Zach and Mai met for their first date in a mall food court back in their hometown. Mai said she was nervous walking up to him, but that Zach almost immediately made her feel like he was someone she had known personally for years. They had an immediate connection, which has only grown and flourished with time. Which is why when it came to celebrating their marriage, Puerto Vallarta was the perfect place.

The day started with Mai getting ready with her bridesmaids. She wanted to do a first look with them once she had her dress on, so she had them wait outside the hotel room while Mai’s mom helped get her into the wedding gown. Once she was ready, we brought her bridesmaids in (eyes closed!) and counted down from three. When they finally looked up and saw Mai, there was an immediate gasp from all four girls, which lead to an abundance of tears. Each of them was so, unbelievably happy for Mai, and they couldn’t have been happier that this day had finally arrived.

Zach spent the morning with his groomsmen — making toasts on the balcony of the hotel with Puerto Vallarta’s vibrant coast draped in the background. The energy in the air was electric, and while his demeanor was poised and calm, it was clear that he couldn’t wait to see the girl that was soon to-be his wife. He made sure Mai knew just how excited he was by sending a gift over to her room with a beautiful letter that brought tears to her eyes. That letter, along with the elegant bracelet that came with it, was a perfect representation of Zach’s love for Mai, and how thrilled they were to take this next step together.

When the time came for Mai to walk down the aisle, Zach’s eyes filled with tears. She looked stunning, and couldn’t have looked happier to see Zach waiting for her at the altar. There, they exchanged personal vows and made it known in front of their closest friends and family how excited they were to spend the rest of their lives together. That excitement was perfectly displayed as they danced down the aisle after their first kiss.

The remainder of the evening was filled with blissful celebration. Zach and Mai’s guests cheered them on as the walked out to their first dance, and throughout the entirety Zach and Mai couldn’t take their eyes off each other. Toward the end, everyone’s faces were illuminated with a dazzling display of fireworks, the perfect finale to a perfect dance.

It was amazing seeing how far these two have come — from meeting up at that tiny food court to getting married in paradise, it was clear throughout their entire wedding day how deeply Zach and Mai adore one another. Being able to see their connection and capture its entirety in such a beautiful place was truly incredible.