Jonathan Bennett and Jaymes Vaughan’s Inclusive Destination Wedding in the Mexican Mayan Riviera

If you haven’t heard: celebrity actors and TV hosts Jonathan Bennett and Jaymes Vaughan are married! The couple tied the knot in a gorgeous week-long destination celebration in the Mexican Riviera Maya surrounded by warm white sand beaches, lush jungle flora, and the tropical Caribbean Sea. We had the incredible honor of documenting their wedding, and it would be no exaggeration to say that this was one of the most special events we’ve ever had the pleasure of photographing!

As LGBTQ+ wedding photographers, we take special pride in documenting stories of love for our own community. We could not be more excited to share with you a selection of images from this gorgeous, emotional, and unforgettable celebration of love. Some of these photographs were featured in People Magazine (check out those features here and here) as well as Out Magazine (check out that feature here).

An Inclusive and Modern Take on Wedding Tradition

Jonathan and Jaymes are not only talented performers and actors, but they are also advocates for the LGBTQ+ community. After a heartbreaking experience with a wedding venue that refused to work with them because they are gay, the couple decided to make it their mission to highlight and uplift inclusive voices in the wedding community. They planned their nuptials with an inclusive, tradition-busting mindset at the forefront and we think they created some innovative and modern wedding traditions that many other LGBTQ+ couples will want to use for their own big day! 

As you scroll through the images below, we’ve highlighted some of the ways that Jonathan and Jaymes personalized their wedding with incredible results!

The Venue

Jonathan and Jaymes decided to host their week-long destination wedding at the beautiful UNICO 20°87° resort. Unico is an all-inclusive resort, immersed in the jungle and situated right on the coast of the Mayan Riviera just outside of Cancun, Mexico. With numerous amenities including world-class restaurants, shopping, private pools, jacuzzis in each room, and a private beach, Unico is unparalleled for a relaxing vacation and the perfect venue for a luxurious destination wedding. But most importantly, UNICO was an incredibly inclusive and welcoming environment that fully celebrated Jonthan and Jaymes on their big day!

The Bests

A fabulous twist on the traditional gendered wedding parties, Jonathan and Jaymes wanted to incorporate their closest friends and chosen family into one group they collectively referred to as their ‘bests.’ No bridesmaids or groomsmen, just love. All the bests and the grooms donned dapper black tuxedos from Express, even the ladies! Not only were they unified in their attire as a group, but each also had a show stopping moment in their own way,

The Processional

One of the most exhilarating parts of the wedding ceremony is the moment after the wedding party has reached the altar when the music suddenly changes, signaling the entrance of the bride. For many LGBTQ+ couples, this arrangement just doesn’t fit. Jonathan and Jaymes decided to do something completely outside the box! Rather than either of them walking down the aisle individually, they instead walked to the altar together from the beach on the other side. The effect was breathtaking–the couple united from opposite directions on the beach and then approached their guests and wedding party hand-in-hand. It was a beautiful metaphor for the way two lives come together to create a new family.

The Rings

Jonathan and Jaymes partnered with Kay Jewelers to craft a ring made especially for the LGBTQ+ community. These rings were custom designed to feature a halo of diamonds on one face of the band. When the couple was engaged, the diamonds faced outward to show the world the beauty of their love. During the ceremony, they flipped their rings so that the diamonds faced inward, a representation of the infinite sparkle they bring to each other’s lives. To learn more about this stunning ring, check out the link to Our Ring by Kay Jewelers.

The Cocktail Hour

What is the one thing that could take an inclusive LGBTQ+ focused wedding and bring it to the next level? A live drag performance of course! For their cocktail hour, Jonathan and Jaymes asked their good friend and Ru Paul’s Drag Race alum, Jackie Cox (@jackiecoxnyc), to perform and emcee the reception. Jackie Cox is an insanely talented and hilarious drag icon, so we were both in complete awe of her. As guests entered the cocktail hour space, they were welcomed by Jackie singing live elegantly perched atop a white baby grand piano. After a few minutes, Jonathan and Jaymes made a short appearance and were serenaded by Jackie in an unforgettable performance before the couple greeted their guests and left to prepare for their reception grand entrance.

The Grand Entrance

An outfit change between the ceremony and reception is common for brides and usually done for practical reasons. For example, it can be challenging to dance in a gown with a very full skirt. Jonathan and Jaymes decided to change outfits for the reception for a very different and poignant reason. All their guests were asked to wear white for the wedding while the grooms and their wedding party sported black tuxedos for the ceremony. For the reception Jonathan, Jaymes, and their bests all changed to white to signify that the entire wedding including their guests were now unified as one family. This moment was a very emotionally resonant one, as everyone came together in celebration of love. Jaymes and Jonathan’s white tuxedos were custom designed by Robert Stanley Bespoke.

The First Dance

The song selection for the first dance is a decision most couples do not take lightly. Often, they will select a song of importance to their relationship as well as one that is romantic and importantly, danceable! For Jonathan and Jaymes, their first dance song was a no-brainer! When Jaymes proposed to Jonathan, he composed a song that has since become their anthem. Not only was this song used during their first dance, but it was also incorporated as an arrangement for string quartet throughout the ceremony! We highly recommend giving the song a listen, here.

The Grand Exit

Jonathan likes to joke that the original wedding plan was supposed to be themed after “The Greatest Showman,” one of his favorite films–an idea summarily vetoed by Jaymes! To incorporate a small element of the film and to add an epic theatrical surprise to the end of the reception, the couple choreographed a dance number to “The Greatest Showman” soundtrack complete with a jaw dropping fireworks display. Talk about going out with a bang!

This celebrity LGBT tropical destination wedding was photographed at UNICO 20°87° in Riviera Maya, Mexico.

Photography: Todd Danforth Photography | @toddthephotographer
Videography: Kelly Balch Images | @kellybalch @hunter_hartz @jessie_sears_
Venue & Catering: UNICO 20°87° | @unico2087
Florals & Rentals: Canteiro Weddings | @canteiroweddings
Rings: Kay Jewelers | @kayjewelers
Ceremony Attire: Express | @express @expressmen
Reception Attire: Robert Stanley Bespoke | @robertstanleybespoke
Beauty: Tim MacKay | @timmackaybeauty
Hair: The Curl Suite | @thecurlsuite
Live Performance: Jackie Cox | @jackiecoxnyc

Palm Springs wedding photographer Todd Danforth Photography is an LGBTQ+ and POC-owned wedding photography team specializing in capturing joyful and candid moments. As storytellers and craftspeople, we believe in the power of visual narratives. Our mission is to create honest and authentic photographs you can share with your loved ones for generations to come.