20 hours ago3 min read

Destination Wedding in a Cave in Ecuador

Yes! You are reading correctly. This amazing couple tied the knot in a cave in Quito, Ecuador. And it is not any cave, is a cave located in a dormant volcano... How about that for nature, adventure and uniqueness?

MJ and Esteban decided to celebrate their destination wedding with this volcano as witness of their union. He is Ecuadorian, she is a beautiful Dutchie who found love in Ecuador while travelling with her sister. Little she knew this trip was about to turn her life upside down, and for good!

When we first met, we instantly made a great connection. They had a clear idea of how they wanted to celebrate their destination wedding and where. The minute they told me it was going to be in a cave, there was nothing more to say. The got my interest automatically and oh boy did we enjoy this!

When we started the planning process, it was clear that nature had to be involved, as well as their own personal touch for their vows and commitment.

As for nature, the venue was perfect for this. Besides the cave, the venue also had a labyrinth, an amphitheater and a perfectly inserted ball room for the reception to take place. We used every single space: the labyrinth for welcoming their guests; the cave for an intimate, symbolic ceremony, the amphitheater for the civil ceremony and the ball room for the reception.

Music is always an important aspect in weddings, and in this case, a traditional group of Andean musicians was perfect for such an occasion.

It is said that this type of labyrinth is designed to calm and quiet the mind, in order to listen the murmur of the soul.

To keep the natural, essential atmosphere they wanted, we lighted lots of candles inside the cave. It was really a magical experience!

Cocktail hour was held outdoors, with the most beautiful view of Cumbaya valley and then we entered the Refugio (Refugee), where the reception took place. We created an Ecuadorian meets Vegetarian, 4 course menu, due that MJ is vegetarian but they both wanted to include the Ecuadorian cuisine in this special day. We started with a vegetarian "ceviche", followed by "hornado", an classic Andes dish consisting on braised pork with local side dishes; as third course we had an asparagus and basil quinoto and for dessert, an ice cream bar with "helados de paila" (fruit smoothie-like ice cream) that was a hit. The decor style was greenery on its best, with different types of eucalyptus, candles and natural materials.

We started the party with tons of rain (a lucky charm, it is said...) Before their first dance, MJ's family presented a video of family and friends greetings and messages, who couldn't make it to the wedding, it was a really funny, special moment for them. Immediately after, "Only fools rush in" was playing for the father/daughter dance (in Ecuador, the bride dances with her father first, then with her brand, new groom). And finally, the bride and groom first dance with Whitesnake's Is this Love

This is how we ended this amazing wedding in a cave. We had some challenges along the way, due to a c o v i d outbreak at the end of 2021, which was the cause for many dutchies not able to travel and that even challenged the very fact of being able to celebrate the wedding. We had to run our Plan B so the wedding could take place, but without a doubt, it was a tremendous wedding celebration. Love was in the air, as well as a particular energy coming from the mountain and the cave.

We feel deeply honored to help couples celebrate their love and commitment in their own unique, unrepeatable way.