In a true Hallmark moment, Katrina Oluremi Bello Debela and Samson Mazengia Debela met on Valentine’s Day in 2015. She was out with two girlfriends, he was out with four friends, and by the end of the night, they were sharing NY slices on the Lower East Side. After a few months of back-and-forth texting—both unsure of who was to blame—they went on their first date in April, and, as Katrina puts it, they “essentially never stopped dating after that.”
“We had a lot in common in our upbringing as first-generation kids and realized we had lived in all of the same cities from college to present day,” she says. “We recounted times that we were definitely in the same room without realizing it. All in due time, our paths finally crossed and we haven’t looked back since.”
They got engaged in South Africa in 2018, and after realizing a wedding upstate was “out of their budget,” began to consider a destination abroad. Their first choice? Mexico! “We love the food, culture, and it would be a suitable flight for our families that live on opposite coasts of the country,” explains the bride But the real question was where? Samson and Katrina, a “very obsessive review-reader,” began their research, scouting venues from beach resorts in Puerto Vallarta to boutique hotels in Cabo, before realizing “something was still missing.”
Samson, who had visited Mexico City on vacation the year before, made a suggestion: What about a wedding there? They stumbled on Proyecto Publico Prim online and fell in love “almost immediately,” says Katrina. “It just felt like us—the greenery, the beauty in the decay of the walls, the natural light that poured in. It felt unique and open-ended enough to create our own special celebration.” One trip and site visit later, it was booked for a February 20, 2020, date.
Keep reading to see Katrina and Samson’s wedding, which they admit happened just pre-pandemic, as planned by Lum Eventos and photography by Kelly Giarrocco.
Photo by Kelly Giarrocco
Photo by Kelly Giarrocco
The couple created their own invitation suite, which featured photos by Christopher Nechodom, and were printed by The Copy Specialist. They also made wedding merch (totes and t-shirts) featuring a custom wedding logo, inspired by the Mexico 1968 Olympics, which Katrina says “was a total hit.”
Photo by Kelly Giarrocco
Photo by Kelly Giarrocco
Katrina’s bridesmaids all wore pink robes as they got ready together. The bride’s shoes, which were ultimately hidden under her dress, coordinated with the pink color palette. “My shoes were nude pink Nike Cortez’s,” Katrina says. “I had the Nike swoosh embellished and bedazzled and it was still one of my favorite decisions—comfort first, always!” Her earrings were pearls by Kate Spade and her tennis bracelet was from her mom.”
Photo by Kelly Giarrocco
Photo by Kelly Giarrocco
Katrina’s ballgown was by Viero Bridal. “I felt it as soon as I put it on,” she says of finding the one. “I tried on a lot of dresses and had just figured that ‘you know when you know’ feeling was a myth but I felt it with this one. I felt classic and modern and most importantly beautiful! it made me feel regal!”
Photo by Kelly Giarrocco
Photo by Kelly Giarrocco
“I wore a headband birdcage veil by Pronovias—I didn’t want a long veil so this beaded headband was perfect for me,” says the bride.
Photo by Kelly Giarrocco
Photo by Kelly Giarrocco
“I had a really beautiful moment with my mom and my sister right before the ceremony started in a room upstairs where I was finishing/re-reading my vows,” recalls the bride. “My mom prayed over me and blessed my marriage and it was the beginning of my emotions and happy tears flowing. ”
Photo by Kelly Giarrocco
Photo by Kelly Giarrocco
Photo by Kelly Giarrocco
Samson wore a burgundy three-piece wool suit that was made custom by Suit Supply Made-To-Measure in New York’s Soho.
Photo by Kelly Giarrocco
Photo by Kelly Giarrocco
Photo by Kelly Giarrocco
Photo by Kelly Giarrocco
“Figure out what you want, what is most important to you—and execute those things. Everything else, let it flow,” advises the couple. “You can’t allow yourself to get too caught up in the details.”
Photo by Kelly Giarrocco
Photo by Kelly Giarrocco
Photo by Kelly Giarrocco
Photo by Kelly Giarrocco
Couple
Photo by Kelly Giarrocco
Photo by Kelly Giarrocco
Wedding Party
Photo by Kelly Giarrocco
Photo by Kelly Giarrocco
The bride’s father walked her down the aisle. “We used music from the soundtrack of ‘If Beale Street Could Talk’ for the processional,” says the bride. “The movie is a depiction of James Baldwin’s classic book and such a beautiful example of Black Love.”
Photo by Kelly Giarrocco
Photo by Kelly Giarrocco
Photo by Kelly Giarrocco
At the altar, Katrina teared up once she met Samson. He sweetly wiped away her tears before they exchanged vows.
Photo by Kelly Giarrocco
Photo by Kelly Giarrocco
Photo by Kelly Giarrocco
Photo by Kelly Giarrocco
“We chose to write our own vows and to wait to share them with each other until the ceremony,” Katrina says. “We both included ‘always, in all ways’ in our vows.”
Photo by Kelly Giarrocco
Photo by Kelly Giarrocco
Photo by Kelly Giarrocco
rings
Photo by Kelly Giarrocco
Photo by Kelly Giarrocco
The kiss!
Photo by Kelly Giarrocco
Photo by Kelly Giarrocco
Photo by Kelly Giarrocco
Photo by Kelly Giarrocco
Photo by Kelly Giarrocco
Photo by Kelly Giarrocco
The newlyweds danced down the aisle together to “Let’s Stay Together” by Al Green.
Photo by Kelly Giarrocco
Photo by Kelly Giarrocco
A seating chart directed guests to the dining area, which was set in a square with string lights up above. The staircase leading up to the space was the bride’s favorite design element.
Photo by Kelly Giarrocco
Photo by Kelly Giarrocco
Photo by Kelly Giarrocco
Wooden tables were dressed with palm fronds and neutral flowers. “We wanted it to feel like there were these beautiful lush green plants that had grown naturally in harmony with this beautifully engineered, aged, and classic venue,” Katrina says.
Photo by Kelly Giarrocco
The couple danced to “Get You” by Daniel Ceaser for their first spin as husband and wife. Neither loves cake they ended the night with bit-sized treats and churros on the dancefloor—a perfect ending to their weekend in Mexico!
