Romance in Full Bloom: A Wedding in the Pacific Palisades, CA

Maya and Alex both grew up in Los Angeles, and had mutual friends but didn’t meet until 2017 after connecting on the dating app Coffee Meets Bagel. After their first date, the two parted ways because they both had other plans that night. It turned out that they were going to the same exact concert to see the band Lawrence. Alex spotted Maya at the concert, and after deciding that this was his snooze or lose moment, he went and stood next to her. They spent the next few years falling in love and recently tied the knot in a ceremony with stunning views of the ocean. Get inspired by their big day captured by Helena Wong, and previously featured in the summer 2023 issue of Black Bride Magazine.

Bride: Maya Humes Markes, 30, Senior Communications Advisor in Government

Groom: Alex Markes, 30, Orthopedic Surgery Resident at UC San Francisco

Photography by: Helena Wong

Place of Residence: San Francisco and Washington, DC

Wedding Date: March 25, 2023

Wedding Location: Bel Air Bay Club, Pacific Palisades, California

Wedding Theme/Motif/Inspiration: We both love the water so we did our ceremony on a cliff above the ocean; also vibrant, spring colors.

Honeymoon Destination: Turks and Caicos

Briefly tell us about your wedding experience and how the both of you felt on your big day. Include your most memorable moment.

(Maya) Alex’s vows were hilarious, romantic, and poetic. Our vows were one of the only surprises that we had for each other, and I found myself laughing uncontrollably and feeling like the luckiest person alive.

(Alex) Our first look. I got to see Maya in her dress in a private moment. I truly had no words because I was so full of emotion.

Wedding song, explain choice for song: We danced into the reception to “Cuff It” by Beyoncé. Next, we danced to one of our all time favorite songs, “Best Part” by Daniel Caesar. Then, we brought everyone back on the dance floor with “Before I Let Go” by Beyoncé.

What are you most looking forward to as a married couple? We’re currently long distance because of our careers. We can’t wait until we live in the same place and can build a home and family together!

Advice for a Bride/Groom on their wedding day: Do what is right for you! We decided not to have bridesmaids or groomsmen because we have so many friends that we love. We found other ways to honor our friends. We also decided to have two of our best friends officiate our wedding.