Through the Mist: An intimate pre-wedding story of Tiffany & Jarrod set against mountains and morning haze.

By the Editorial Staff

Photo: Rodrigo Sack Studio

Our story began in the summer of 2017, in an unexpected place, a Dirty Heads concert on Coney Island. Introduced by a mutual friend, we met at a moment when I was stretched thin, immersed in bar exam prep after graduating law school and carrying more anxiety than I cared to admit. Jarrod, with his laid-back energy, dry sarcasm, and an immediate bond over our shared love of offbeat ska and punk-rock, had a way of dissolving tension without trying.

The night ended wandering through the boardwalk carnival, where he won me a stuffed animal, a small, cinematic detail that still feels symbolic in hindsight. I never imagined that love would find me on Coney Island, but what began as an easy friendship slowly and quietly deepened over the years into something undeniable.

Our engagement unfolded during a trip to Oaxaca, Mexico, at Casa Silencio, a striking boutique hotel set among endless agave fields, complete with its own palenque, or mezcal distillery. We were the only guests on the property, wrapped in an atmosphere that felt suspended from the outside world. After a private tour and mezcal tasting, we watched the sun dip behind the mountains, the light softening everything around us.

As I stood taking in the view, Jarrod got down on one knee. The moment felt surreal, made even more so when a photographer suddenly emerged, capturing my shock in real time.

The ring he designed was more beautiful than anything I could have imagined: a moi et toi composition featuring an oval diamond set in platinum alongside a yellow pear-shaped canary diamond in gold. I was overwhelmed, crying uncontrollably, so much so that the photographer gently suggested we pause, since tears appeared in every single frame.

At our wedding, we honored that chapter with a mezcal-based cocktail called Besos Calientes, a nod not only to our engagement, but to the very same drink we shared on our first date at Employees Only in New York.

Our wedding became a multi-day celebration in Panama, a place deeply woven into my identity through my father’s family, and where I had always envisioned getting married. The festivities began with a church ceremony in a 16th-century church in Panama City, followed by a moonlit dinner set among the historic ruins of the city.

From there, we traveled with our guests to Boquete, a lush mountain town known for its coffee farms. We hosted a welcome parrillada (BBQ), exchanged vows the following day on a family friend’s coffee estate, and closed the weekend with a relaxed hangover paella brunch.

Our ceremony blended Hispanic and Jewish traditions beneath a custom huppah adorned with red anthuriums, peonies, anemones, carnations, and red peppers. Set atop a red-carpeted deck overlooking the mountains and paired with custom red benches, the entire scene unfolded in a striking monochrome palette. Seeing our families, cultures, and histories merge so naturally was one of the most meaningful moments of the entire celebration.

Perhaps the most grounding experience came early one morning, when Jarrod and I slipped away for a private photoshoot at the base of Volcán Barú. Just the two of us, no hair, no makeup, entirely ourselves.

Surrounded by mist-covered mountains, birdsong, roaming farm animals, and Panama’s untamed landscape, the moment felt deeply personal. It was a return to my roots and a reflection of our relationship at its core: stripped back, honest, and quietly powerful.

For the intimate church ceremony and our photos at Volcán Barú, I wanted a look that stood in deliberate contrast to my Kyha drop-waist ball gown, Spanish lace bolero, and mantilla veil. I discovered ABAPPUR a Brazilian brand founded by two sisters, through Instagram, after seeing a gown they had created for another bride. I was immediately drawn to the soulfulness of their work.

Despite distance and language barriers, we collaborated entirely remotely over WhatsApp, weaving together Spanish, Portuguese, and hand-drawn sketches to bring the design to life.

They created a sculptural pleated leather corset, a pearl-embellished skirt, and a silk neck scarf, and surprised me with a hand-illustrated fan depicting Jarrod’s proposal in the agave fields and our wedding church. Trying the look on for the first time in my New York apartment, with them watching from Brazil, felt surreal. The fit was perfect, and the design captured exactly the ethereal, Virgin Mary–inspired spirit I had envisioned.

It was an experience rooted in trust, artistry, and heart, one I’ll always carry with me.

This article is an original editorial analysis produced by [DIBA magazine]. 

Research and references are used for contextual accuracy.