Photo by Ella @ Epic Events Studios
On the day before their wedding, Alejandro “Jano” Galindo and Dr. Maria Jose “MJ” Galindo weren’t juggling timelines or hustling through the chaos of seating-chart tweaks and last-minute changes. They were rolling out their mats—yoga for him, Pilates for her.
“When we sat down to plan, we didn’t start with colors or themes,” MJ says. “We asked, ‘How do we want this to feel?’ I’d read that you remember the feeling of your wedding more than anything else. That really stayed with us.”
So, they crafted their weekend around movement, shared moments, and feeling good. They let the day proceed at an easy pace, regularly stepping into a quiet room or out into the garden to breathe and reset, quiet check-ins that helped them stay grounded without guests ever noticing. “We wanted a fun, intimate atmosphere full of loving energy,” Jano says. “We wanted people to feel connected—to us and to each other.”
Their approach reflects a paradigm that’s become increasingly popular since the pandemic: Couples aren’t interested in weddings that leave them depleted. The old format, with late nights that slid into hungover brunches and timelines that left no room to enjoy the day, is losing its appeal. “The priority has shifted to intention,” says Ellen O’Brien, former editor at Brides Magazine. “Couples are integrating wellness not as an add-on but as a core value—sound baths, sunrise yoga, adaptogenic drinks, plant-forward menus. They want celebrations that reflect who they really are.”
Gen Z is leading the charge.
“They’re drinking less, sleeping more, and ditching cookie-cutter weddings in favor of deeply personal, values-first experiences,” O’Brien adds.
Read full article at San Diego Magazine’s website.