A Laid-Back Beach Wedding in Cabo San Lucas

When Emmaline “Emmy” Clark and Holt Perlman met as undergraduate students at the University of Texas at Austin in December 2014, their chemistry was undeniable. Although Emmy was a freshman and Holt was a senior, that didn’t stop Holt from asking Emmy out. Their first date went so well that the duo put a label on their relationship almost immediately. 

After nearly six years of dating, Holt decided to pop the question on May 22, 2020. “Emmy thought they were having a few people out to their ranch,” the couple reflects. “Holt took Emmy up on a hill and proposed. They drank Champagne and went back down to the lodge where Emmy and Holt’s friends and family were waiting and then celebrated all weekend.”

Despite planning their wedding during a global pandemic, the pair found the process to be effortless and enjoyable, thanks to assistance from Emmy’s mom and their wedding planner, Amy Abbott. “We made decisions very easily and had fun with the whole process,” the couple shares. “It was a great experience, and everything turned out great.”

On May 8, 2021, Emmy and Holt said “I do” in front of 235 guests in Cabo San Lucas. Keep scrolling for all of the details on their dreamy coastal bash, which was planned by Amy Abbott Events and photographed by Erich McVey.

Instead of defining a theme for their nuptials, the twosome turned to bright blooms and the surrounding coastal scenery to inform their aesthetic. They sent out vibrant invitations in blue and pink hues, complete with floral illustrations, to set the tone.

Emmy and her bridal party spent the morning getting ready in flowy nightgowns with flutter sleeves and floral embroidery. While the bride sported a white gown, her bridesmaids coordinated in light blue. 

The bride stunned in a strapless A-line gown with a corset top and 3D floral appliqués by Mira Zwillinger. Although the dress ended up being the perfect fit, it wasn’t the original outfit Emmy intended to wear. “I ended up changing dresses a few weeks before my wedding,” she reveals. “I was getting one made, and it didn’t turn out like I imagined it. But, I loved a dress I had tried on months and months before, so I was able to buy the samples. Alterations were done a day before we left for the wedding. It was a little stressful, but it all worked out great.” To top off her look, Emmy settled on simple accessories: her mother’s diamond drop earrings and a diamond tennis bracelet, which was a wedding gift from her father.

Emmy and Holt wanted to savor an intimate moment together before the day’s events, so they opted for a first look.

For the big day, Holt donned a custom white linen suit by Harper + Jones, brown suede loafers, and a brown belt. A floral boutonniere added a pop of color to his sleek look.

Emmy carried an eye-catching bouquet of peonies, David Austin roses, and seasonal blooms in shades of hot pink and coral with hints of ivory and greenery. 

The bride and groom were set on hosting a destination wedding in Cabo San Lucas because the location held personal significance to them. “Emmy had been vacationing in Cabo for years,” the duo explains. “Holt loves Cabo as well.” They also saw it as the ideal locale for their breezy beachside ceremony.

Emmy selected natural and glowy makeup to complement the effortless vibe of her nuptials. She wore her hair down with a subtle wave, and she had a strand of her locks pinned back. 

Holt’s groomsmen all matched in beige linen suits and white dress shirts. Meanwhile, Emmy’s bridesmaids wore champagne dresses from Fame and Partners, and held white bouquets. To set themselves apart, Emmy’s sister and sister-in-law wore blue gowns in a style of their choosing.

A striking floral arch covered in hot pink and red bougainvilleas and the gleaming waters of Cabo provided a breathtaking backdrop for Emmy and Holt’s ceremony. Large terracotta cases housing floral arrangements in the same tones stood at each end of the aisle.

Emmy glided down the aisle, arm in arm with her father, while a live violinist and cellist played “Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Elvis Presley.

The pair enlisted Holt’s childhood friend Marshall Perry to officiate their short and sweet ceremony. Being the center of attention was unsettling for Emmy, but focusing on the love she had for Holt helped ground her. “If I didn’t have Holt up there to hold onto, I would have been way more nervous,” the bride shares. “I got to marry my best friend, someone I laugh every day with, someone I love so much, and someone who I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.”

After reciting promises to one another, the newlyweds locked lips and walked back up the aisle while a mariachi band played. 

The couple snuck away to snap photos on the beach and capture the pure joy they felt in that moment. “[The wedding] was exactly what we wanted: a casual beach wedding with our closest friends and family and a fun time celebrating our love,” they express.

The picturesque reception took place by the infinity pool at Hacienda Cocina y Cantina, which overlooked the ocean and cliffs. Twinkle lights and illuminated stars cast a warm and romantic glow over the evening. “The wedding day included a full sky of hanging stars to use as lighting ambiance,” the bride and groom describe. 

Boho lounge setups dotted the perimeter of the pool and offered a haven for friends and family to prop their feet up and admire the view.

A runner of peonies, bougainvillea, David Austin roses, and seasonal flowers in bright pink and coral tones with pops of blue, ivory, and greenery lined each table. The couple also had white taper candles in glass hurricane holders scattered across the beige linens. “We wanted something classy that fit the ambiance and location,” the couple says of their tablescape. 

Each place setting featured ornate glassware, chic chargers with intricate designs, and linen napkins with fringe edges.

A rustic wooden drink sign displayed four different signature beverages: a hacienda margarita, a rosemary margarita, a paloma, and ranch water. Guests could also sip on wine and beer, which were offered at different stations. “One of the smartest things I’ve ever seen is how the bride and groom organized the wine and beer stations throughout the plush venue,” Amy remarks. “Not only was it elegant in appearance, but it kept the service flowing and allowed people to spend their time on the dance floor, not the bar.”

To infuse the flavors of Mexico into their reception, the duo chose tacos, esquires, guacamole, salad, and churros for dinner. 

The couple swayed to “Let’s Stay Together” by Al Green beneath a starry “sky” for their first dance. “I was really nervous about the first dance,” Emmy admits. “Then, Holt just took me out there and was in control and made me feel comfortable. We laughed and had so much fun dancing.”

The newlyweds served a five-tier vanilla cake with buttercream frosting adorned with colorful flowers for their post-dinner treat.

A fireworks display ended the night with a bang. “The biggest splurge might have been the fireworks show, which was a surprise from my dad,” Emmy recalls.

Emmy changed into a mini silver sequined dress with long sleeves and a deep V-neck from Cucculelli Shaheen before spending the rest of the night dancing with her favorite people. “We focused a lot on our guests having a great time,” Emmy notes.

Although spending quality time with friends and family was definitely the highlight of their night, they had other plans to conclude their evening. “At the end of the night, we had been dancing for hours, were exhausted, and ready to go back and be alone,” the couple recounts. “We snuck away from the party without telling anyone and went to the honeymoon villa. We ate a cheese board, which is one of Emmy’s favorite foods. We were so happy to be alone and together and married!”