenience with beautiful Moroccan architecture, 38 onsite guest suites and a high-end spa offering both modern and traditional services. We love this venue because the spaces are all so individually unique, yet cohesive, providing the perfect flow for an event of any size.

The greenhouse, with lush flora and soaring glass ceilings, is the most stunning space for an intimate, yet lavish reception. Imagine sitting around a long table, dining on Mediterranean cuisine, surrounded by the elaborate structure and flourishing native plants. Beldi Country Club offers tradition and culture without sacrificing glamour.

Images by Anni Graham

Elaborate, simplistic, intimate, or large - Our team is well experienced with destination wedding planning and would love to be a part of your planning experience.

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The Colony, Portland, OR

Theresa & Kishor’s Wedding

A high-end winter wedding at the colony

Planning, designing, styling and coordinating this high-end winter wedding at The Colony in Portland, Oregon was such a joy for our entire Mae&Co Creative team. Our sweet couple, Theresa and Kishor, live in Bangkok, so we were both honored and so excited when they first contacted us for full service planning of their destination wedding in Theresa’s hometown. It’s such a special thing to be a part of the planning process from day one and we’re so grateful for our couples who fully trust in us and our expertise.

The ceremony was held at Our Lady of Lavang Parish, a Vietnamese church in NE Portland. The peach accents of the structure were stunning and complemented the neutral, earthy color palate of the overall design. Selva Floral’s unique, free standing floral arrangements were such an unexpected and beautifully modern statement in an otherwise traditional, historic space. They managed to frame the ceremony perfectly without taking away from the surrounding notable beauty of the building.

The ‘historic meets modern vibe’ was evident throughout the entire reception as well. The Colony, a mid-century colonial style venue in St. John’s neighborhood, is filled with both character and charm - a brick exterior, wood burning fireplaces throughout and a grand ballroom complete with massive windows and black wainscoting are just a few of the many charming qualities of the venue. Unique circular and curved signage by Kalen Rivers, modern, statement floral designs by Selva and a custom built photo booth back drop by our Mae&Co team were just a few of the design highlights that brought modern flair to the space.

The main ballroom, where dinner and dancing commenced, felt both inviting and luxurious with long candlelit tables, warm overhead lighting from antique chandeliers and custom dinner menus at each setting. We love nothing more than seeing the shock, excitement and sometimes tears from our clients when the reception space is first revealed to them, just before the room is filled with laughter and cheers.

Our full service planning package gives our clients the freedom to relax and truly enjoy the process. We give you curated choices, you make decisions and we take care of the rest. If you’re interested in our wedding planning services, click here to learn more. We’d love to be a part of your very special day.

Photo: Jordan Voth
Venue: The Colony
Design, styling and coordination: Mae&Co Creative
Florals: Selva Floral Design
Rentals: Archive Rentals 
Signage: Kalen Rivers
Photobooth: Smirk Photobooth Co
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Hotel Santa Caterina, Amalfi Coast, Italy
Elopement, Wedding Manda Worthington Elopement, Wedding Manda Worthington

Hotel Santa Caterina, Amalfi Coast, Italy

Alexis & Nick’s Wedding

This elegant Amalfi Coast wedding took place at a historic 5 star luxury hotel, Hotel Santa Caterina, perched on the cliffs of the rustic Amalfi coast. The Mediterranean architecture, colorful tile, draping bougainvillea and endless rows of lemon trees and olive groves provided the most quintessential Italian backdrop to this already perfect day.

International events require a fair amount of ‘think on your feet’ decisions and force you to really get creative with what’s around! In lieu of their original ceremony backdrop plan, Good Seed Floral utilized preexisting natural elements and created their arbor install on a tree limb, which flowed from overhead, all the way down to the base of a rustic wood fence. The outcome was stunning and so true to the surrounding Italian style.

Dinner took place in a bright, sun filled room with floor to ceiling windows overlooking the sea and nearby town of Amalfi. We wanted the tablescape to reflect the colors of the Amalfi coast, so we opted for pale turquoise candle sticks, organic rust colored napkins and a gauzy sand table runner. Each setting was adorned with custom, earth tone menus and place cards from Seek Paper Co. The elegant room was soon filled with laughter, Aperol spritz induced toasts and live music from the hotel’s grand piano.

The couple shared their special day with just their closest family and friends in one of the most beautiful and romantic spots on earth. They chose to forgo traditional and decided to make it exactly what they wanted.

We love helping couple’s create unique events and authentic moments that are true to the them and their personal love story. Click here to read about our other Amalfi Coast event this past spring!

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Private Villa, Amalfi Coast, Italy
Elopement Manda Worthington Elopement Manda Worthington

Private Villa, Amalfi Coast, Italy

Ashlee & Josh’s Wedding

Whimsical Elopement on the Amalfi Coast

Can you think of anything more romantic than exchanging your vows at a private, seaside villa on the Amalfi coast?

Running through the winding streets, hand in hand, toasting with Italian wine and dining on local takeout pizza under the stars, surrounded by your ten closest loved ones - this destination elopement was far from traditional and was exactly how Ashlee and Josh wanted to spend their special day.

Our team traveled to Italy to make this this 12 person, full service Mae&Co elopement come to life. We brought in tow one gigantic suitcase and a dream team of vendors from the states; Karra Leigh Photo, Jessica Heron Images and Good Seed Floral.

The couple chose to exchange their personal vows privately, which they wrote on the backs of prints that they picked up in town earlier that week. They then shared a quick formal ceremony with their 10 guests on the villa’s piazza - framed by two lush, freestanding floral arrangements by Good Seed Floral.

We designed the dinner in the middle of the villa’s garden, the sea as the backdrop and ancient olives trees on either side. Although the meal was simple, we wanted the tablescape to feel grand. Custom menus and place cards by Seek Paper Co and the organic floral table runner by Good Seed were just two of our favorite aspects of this stunning tablescape.

We love elopements for so many reasons, but our very favorite is seeing a couple truly relax and enjoy a day that is exactly what they want. Ashlee and Josh were able to soak in the day together, stroll the winding, stone streets and spend time with the people who truly matter most.

We are so thrilled to have been a part of this incredible, international elopement and would love to help you plan your perfect adventure.

To learn more about full service elopement planning with Mae&Co, click here.

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