Love, embroidered: This vibrant wheelchair wedding brought the Mexican fiesta to Brazil

Brazillian wheelchair wedding on Offbeat Wed 36 — Photos by Nati Carvalho| Naticphotos

Offbeat partners: Mayara & André
Date and location: Hecho en México y En Brasil (restaurant) in São Paulo, Brazil (12/08/2024)

Our Fiesta of Love: A Mexican Mini Wedding wedding

As Brazilians living in São Paulo, we've always been the type to swap routine for a plane ticket, eager to travel and dive into other cultures. But our story? Oh, that started in a way neither of us ever expected! We first met years ago, straight out of a rom-com: by chance, in a History of Art class I was casually auditing in André's classroom during college!

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Years later, destiny nudged us, we reconnected, and on our first date, we ended up at that restaurant… the one that would become our special spot, so special that, years later, it became the vibrant venue for our wedding!

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Life, like a good scriptwriter, threw some curveballs our way before our “happily ever after.” Before the proposal, we navigated some turbulent waters: I was on a journey to heal from past relationship traumas that had really shaken my self-esteem (especially as a wheelchair user). And André, for years, struggled with depression and anxiety that kept him from fully embracing our relationship. (Little did we know that in 2024, the year of our wedding, we'd finally discover André's autism – a huge relief that made us understand everything would work out with a few adaptations!) To top it off, there was my career change and the challenge of building our house. Phew! But here's the crazy part: amidst all that chaos, we decided it was time to get married!

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Tell us about the Fiesta of Love: A Mexican Mini Wedding ceremony:

Our “Fiesta of Love” was a Mexican mini wedding that proved you can have a “Pinterest-worthy” celebration without breaking the bank! As a colorful bride who uses a wheelchair, I never quite saw myself in traditional white dresses. But when the Mexican theme clicked (a passion of ours!), I dove headfirst into its vibrant spirit, lively Latin music, and delicious homemade food (with that dash of spice we adore!).

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My dress was an eight-month labor of love, hand-embroidered to perfectly embody the rich Mexican theme and my colorful personality. Every single detail, from the bouquet to the favors, was planned with immense love, contagious good humor, and that extra sizzle to ensure it was an unforgettable day for everyone! Our aim was to transport our guests to the atmosphere of that special restaurant from our first date, and we totally pulled it off!

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And the vows? They were as unique as our journey! My vows were a heartfelt blend of art, pop culture, and even a nod to Beyoncé, while André’s took us all on a beautiful journey through astronomy. It was another way we made the day truly ours.

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Tell us about the reception

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And speaking of flavor, it wasn't just the savory dishes that carried the theme – our desserts were also wonderfully themed! We had a beautiful floral naked cake, plenty of sweets, and intricately decorated cookies, all adding to the festive Mexican vibe. One of the absolute best parts of the reception was when everyone got on the dance floor to do the Macarena together. It was genuinely so much fun!

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What was the most important lesson you learned from your wedding?

Our wedding was proof that “atypical” can absolutely mean “epic,” and that love, creativity, and the right partnership can overcome any challenge. For anyone planning their own wedding right now, here's our best advice: Do what your heart truly feels will be the most authentic and fun for your special day. Forget the standards! ¡Arriba!