Couple Spent 2 Years Hand-Building a Magical Outdoor Wedding Sanctuary Featuring Waterfalls, Koi Ponds and More (Exclusive)

When Mary Luz Rodriguez Alvarez and Robert "Bob" J. McKee planned their 2015 wedding, it was a existent labour of love.

The couple, seeking to observe and grant their passion for nature, had nan thought to create a genuinely unsocial abstraction — aliases "sanctuary" — wherever they could speech vows surrounded by lush botanical plants and nan calming power of nan earthy environment. They tackled nan eager task mostly by themselves, pinch thief from master contractors specified arsenic plumbers and electricians arsenic needed.

"It took america astir 2 years to complete. Bob is an exceptionally skilled woodworker, which made a tremendous difference," Mary, 42, tells PEOPLE.

The 2 attorneys met done their shared liking and activity successful biology law. During nan early days of their relationship, Mary recalls Bob, 68, giving her a circuit of nan South Florida spot wherever nan wedding venue — now called Living Sculpture Sanctuary — would yet beryllium rooted. Bob had taken complete nan sprawling spot astir a twelvemonth earlier they met.

"At that time, location was perfectly thing connected nan property, not moreover a azygous bathroom," Mary says. "And yet, location was everything. It’s 1 of nan uncommon properties successful Florida pinch ancient oak trees forming a majestic canopy. The situation is magical, pinch nan trees overlooking a cardinal lake, and you tin perceive birds chirping done nan branches."

"The infinitesimal you stepped onto nan land, you could consciousness an overwhelming consciousness of bid and belonging. It felt arsenic though nan spot could speak to you, for illustration nan calming power of a spa," she continues, sharing really nan seeds of their emotion communicative were planted that day. "As we rode done nan trees successful a small play cart, thing typical blossomed betwixt us."

A fewer months later, Bob popped nan question, and erstwhile he asked his then-fiancée wherever she wanted to get married, her reply was immediate. "I said, 'At nan nursery, nan spot wherever we fell successful love,' " she recalls.

And truthful it each began. The mates embarked connected their travel of hand-building their sanctuary. "Little by little," Mary says, their wedding task took shape. To complement nan surroundings, they utilized only earthy materials specified arsenic stone, wood, travertine, granite, quartzite and onyx.

"High-end elements for illustration Italian ceramic flooring, amethyst crystals, walnut and cedar woods, petrified wood, driftwood and moreover metalwork besides were incorporated," Mary adds. "One item is nan usage of exotic woods for illustration monkey pod, handcrafted into bespoke pieces for illustration credenzas and minibars."

After tons of difficult activity and dedication, nan extremity consequence was a stunning outdoor venue surrounded by plants and towering, 100-year-old oak trees, arsenic good arsenic tranquil features specified arsenic waterfalls, koi ponds, a bonsai wall, an orchid wood and a stone zen garden.

When nan time yet arrived for Mary and Bob to observe their ceremonial successful nan typical abstraction they had created, it was a genuinely unforgettable experience, Mary tells PEOPLE.

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"As a small girl, I ne'er imagined I would 1 time person a fairytale wedding for illustration that. It was specified a magical moment. You could consciousness nan power of everyone, our family and friends, coming together astatine nan sanctuary to observe our love," she says.

Not surprisingly, connection dispersed astir nan one-of-a-kind place, and Mary and Bob began offering nan sanctuary for usage by different couples. Before long, they recovered themselves moving a booming wedding venue, thing they ne'er planned aliases expected erstwhile first dreaming up nan project.

"Watching brides and grooms, their families and guests link pinch nan magic of nan abstraction — nan waterfalls, nan trees, nan breeze — it was breathtaking. Seeing a begetter look astatine his girl earlier stepping her down nan aisle, afloat of emotion… that’s erstwhile we understood nan powerfulness of what we had created," Mary explains.

By nan extremity of 2025, they will person hosted astir 1,000 events connected nan property, which complete nan years has expanded pinch additions specified arsenic nan Lotus Lounge and Zen Suite. But for nan couple, each 1 of those weddings is unsocial and treated arsenic if it's their own.

"Weddings astatine nan sanctuary are genuinely different. We’re not a 'package A, B aliases C' benignant of venue. You don’t spot aggregate weddings happening simultaneously. There’s nary rush, nary conveyor loop feeling. Each ceremonial is profoundly friendly and intentional," Mary says.

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She tells PEOPLE it's "the top gift" — and an affectional acquisition — to watch different couples necktie nan knot successful nan spot that's astatine nan bosom of her ain national pinch Bob. "When they cry, we cry," she says of their clients. "[Weddings are] a witnesser to nan commencement of a family, nan instauration of society, rooted successful emotion and meaning."

Reflecting connected creating The Sanctuary much than 10 years ago, she adds, "Building it took blood, sweat and tears, but supra all, emotion and gratitude. That’s nan instauration we guidelines on."