We’re not crying, you’re crying! Freddie and Rodrigo had the most beautiful wedding in Oregon. It was the perfect blend of Freddie’s Mexican heritage and Rodrigo’s love of Broadway, and a huge celebration of queer love.

Freddie wanted his Mexican heritage to shine through, so they included papel picado banners and a memory ofrenda. His custom suit carried cultural symbolism while also turning heads. Rodrigo brought in moments that reflected his love of musicals, camping, and the Midwest. He wore green, his favourite colour, and walked down the aisle with his mum to Arrival at Shiz University from Wicked. “Defying Gravity was my anthem for life getting better”, he told us, “So using Wicked in my aisle walk was my ultimate ‘it gets better’ moment, full circle from the scared kid who didn’t want to even be on the planet.”

The ceremony was a mix of sincerity and laughter. Freddie originally wanted to ride down the aisle on a real horse, but when that wasn’t in the budget, he and his side of the wedding party galloped in on stick horses instead! His chosen song was Se Me Olvidaba by Christian Nodal. The lyrics translate to “I love you like no one else I have loved.” Rodrigo’s brother Bruno officiated, keeping it lighthearted since the legal part was already done. “He was nervous and we assured him there wasn’t anything he could mess up because we were already married!” Rodrigo laughed.

They exchanged rings that Rodrigo managed to surprise Freddie with after scraping together enough money to buy them on short notice. The ceremony ended with No Matter Where You Are sung by Diego Luna, tying together Rodrigo’s love of musicals and Freddie’s Mexican heritage.

At the reception, guests found their seats via a board that read “Find Your Seat, Bitches” – a deliberate shake-up from all the the polite seating charts they’d seen at other weddings. Cookies shaped like weed leaves and camp signposts doubled as name cards and edible favours. Freddie used his family’s homemade chamoy recipe for s’mores and cocktails. They roasted s’mores as a twist on the cake cutting ritual.

They also showcased their catering businesses, Marsh & Mallow and Pepp & Roni, giving guests pizza and gourmet s’mores instead of standard catering. People thought they were mad to cater their own wedding, but they found it such an enjoyable part of the experience. “Much of Rodrigo’s family hadn’t had a chance to try our business, so this was a perfect opportunity,” Freddie said.

For Rodrigo, the florals were a standout. He skipped a bouquet and instead wore a bold floral lapel piece across his chest – it became one of the most talked-about parts of his look. Marigolds were also used throughout the venue.

Their cake from Little Banana Bakery was another surprise, designed around Rodrigo’s love of Dr Pepper. “We told her our theme and vibe and asked her to surprise us. The design looked like embroidery and was just stunnnnnnnning and the flavour was actual Dr Pepper! It was incredible,”

As the night wound down, they shared a private last dance to Once Last Dance by Us The Duo. “We were crying the whole time,” said Rodrigo. “It was a private moment to just talk through the day and remind each other that we are married and get to share the rest of our lives together.”

Freddie summed it up best: “It was our day, and a blend of our cultures. We didn’t have to be traditional – we own a non-traditional wedding dessert business, so why would we do the most traditional things? As a gay couple, folks often referred to our wedding party as a ‘bridal party’. It was hard at times having to remind people that the wedding planning process isn’t just for brides. Not every couple has a bride, or wants to be called a bride.”