Love's Grand Spectacle: Sunset Vows and Fireworks Ignite Riviera Nayarit Wedding Bliss
A Serendipitous Rekindling: From High School Crushes to a Modern-Day Romance
Owen Gerber harbored a long-standing affection for Jane Zachar during their high school days in Westchester County. "Back then, I didn't think I stood a chance," confessed Owen, now a vice president at Canal Group, a Miami-based alternative asset manager. "But I often joke that I willed this into existence." Fate intervened in 2019 when Jane, a product manager at a tech startup, found herself living in San Francisco, coincidentally near Owen's older sister, Chase. Owen promptly enlisted his sister to put in a good word for him. Jane recounted, "Owen and I grew up just minutes apart. I was in Bedford, New York, and he was in Pound Ridge. We shared an English class and occasionally ran into each other in Bedford, but we never dated. After college, I became friends with his older sister, who subtly hinted at Owen's high school crush on me."
A Proposal Under the Portuguese Sky and a Ring Reimagined
In September 2020, Owen's former roommate, George, who had also attended high school with them, encountered Jane and extended an invitation to a housewarming party later that evening. "She actually showed up," Owen recalled. "I seized the moment and asked her out." Four years later, in August 2024, Owen proposed during a romantic sunset picnic overlooking Portugal's Douro River. Jane playfully remarked, "The ironic part is, I planned the picnic, so I genuinely didn't expect a proposal." Owen had secretly coordinated with the hotel to arrange a photographer and a special bottle of wine, successfully surprising Jane within her own plans. With his mother's help, Owen re-set Jane's emerald-cut diamond engagement ring, adding side stones. Jane expressed, "It felt incredibly special and personal that he had reimagined something from his family's history for me."
Selecting the Dream Venue: A Secluded Paradise in Riviera Nayarit
Their wedding took place nearly two years later, on April 18, 2026, in Nayarit, Mexico, at Siari, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, and the adjacent private community of Nauka. "I had visited Nauka years prior when my parents first decided to purchase property there," Owen explained. "When Jane and I began planning, the hotel was still under construction, but we visited together a few months after our engagement, and Jane instantly fell in love with it." The property exuded an intimate and secluded ambiance, nestled in a cove with a vast beach, framed by mountains and lush jungle. Jane reminisced, "Beyond its breathtaking beauty, the Siari and Nauka teams were so warm and genuinely enthusiastic about hosting our wedding. Even with much of the property still unfinished, once the timelines aligned, it became the easiest decision."
Navigating the Planning Journey: Overcoming Challenges and Building Connections
The planning process involved overcoming language barriers, coordinating construction timelines, and managing the intricate details of a destination wedding. Jane shared, "When Owen and I first started, we knew we wanted to collaborate with event planner Kat Ferguson at Little Creek. Owen's sister had worked with them for her wedding in Whitefish, Montana, so we had witnessed their thoughtfulness and talent firsthand. Throughout the process, we also got to know the Siari and Nauka teams, watching the property transform in real time. By the time the wedding weekend arrived, it felt like everyone had been part of our planning journey, which made everything even more special."
A Sacred Beginning: Honoring Traditions and Embracing the Local Culture
On Thursday evening, preceding the rehearsal dinner, the couple held a private ceremony with their immediate families and wedding party. Jane recounted, "Members of the local Wixárika community arrived to welcome and bless us and the space. They arranged a beautiful display of flowers and incense, and we spent a few moments at sunset honoring the upcoming weekend and the land surrounding us." The festivities officially commenced with a vibrant welcome party at the resort, featuring tacos and margaritas. For this initial event, Jane opted for a custom Silvia Tcherassi dress, desiring something she could dance in. She enthusiastically stated, "It turned out even better than I could have imagined. And I complemented it with my mother's cherished moonstone earrings."
The Quest for the Perfect Gown: A Dream Realized Through Custom Design
Finding her wedding dress proved to be Jane's most cherished part of the planning process. She admitted, "I probably visited too many boutiques, as it eventually became utterly overwhelming." Ultimately, she discovered her ideal wedding attire at Danielle Frankel, where she collaborated with the team to merge two of her favorite designs into a single custom creation. She noted, "The intricate detailing on the bodice reminded me of ocean waves, and I knew the linen skirt would feel light and natural on the beach. More than anything, it was truly me. It felt like the dress I would choose in 20 or 60 years, and it would still be my dream dress."
Cherished Family Heirlooms and Thoughtful Attire Choices
Jane also found joy in incorporating meaningful family heirlooms throughout the weekend. She carried her great-grandmother's small heirloom bag, the same one her sisters, mother, and maternal aunts had carried on their wedding days. "And, a few weeks before the wedding, my mother-in-law gifted me a beautiful sapphire and diamond band," Jane shared. "It was a present from Owen's father when Owen was born, and I wore it all weekend as my 'something blue'." Owen donned a custom olive green jacket and beige trousers for the welcome party, and a custom brown suit by Sartoria Vanni, an Italian suit maker from Florence, for the wedding night. The bridesmaids wore various earth-toned dresses in different styles and textures, while the groomsmen opted for beige linen suits. Jane added, "Our overall vision for the wedding party's attire was for it to feel organic, complementing the natural tones and relaxed atmosphere of the beach setting."
Emotional Vows by the Sea: A Deeply Personal Ceremony
The ceremony unfolded on the beach just before sunset, with the bride's parents escorting her down the aisle. The couple's close friend, George, officiated the ceremony. Jane explained, "He was the one who invited me to the housewarming party where Owen and I reconnected. So, it felt incredibly significant to have him share our story and marry us." Jane and Owen exchanged their heartfelt, self-written vows. Jane recalled, "There were many tears, from both us and our guests. We truly desired for the ceremony to feel intimate and profoundly personal. And it was essential to us that our guests experienced that, not just during the ceremony, but throughout the entire weekend."
Post-Ceremony Bliss and a Surprise Fireworks Extravaganza
Before the ceremony, the couple had opted for a "first look" to help calm their nerves. Jane recounted, "But when I reached the top of the stairs and everyone turned to look at me, I saw Owen, looking so handsome and wiping away tears. I felt incredibly present and emotional throughout." Afterward, the newlyweds savored a private moment together while their guests enjoyed cocktails by the pool. Dinner was a short stroll down the beach, served on a grassy lawn at the sand's edge. Jane recalled, "One of those magnificent Siari sunsets made everything feel even more ethereal." As dinner concluded, the couple stood to thank their guests, and as they finished, fireworks erupted—a surprise orchestrated by Owen's father, Scott. Fire dancers then led everyone down the beach to the dance floor, where the party continued with carajillos.
First Dances, Fashion Changes, and an Unforgettable After-Party
The couple shared their first dance to "Wondering Why" by The Red Clay Strays, a song with special significance as Owen had grown up visiting Montana and they had seen the band there years prior. Jane then danced with her father, and Owen with his mother. After cutting the cake, Jane, accompanied by her sisters and bridesmaids, slipped away to her room to change. Jane explained, "Part of me wanted to keep my dress on all night, but I adored my after-party look, a low-back ivory slip with lace detailing by Victoria Beckham." She added, "I ran barefoot back to the party with my girls, and Owen and I ended up on stage with the band, dancing, singing, and eventually crowd surfing." When the band finished, the fire dancers once again led the guests to the after-party at Naao, one of Siari's restaurants, situated within a safari-style tent nestled in the jungle at the beach's edge.
"Daphne Beach": A Nostalgic After-Party Experience
Owen shared, "Before Miami, I owned a nightclub in New York called Daphne. This was a significant part of our lives because many of our wedding guests had spent nights dancing with us there, and it was where Jane and I created some of our most cherished memories with them in the early stages of our relationship. We closed Daphne in late fall of 2023, but it still holds such a special place for us, so I knew we had to incorporate it into the wedding somehow." With this in mind, the after-party was designed to evoke "Daphne Beach," complete with pink florals, disco balls, and lighting inspired by the original club. The couple's close friend, Chelsea Parke, founder of Parke, designed custom Daphne Beach hats, and Cade Alami DJ'd the after-party.
A Perfect Conclusion: Poolside Jumps and Authentic Celebrations
The night concluded with more quesadillas and tacos, followed by an "after-after-party" at the newlyweds' villa down the beach. Owen fondly remembered, "At some point, Jane led the charge, jumping into the pool in her dress, which truly felt like the perfect way to end the night. More than anything, it felt like every aspect of the wedding weekend genuinely reflected who we are."
