Sarah Istel Weds David Shay in Los Cabos Wearing Vintage 1990s Valentino and Grandmother's WWII Bracelet
In Los Cabos, Mexico, Sarah Istel and David Shay exchanged vows at the Four Seasons Costa Palmas following a civil ceremony at her family's beach house in East Hampton. Their initial meeting took place at the Ugly Duckling bar in Washington, D.C., in February 2025. David's proposal occurred in November 2025 during a surprise getaway to Charlottesville, Virginia. Recently, Sarah has taken on the role of managing director at a venture capital firm after a career in government. They celebrated with 100 friends at their wine bar, Maxwell, hosting three events: a D.C. gathering on April 18, a ceremony on May 1, and the wedding in Los Cabos, coordinated by planners Lee de Lange and Adilenne Rodríguez. Sarah donned a vintage Valentino dress from the 1990s.
Key facts
- Sarah Istel and David Shay married at the Four Seasons Costa Palmas in Los Cabos, Mexico
- Their first date was in February 2025 at the Ugly Duckling, a now-closed bar in Washington, D.C.
- David Shay proposed in November 2025 during a surprise weekend in Charlottesville, Virginia
- Sarah Istel wore a vintage 1990s Valentino ceremony dress sourced from Raffe Vintage
- She wore her grandmother's bracelet, carried when her grandmother fled France during World War II
- Planners Lee de Lange and Adilenne Rodríguez organized the Los Cabos wedding weekend
- The couple held three celebrations: a D.C. party on April 18, an East Hampton ceremony on May 1, and the Los Cabos wedding
- She walked down the aisle to "Billie (Loving Arms)" by Fred Again, with chosen uncles Amos and Rae officiating
Entities
Artists
- Sarah Istel
- David Shay
- Molly Howard
- Lee de Lange
- Adilenne Rodríguez
- Amos
- Rae
- Sienna
- Sophie
- Susan
- Aaron Purkey
- Jessica Dalene
- DJ Jess
- Fred Again
- Tallulah Willis
- Emma Roberts
- Cody John
Institutions
- La Ligne
- Raffe Vintage
- Valentino
- Dolce & Gabbana
- Four Seasons Costa Palmas
- Ugly Duckling
- Maxwell
- Mount Dessert
- Delphine's Beach Club
- Chiki's
- Casa Encantada
- MCW Photocinema
- Vogue
- Balenciaga
- Chateau Marmont
- Vogue Runway
- Vogue Business
Locations
- Los Cabos
- Mexico
- Washington, D.C.
- United States
- Charlottesville
- Virginia
- East Hampton
- New York
- Costa Palmas
- France
- St. Tropez
- San Diego
- Sun Valley
- Idaho