About Us
The Wedding Company for Adventurous Couples
Stylish, sophisticated, and affordable elopements and micro weddings
Cactus Collective Weddings was born out of frustration. Frustration isn’t an emotion that usually fits with romance, but pinky-promise this wedding coordinator’s love story has a happy ending.
McKenzi Taylor got engaged to her partner (now husband) in 2016. Both of them wanted a short engagement and a wedding on their own terms, just the two of them. Living in Vegas put a huge number of “Wham-bam thank you ma’am” ceremony options on their doorstep. But none of them felt right. Frustrated that very few wedding companies could meet their needs, McKenzi took matters into her own hands.
Already working as a wedding photographer, McKenzi knew she could organize a simple, meaningful elopement. One that included an unusual yet stylish venue, quality photos, and the magical little touches needed for an intimate ceremony.
Working with vendors she’d met through other wedding projects, McKenzi coordinated the ceremony she and Matt had imagined. An intimate service held in the breathtaking Red Rock Canyon.
Handling all of this convinced McKenzi that other adventurous couples probably wanted the same thing. Plus, someone who would remove the stress of organizing a destination wedding. And so Cactus Collective Weddings was born.
The team coordinating your wedding
McKenzi Taylor
Founder of Cactus Collective Weddings, McKenzi lives and works in Las Vegas, Nevada. She loves the business she’s built and is dedicated to getting the best of everything for her couples. When she’s not coordinating weddings, she’s searching for amazing venues to add to our collections or finding beautiful extra touches that complement your service.
Recently, she joined the board of directors for the Las Vegas chapter of the Wedding International Professionals Association (WIPA), a group of professionals who are dedicated to bringing new standards to the Las Vegas wedding scene. On the rare occasions she’s not working, McKenzi enjoys rock climbing, hiking, and downtime with her young family.
Ginger Munsell
When you reach out to Cactus Collective Weddings, Ginger is your first point of contact. She answers questions about your ceremony and how the event will run on the day. Ginger has been working in wedding sales and planning since 2009, so you’re in safe hands, and she loves that every couple has their own unique story. Ginger married in Vegas in 2011 and is currently planning her 10-year vow renewal.
Allie Cromwell
Allie is excellent at helping our couples pick the right package for their unique needs. As an account manager at Cactus Collective Weddings, she’ll be your knowledgeable guide during every step of planning your ceremony. Before joining us, she was a realtor for four years and a teacher for nine (which is why she’s so amazing at problem-solving and wrangling an unruly crowd!). Allie excels at communication, project management, and time management, ensuring everything goes smoothly at your wedding ceremony. Originally from Nashville, Allie brings the warmth of Southern hospitality “with a side of spice.” After work, you can find her camping or running trails with her two girls.
Lauren Ahart
Lauren, our micro wedding expert at Cactus Collective Weddings and Elopements, brings her love for intimate celebrations to guide couples towards their dream wedding. Her own destination wedding in Maui, attended by 25 close family and friends, remains a cherished memory, with the sprinkling rain at the last dance adding a magical touch.
Lauren’s dedication to making your wedding vision come to life is unwavering. Her lifelong passion for weddings makes her role a dream come true. She thrives on connecting with couples, understanding their desires, and turning them into reality, ensuring your day is enchanting.
Outside work, Lauren enjoys strolls at Target with Starbucks, a little TikTok scrolling, and adventures at Disneyland. Her home is filled with three energetic dogs, a cat, and her two lovely daughters. She’s been happily married for six years and is open to sharing more about her incredible journey. With Lauren as your guide, you have an expert in micro weddings and a delightful presence for your wedding planning journey.
Mel Ligueran
Mel makes all of the behind the scenes magic happen. It’s unlikely you’ll chat with her directly, but she’s the one organizing venue permits, booking vendors, and working out the ceremony timeline. What makes Cactus Collective Weddings so special to Mel is the company’s eco-friendly approach. Under McKenzi’s guidance, they work hard to create beautiful styling and decor options that make an impact on the day, rather than on the earth.
Penny Pena
Our friendly Client Experience Manager Penny is here to support couples through the entire planning process. With five years of wedding industry experience, she knows all the ins and outs to make your ceremony truly unforgettable. Having just gotten married herself, Penny also knows what it is like on both sides of planning. She’s excellent at making wedding dreams a reality. No matter what you want to accomplish, Penny can help you do it! She loves what she does. To Penny, working at Cactus Collective Weddings feels like hanging out with her friends and helping them plan their weddings all day.
We are a slim team, but work hard to help all our couples get exactly what they want and deserve for their wedding day!
Josh, Liz, Casey, Ginger, Laura, Griffin, Vanessa
Love Is Our Business, Caring Is In Our Hearts
We are committed to sustainability, conservation and equality for all.
Core Values
Be a Good Human
Approach interactions with a servant heart keeping in mind we are all unique and need to be treated with honesty, humility, and integrity.
Problem Solver
Creative problem solver who is able to flex, adapt, and change as MTaylor Inc. expands.
Personal Ownership
Possess a high level of personal ownership and individual drive regardless of circumstance.
Team Player
Help and support other members of MTaylor Inc.
Best Interest at Heart
Operate within the best interest of MTaylor Inc., our partners and our couples and always assume positive intent.
Mission
Be the Industry leader in modern and affordable weddings, capturing the true intention of commitment using scenery and photo-centric experiences.
Vision
Grow MTI in a way that is eco-friendly, with a focus on photo-centric wedding packages. Being a fair and ethical employer and contractor.
Vendors we partner with
When it comes to vendors, we’re extremely fussy with who we let near our clients. Like, bridezilla levels of picky. And for good reason. On your special day, only the best will do.
Vendors become our trusted partners because they provide reliable service Every. Single. Time and they go above and beyond for our clients. The cherry on top is they share our values.
What makes us extra special
-
High-quality photos
Photography and photo editing are at the core of our collections. Couples say the images we photograph and edit are so good they look like they’re straight out of a magazine. Our photographers are the best of the best and will work closely with you to capture your vision for your day.
-
On site host
Unique to Cactus Collective Weddings, our staff of on site hosts complete our company training program before solo-hosting any weddings. No temps or interns here. The highly organized on site host is available for all weddings, overseeing the vendor set up, and take care of you and your guests.
-
Eco-friendly weddings
We’re a proud partner of Leave No Trace, a not-for-profit organization. They provide education and initiatives so every person who ventures outside can protect and enjoy our world responsibly.
-
Supporters of marriage equality
Couples of any gender and sexuality are welcome. Love is love and we continue to educate ourselves on what more we can do to support marriage equality for LGBTQI+ communities.
