Ilana Woldenberg and Ethan Kestenberg, who met at a Columbia University frat party, celebrated their marriage from June 19 to 21, 2025, with a four-day, fashion-forward weekend in Mayakoba, Mexico. Ethan proposed after six years together following a cinematic day in Big Sur, surprising Ilana with a “meet me on the West Coast” trip that included a Porsche convertible, a coastal helicopter ride with whale sightings, and a sunset cliffside proposal, capped with Champagne at Michelin-starred Aubergine.
When it came time to plan their wedding, Ilana and Ethan envisioned more than a single event—they wanted an immersive experience that felt like one shared world for their nearly 380 guests. Mayakoba offered the ideal canvas. The resort’s layout allowed the weekend to unfold across multiple distinct settings while remaining seamlessly connected. Playa del Carmen also held deep personal meaning for the bride, who had spent nearly every Passover there with her family growing up.
Led by Stephanie Esquenazi and the D’Event team, and working alongside Mexico-based designer Rodrigo Mora, the couple crafted four celebrations that could each have stood alone as a wedding. From a vibrant welcome party to a beachside celebration, a Shabbat dinner on the sand, and a greenhouse ceremony, followed by a high-energy reception, every moment was intentionally layered with culture, tradition, and personality.
The weekend began at El Pueblito, where guests were welcomed into a lively, plaza-style setting inspired by Mexican culture. For the occasion, Ilana wore a vintage 1980s Naeem Khan dress sourced from Happy Isles and reimagined by Isa Kriegeskotte into a demi-cup bralette and tea-length silhouette. The look balanced bridal glamour with playfulness, its intricate beading nodding to Mexican floral motifs. She paired it with pink Paris Texas mules and her mother’s emerald earrings. Ethan complemented her in an embroidered Bode top styled with cream Zegna trousers and shoes, the two looks feeling effortlessly in sync.
The beach party followed, introducing one of Ilana’s most striking looks of the weekend—a custom Paula Nadal design inspired by 1930s film stars, mermaids, pirates, and shipwrecks. Crafted through months of sketches and remote fittings, the crochet ensemble—complete with a matching headpiece—merged beach club ease with high-fashion fantasy. Ethan echoed the coastal mood in a tailored Orlebar Brown look, perfectly suited to the setting.
Throughout the weekend, Ilana’s beauty looks were led by celebrity makeup artist Salvador Gonzalez and hair stylist Keshia Tabaran of Junkie Bride, striking a balance between polish, ease, and individuality across each event.
For Shabbat dinner, hosted beneath a custom-built yellow tent on the sand, Ilana shifted into softness and movement. She wore a flowing Harithand dress in an ivory hue that moved beautifully with the ocean breeze, styled with sculptural statement earrings and gold heels. The evening felt intimate and emotional, grounded in tradition while elevated through thoughtful design and personal details.
The ceremony took place on La Isla Lawn inside a custom-built greenhouse centered around a towering 24-foot tree—an homage to Ilana’s name, which means “tree” in Hebrew. Guests entered a pastel-toned space filled with palms, tropical blooms, and filtered light, creating an atmosphere that felt both romantic and otherworldly. The emotional moments of the weekend were captured by Over The Moon The List Photographer Heather Waraksa, with video by Gallardo Films, preserving both the intimacy and scale of the celebration. The flower girls wore whimsical headpieces sourced by The Madrina Studio, adding a playful, personal touch to the procession.
Ilana walked down the aisle in a customized Danielle Frankel lace dress with an extended train and delicate detailing, while Ethan waited beneath a simple chuppah formed from a prayer shawl carried in by family. “I couldn’t believe I was marrying the love of my life,” Ilana shares. “I felt so present, so grounded, and incredibly grateful for everyone who was there showing us so much love.”
The reception brought a shift in energy. Menus throughout the weekend were crafted by Rimonim Catering, who kosherized the resort’s kitchen and designed dishes that reflected the couple’s cultural traditions and celebratory spirit. Ilana and Ethan shared their first dance to “Human” by The Killers, before surprising guests with a salsa moment set to “Carito” by Carlos Vives.
Inspired by Delilah in Las Vegas, the celebration leaned into retro glamour and high-impact fun. Ilana changed into an upcycled version of her mother’s 1993 wedding dress, reimagined by Undone by Kate with removable gloves. As the night unfolded with an 18-piece band led by Manolo Puerto, followed by late-night sets from Capital DJs, surprise moments—including a multi-room Museo de Postres dessert experience—kept the dance floor packed until nearly 5 a.m.
Following the whirlwind wedding weekend, Ilana and Ethan honeymooned in Paris, Kenya, and Tanzania, with stops at The Ritz Paris and Singita Grumeti.
