Guatemala weddings are so magical — and Sharon and Carlos’ celebration in Antigua didn’t disappoint! Sharon’s Cantonese heritage was beautifully celebrated and flawlessly paired with Carlos’ Guatemalan culture. Their big day was filled with rich culture, beautiful scenery and colorful details!
The beautiful bride wore Martina Liana Style 1137, a magnificent A-line gown with a lace bodice and a flowy skirt. She visited Kleinfeld Bridal in New York City to find her dream dress—Style 1137 made her feel gorgeous and special on their big day!
In sorbet-colored hues, luxe blooms and international cuisine—the images by Daniel Lopez Perez Photography display so many pin-worthy moments. Make sure to scroll down and catch every detail of this destination wedding, including the ceremony arch, which is nothing short of dreamy!
TELL US ABOUT YOUR PROPOSAL!
My husband Carlos is my best friend! We met in New York City six years ago at church.
To pop the question, he surprised me while I was on a girls’ trip to Hawaii two years ago, right after the COVID-19 pandemic. He walked up to our brunch picnic at Magic Island in Ala Moana Beach Park with a guitar and serenaded me with one of our favorite songs, Ed Sheeran’s “Perfect”, then he got down on one knee.
There were a few dozen people who helped him plan the proposal. It was a whirlwind of a weekend in the best way!
DESCRIBE YOUR BRIDAL STYLE. HOW DID YOU WANT TO LOOK ON YOUR WEDDING DAY? TELL US ABOUT YOUR DRESS-SHOPPING EXPERIENCE.
My bridal style is a little bit of everything! I wanted lots of details, a unique train, a dramatic back, a hint of sparkle and princess vibes with a classic and beautiful touch.
When I found Martina Liana Style 1137, I loved the layers of detail and how the dress got more intricate up close. Thanks to this gorgeous gown, I felt gorgeous and special on my wedding day. Carlos was floored seeing me in my wedding dress during our first look!
TELL US MORE ABOUT YOUR WEDDING. WHAT WERE YOUR THEME AND COLORS? HOW DID YOU MAKE YOUR WEDDING PERSONAL TO YOUR LOVE STORY?
We got married in Antigua, Guatemala. My husband was born and raised in Guatemala, and my family, friends and I are travel lovers, so we wanted to do our wedding in a special destination.
We wanted to elevate and honor our closest loved ones who came from around the world to celebrate with us. We started off the wedding day with a Cantonese wedding tea ceremony to honor our families. It’s customary to receive jewelry during this ceremony, so I wore a pair of earrings from my parents as my wedding jewelry.
For our ceremony, we wanted to showcase the beauty of Guatemala, so we chose a historic Catholic cathedral from the 1700s called San José El Viejo. We included a unity ceremony of pouring colored glass beads to signify the joining of families.
All of our flowers were locally sourced to showcase the diverse florals. It happened to be the weekend of a Flower Festival with floral artists from around the country showcasing displays in Antigua, so it was fun to celebrate with the whole city.
Our cocktail hour and reception were at Pensativo House Hotel, the home of a former Guatemalan president. We chose this venue because the terrace offered a stunning view of the three volcanoes that surround Antigua. We showcased a mix of local and international cuisine, like the beloved Lomito steak and black bean soup. We curated a cocktail menu with local Zacapa rum, small-batch tequilas, Asian flavors and New York-inspired drinks—a homage to our favorite city and current home. We danced the night away to Spanish and English classics and enjoyed Guatemalan late-night snacks.
I have two favorite memories from that night. The first is my husband singing our proposal song (Ed Sheeran’s “Perfect”) before our first dance. It was meant to be a surprise, but I asked too many questions during dance practice that he had to tell me about it. Regardless of the spoiled surprise, the moment was extremely sweet and personal and brought tears to my eyes.
My second favorite memory was being able to address and thank each of our guests for coming to celebrate with us, in their native language, as we had a mix of Spanish, Cantonese and English speakers. Because of the language diversity, our guestbooks were Christmas ornaments where our guests could write messages and guestbook phones for audio messages.
Cheers to Sharon and Carlos!
Photos: Daniel Lopez Perez Photography
Bridal Salon: Kleinfeld Bridal
Venue: San José El Viejo
Florist: Fabiana Gonzalez Eventos
Event Planners: Muckay & Nickte Ixcamparij
Cake: Sofia Cobian
Hair: Sharon Gaitan
Makeup: Makeup By Monica
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