Elliot Stephenson, who works at Justworks, was hosting a rooftop party in New York City with his brother, Oliver, when Isabella Sophia Ilgun, who works in public relations at Mytheresa, sat down next to him. After an impromptu night out on the town, they knew there was something special between them. Three years later, he proposed in the exact spot where they had met.
Isabella’s younger cousin, Caroline, had been living with her for the summer, and Elliot invited them over for drinks to celebrate her last weekend in the city. “When Caroline and I got up to the rooftop and I saw Elliot sitting with a bottle of Champagne, I knew something was up,” Isabella admits. “Caroline whipped out her phone to take a pictures of us and immediately started crying as Elliot got down on one knee. I think she was more nervous than he was!”
Once engaged, the two quickly agreed on a destination wedding that felt like a weekend-long party. Isabella went on a trip with her mom to San Miguel de Allende and fell in love with the locale for her nuptials. Wanting to incorporate the colors of the city, the couple chose a color palette of terracotta, orange, and pink and used a lot of local, in-season florals like bougainvillea. To help bring their vision to life, the bride-to-be worked with Penzi Weddings for all of the on-the-ground logistics and coordination. And The Girl General set the tone for the weekend with a colorful invitation suite with Viviane Rodriguez Calligraphy.
Working in fashion, Isabella and her co-workers had a lot of fun curating her wedding weekend wardrobe. “I knew from the start that I wanted colorful pieces that I could wear again, which is why I didn’t decide on anything that was too bridal,” Isabella shares. For the rehearsal dinner and welcome party, the bride chose a silk floral Silvia Tcherassi dress and pink Prada heels.
Isabella knew she wanted to wear Oscar de la Renta down the aisle. “It has always reminded me of my grandmother, and I know she would have loved every moment of the process,” the bride says of finding her wedding look. When she tried her dress on, Isabella immediately fell in love with the Spanish flair and thick lace that was perfect for the location. On the day-of, the bride got ready with Liz de Alba Beauty and her family hairdresser, Bernard Pena, and took portraits at Luna Escondido.
Isabella also worked with designer Manuel Tiscareno, who grew up in the same town as her, to create a custom veil with lace from her grandmother’s wedding dress. “It was such a special way to honor her and create something that I hope to pass down to my future children and grandchildren,” she shares. Her bridal ensemble was completed with sapphire and diamond drop earrings that her mother had gifted to her on her latest birthday and her great-grandmother’s pearl and diamond ring for her “something borrowed” and “something blue.”
Elliot looked handsome in a Todd Snyder tuxedo with an oversized Tom Ford bow tie and black Christian Louboutin leather loafers. For a pop of color, he gifted his groomsmen handmade suspenders from San Miguel de Allende.
On July 15, 2023, Isabella and Elliot married in a traditional Catholic ceremony at the more-than-250-years-old Iglesia de San Francisco. “I loved starting our marriage in such a peaceful way, incorporating the religious traditions that are so important to my family,” the bride says. The couple stood in-between lovely peach, cream, and yellow floral arrangements by Floklore Studio.
Isabella’s aunts did the Mexican Blessing of the Lazo with the same lazo that Isabella’s grandparents used on their own wedding day. “I remember thinking that it would probably be the only time in my life where this group of people would be together and that I needed to cherish it,” Isabella says of the ceremony. “We both made sure to look around and take it all in!”
After being announced as officially wed, the newlyweds reunited with their loved ones at Casa Cien in the center of the city. Mariachis welcomed everyone to cocktail hour by the pool, where they enjoyed margaritas and Mexican-inspired bites. The seated dinner commenced as the sun began to set, and the menu consisted of favorite dishes from Central Mexico. Guests’ napkins featured embroidery by Isabella’s aunt of Sew Crazy Designs.
The couple twirled to “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” for their first dance, and then the band from Bossa Nueve took over with Latin hits, while tequila shots were passed out. “I grew up on the Texas/Mexico border, where Mexican food and music were a huge part of my life—it was so fun and nostalgic to be with my childhood friends dancing to some of the songs we loved as kids!” Isabella exclaims. When not packing the dance floor for four hours, guests enjoyed the lounge area with a local cigar roller.
“For anyone who knows me, they knew the party would not stop after the reception,” Isabella smiles. “I love a good nightclub, and Mexico is famous for their discotecas, so, naturally, we had to get a few tables.” Thanks to the bride’s cousins, bottles of tequila kept appearing, and the revelry didn’t end until the early hours. “It was the best ending to the best night of our lives!”
