Paola had been looking forward to this day for a long time. But one of the things that mattered most to her was sharing it with the people closest to her, especially her two daughters, her sisters, and the friends who made up what she affectionately calls her little tribe.

Paola and Rodrigue were married at St. Patrick Cathedral in El Paso, followed by a reception in the Grand Ballroom at Grace Garden Event Center. With nearly 200 family members and friends celebrating alongside them, the day brought together Paola’s Mexican heritage and Rodrigue’s Cameroonian family and culture.

Some of my favorite moments happened around the people they love. Paola helped her daughters get dressed, and later, one of her girls returned the favor by carefully fixing her mom’s shoe. At the reception, the energy completely changed as both families came together on the dance floor.

It was personal, energetic, and very much their wedding.

Paola & Rodrigue’s Wedding Photography Experience

“Stephane captured not only how beautiful our wedding was, but how it felt.”

“Every photo feels alive with emotion and tells the story of our wedding exactly as we remember it. His calm energy and confidence made everything feel easy and natural, and it truly shows in every shot. These photos are memories we’ll treasure forever.”

If you’re planning a wedding at Grace Gardens or elsewhere in El Paso and photographs that bring back how your day felt matter to you, I’d love to hear what you’re planning.

LET’S CONNECT 

A Wedding Ceremony at St. Patrick Cathedral in El Paso

Paola and Rodrigue chose St. Patrick Cathedral in Downtown El Paso for a traditional Catholic Mass surrounded by their family and friends.

One of my favorite moments was watching their two little girls walk down the aisle in their dresses, with the bows trailing behind them. Having their daughters be part of the ceremony made an already meaningful moment even more personal for Paola and Rodrigue.

A Grace Gardens Grand Ballroom Reception

After the ceremony at St. Patrick Cathedral, everyone headed to the Grand Ballroom at Grace Garden Event Center for the reception. Paola had a very clear vision for how she wanted the room to feel, and seeing all of those ideas come together was something she had been looking forward to for a long time.

The ballroom was filled with white and blush florals, candlelight, crystal details, and pink and purple lighting. Their mirrored sweetheart table was surrounded by flowers and candles, while the large personalized dance floor with Paola and Rodrigue’s initials became the center of the celebration.

For Paola, two of the people who helped bring that vision to life were Priscilla at Grace Gardens and her wedding planner, Alisha from Three Sisters & Co.

What Paola Said About Grace Garden Event Center

“We are extremely happy with Grace Garden Event Center, which not only served as our venue but also provided our catering, flowers, cake, and rentals. Everything was absolutely beautiful! The food was amazing, the cake was delicious, and the floral arrangements were stunning. The entire reception aesthetic felt dreamy and perfectly aligned with our vision.”

Paola also described Priscilla as a warm and attentive wedding coordinator whose attention to detail made the planning process enjoyable. For Paola, having Priscilla and Alisha working together was a big part of making her dream wedding a reality.

If you’re considering this venue for your own wedding, I’ve put together a complete Grace Gardens wedding guide with more photographs, planning information, and my experience photographing weddings there.

Planning Their El Paso Wedding From Kansas With Three Sisters & Co.

Paola and Rodrigue planned their El Paso wedding while living in Kansas, which made having someone locally whom they trusted especially important.

Here’s how Paola described her experience working with Alisha:

“Alisha’s experience and talent are truly indescribable. We planned our entire wedding from Kansas, and from our very first Zoom meeting, I knew we had found someone special. By the second meeting, she already understood our vision, and by the day of the wedding, she brought it fully to life in a way that was even more beautiful than I imagined.

Planning a wedding can be overwhelming, but Alisha made me feel completely secure. She had everything under control, and I know I was able to enjoy my big day to the fullest because she was right there, handling every single detail with care and grace.

Another huge plus: Three Sisters knows the best vendors in El Paso. Together, they truly are the dream team, exactly what you want when you’re planning the wedding of your dreams. I feel so lucky and blessed to have had Alisha by my side. She was a major reason why our wedding day was absolutely perfect!”

Three Sisters & Co. 

Two Families Coming Together on the Dance Floor

Once the reception started, the energy completely changed. One of the things I enjoyed most was watching Paola and Rodrigue’s two families come together on the dance floor. Their Mexican and Cameroonian backgrounds gave the celebration its own personality, and some of my favorite photographs came from simply watching everyone interact, dance, laugh, and celebrate together.

One of the highlights was the money shower, a Cameroonian tradition, with family and friends surrounding Paola and Rodrigue as they danced. The energy was high, people were constantly moving, and it was one of those parts of the reception where there was something happening everywhere I looked.

They also found ways to make the reception unmistakably theirs. Rodrigue is a big soccer fan, so soccer balls eventually made their way onto the dance floor. And during the garter toss, his career as a surgeon became part of the fun, with medical gowns and syringes making an appearance.

One of the quieter moments came when Paola chose to skip the traditional bouquet toss and dedicate her bouquet to her mother instead, a small change to tradition that made the moment much more personal to them.

Those details weren’t there simply because they were wedding traditions. They reflected Paola and Rodrigue, their families, their backgrounds, and the life they’ve built together. That’s what made the reception so much fun to photograph.

The Details Behind Paola & Rodrigue’s Wedding

Paola put a lot of thought into the details of her wedding, from what she wore to the atmosphere she wanted her guests to experience.

Her gown came from Ella Blu Boutique, where she worked with Romie not only to find her dress, but also her veil and ideas for completing the bridal look.

For hair and makeup, Paola worked with Liza from Bijoux Belles, who created a natural look for the church ceremony before adding a bold red lip for the reception. Paola especially appreciated having someone she could communicate with throughout the planning process and who understood how she wanted to feel on her wedding day.

Arte en Papel created Paola and Rodrigue’s invitations and wedding stationery, carrying the elegant look of the wedding into the smaller details throughout the day.

Once the reception began, NCDJ Productions handled the DJ entertainment, lighting, and dance floor setup. Their personalized dance floor became the center of a reception that stayed energetic throughout the night.

Paola & Rodrigue’s Wedding Photography Experience

“Stephane captured not only how beautiful our wedding was, but how it felt.”

“Every photo feels alive with emotion and tells the story of our wedding exactly as we remember it. His calm energy and confidence made everything feel easy and natural, and it truly shows in every shot. These photos are memories we’ll treasure forever.”

If you’re planning a wedding at Grace Gardens or elsewhere in El Paso and photographs that bring back how your day felt matter to you, I’d love to hear what you’re planning.

LET’S CONNECT 

Paola & Rodrigue’s El Paso Wedding Vendor Team

Ceremony: St. Patrick Cathedral
Reception, Catering, Flowers, Cake & Rentals: Grace Garden Event Center – Priscilla
Wedding Planner: Three Sisters & Co. – Alisha
Photography: Stephane Lemaire Photography
Bridal Gown: Ella Blu Boutique – Romie
Hair & Makeup: Bijoux Belles – Liza
Stationery & Invitations: Arte en Papel
DJ, Lighting & Dance Floor: NCDJ Productions