Fairy‑Tale Inspired Reception in Mexico City Includes Secret Nightclub

Ela Villarreal and Andy McCune could have crossed paths in countless ways—both work in design, share many friends, and move in similar circles. Yet, as Ela told Vogue, “the universe was working overtime to introduce us the old‑fashioned way,” because they actually met on the dating app Raya. Andy messaged her saying he was in Montreal for the weekend, and Ela almost ignored it until she saw his company name, Cosmos. “The day before, I’d posted a story raving about the app,” she recalled. “He saw it, but didn’t realize the girl on Raya was the same one I talk to on Slack.” Andy replied, calling it fate, and the two met that night at midnight on November 11, 2023, in a bar called Baby. Two weeks later he flew back to make their connection official, and two years after that he proposed.

The proposal unfolded on October 16, 2025, in New York City where the couple now lives. Andy’s parents were visiting, so he suggested a walk from their apartment to a restaurant. Along the way he stopped in front of St. John’s Church, known for its lovely garden, and asked to go inside. “I said absolutely not—it was late, the church was closed, and we weren’t about to trespass,” Ela said. Andy pushed the door open and slipped inside before she could stop him. Terrified that a priest might appear, she followed, only to find Andy on one knee. “It was a quiet, private, completely magical moment in a little garden in the middle of NYC,” she described. Andy later explained that he had donated to the church so the space would be theirs alone, which is why no priest arrived.

Before Ela could fully process the surprise, Andy announced, “There’s a car waiting outside. We’re going to Paris.” They hurried back to their apartment, packed, said goodbye to their dogs and Andy’s parents, and boarded a flight that night. Andy had arranged an entire weekend of their favorite things: omakase dinner, a Seine boat ride, a massage at the Bulgari Spa, museum visits, vintage shopping, and a stay at Maison Delano.

The couple chose to exchange vows a year later in Mexico City on August 1, 2026, at Casa Seminario 12, with a reception and after‑party at General Prim. The festivities began with a welcome party at the lush Botánico restaurant in Condesa. “Because we both come from design backgrounds, we treated the wedding as a collaborative creative project,” Ela explained. “We thought less about decorating an event and more about designing an experience from beginning to end—every transition, piece of music, floral installation, graphic detail, and surprise was part of one unfolding story.”

They enlisted wedding planner Rodrigo Mora to realize their vision, while also adding personal touches. Ela designed the wedding monogram and paper goods, and Andy built an interactive website that served as a guide to Mexico City. “We wanted the weekend to extend beyond the ceremony and give everyone a reason to fall in love with the city too,” she said.

Ela’s wardrobe played a central role in the narrative. For the welcome party she chose an archival piece that echoed Mexico City’s architecture. “When Nikki from Raffe sent me photos of a vintage Valentino from spring 2008, I gasped,” she recalled. “The structured beading reminded me of Art Deco motifs I love, and the delicate fringe felt glamorous.” Andy paired a sage‑green linen suit from Bode with brown Dries Van Noten loafers, a shade he felt blended with Botánico’s foliage.

For the ceremony, Ela always imagined a true ball gown, leading her first appointment to Elie Saab. “It was one of the first dresses I tried, and the moment I stepped into it, I knew it was my dress,” she said. After trying other options, she returned to the Elie Saab, drawn especially to the veil, where lace detailing contrasted with the dress’s simplicity. She wore Sophie Bille Brahe freshwater‑pearl chandelier earrings throughout the night and did her own makeup with help from her sister, a choice she described as deeply personal.

Andy answered the formality of the ceremony with a double‑breasted wool suit from The Row, a Zegna tuxedo shirt, a bow tie, and Givenchy derby shoes with a square toe. “I loved the proportions of the jacket—the strong shoulders, long line, and sculpted waist felt classic yet a little unexpected,” he noted.

For the reception, Ela collaborated with stylist Lauren Burke. At their first meeting at Alexandra Grecco, she fell for a voluminous coat with a bubble hem over a slip dress. When she realized the length would hinder the first dance, Alexandra’s sister Samantha presented a shorter version that could be worn off the shoulder, revealing the backless slip dress underneath. The design team created a custom ribbon for Ela’s hair to match the coat’s bows, and she completed the look with lace Jimmy Choo heels, opting for the higher heel despite her original plan for something shorter.