What afternoon would be complete without a total fairy tale shot by the fabulous Corbin Gurkin? These Antigua nuptials are the definition of dream wedding where 17th century ruins played backdrop and the coolest Guatemalan traditions were lovingly woven into this destination affair. Talk about one heck of a gorgeous city. See all the dreamy details in the gallery.
see the rest of this destination beauty here!
James and I love to travel. He proposed to me in Eze, a little medieval village on the French Rivera. So we knew we wanted a destination wedding. We were also working with a limited budget and although we wanted a small intimate group, we still wanted the location to be close enough that flight times or costs would not inhibit our guests. We also wanted it to be a place that would be a real change, an adventure to a place our friends and family might not otherwise venture. Our search first began with Mexico but the places were either too expensive or americanized. Then it was Nicaragua. However, the logistics proved a little too daunting and the options were very limited. Finally, while randomly surfing the Internet I stumbled upon the UNSECO World Heritage Site of Antigua Guatemala. The exquisite Spanish colonial architecture of this little town nestled in a beautiful valley beneath three volcanoes took my breath away. The next thing you know we had booked our trip for, of all times, Semana Santa (Easter/holy week).
James and I spent the week enjoying the festival and the city. The colorful alfombras that each house lovingly creates for the procession are something to be seen at least once in your life (we had one created at the entrance of our reception). In a few short days we met many friends who have been close to us ever since. One very special friend, Anne Thornton, threw our rehearsal dinner for us at her wonderful home in Antigua. We spent the summer before our wedding there planning, studying Spanish, and making even more friends. It has become our second home. We can not wait to go back for our first anniversary.
Photography: Corbin Gurkin Photography / Venue: Casa Blancas and San Jose El Viejo / Wedding Planner: Catherine Doctor / Florals: Edgar Chay / Caterer: Hotel Grand Tikal Futura / Welcome Package: D.I.Y by the bride
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What a stunning location!
xo
Love, love, love!! Especially the magnificent building and the cute globe/ring image.
What a stunning bride. I adore her ring? Any info on the store name where it was purchased???
Wow! That location is amazing!
What an exquisite and elegant wedding.
Beautiful wedding, love the image of the diamond engagement ring on top of the world.
How beautiful and romantic! I love destination weddings...gets me even MORE excited for my own down in Mexico in less than 6 weeks! :)
Wendy's gorgeous ring was made by Jon Cole in Charlotte, NC. She designed it with him to look like an estate piece and I just LOVED photographing it! Here's the site: http://www.joncoledesign.com
How beautiful!
I'd love to know where the amazing headpiece and veil are from if you don't mind sharing.
Love the extra long candles. Does anyone know where I can buy them?
I love that reception shot; just beautiful. Really goes to show that you don't need huge centerpieces to have a beautiful reception. Especially when you have a venue as amazing as this one.
Absolutely stunning! This looks like a spread in a magazine... I love the guest bags and the palm branches!!
Gorgeous wedding. I was struck by the beautiful look of the bride, that ring!, and the elegant reception table.
Outstanding venue!
unbelievable images and setting. wonderful work by Corbin!!!!
wow, wow, wow! what a fantabulous location! The shot of the table was breathtaking! Quite fit for a King and Queen!!
Sooooo beautiful!!!!!!
what a stunning venue!
I stayed in a hotel just down the street from this gorgeous venue in Antigua a few years back and remember thinking it would make the most perfect wedding venue- how surprised I was to see it here! So beautiful!
Is there any chance of food photos? Would love to know if she served traditional Guatemalan cuisine. One of my favorite places in the world.
I love this dress! Please let me know where you purchased it or the designer.
Blessings for a beautiful life together.
Wow! It is amazing of your wedding! so wonderful! love the image of the diamond engagement ring on top of the world.
stunning images
Amazing location! Gorgeous!
Really beautiful wedding! Amazing location, stunning bride, just perfect.Is there any chance to se the photos of food?
Beautiful! I adore the venue x Merry Christmas xx
Wow, the setting for this wedding is simply awe inspiring, I am IN LOVE with it!!! The tapered candles are so beautiful!!!!!!!!!
Gorgeous! Antigua is stunning.
I have been on an endless quest for a headpiece and veil like Wendy's. I would be so grateful for any information about where it was purchased!
This is absolutely breathtaking. Love the location; the images are stunning.
I am dying over the beauty of this wedding!
Would love also information on the head piece!
Stunning!
Joyce Goeppinger
Colorado
Wendy's amazing headpiece was actually an antique and the same one warn by her mother at her wedding. It's called a Juliet cap and I've seen similar ones on etsy or eBay. It really was stunning!
Truly a remarkable location
Love her dress and ring....where is her dress from?!?!
Wow!!! I just found out today that my wedding was posted on Style Me Pretty. How exciting as I adore this website, the ideas it provides, and it brought me to Corbin. Corbin was an absolute dream to have as a photographer for our wedding. I wish words could describe how amazing she truly is as a person and a photographer.
Thank you all for the complements. We had a wonderful wedding and I treasure the memories we created. A lot of you had a few questions, which Corbin has answered some (thanks!:) but I will also respond below:
The Ring- The ring was based off a 1910 ring I had seen in San Fran. Jon Cole in Charlotte NC did a phenomenal job creating the ring for us.
The Veil- I was lucky enough to wear the veil my mother worn at her own wedding to my father. Not only was it beautiful but it was so meaningful. My mother had to dye it with tea to match my dress. Corbin is right that it is a Juliet Cap (big style in the 1970s) and you might be able to find something like it on Ebay or get one made. If you find someone willing to make the veil and want measurements or additional pictures please let me know.
The Candles- They were made by a small candle shop in Antigua. Sorry! :) I doubt they deliver.
The Dress- I absolutely loved my dress and couldn't have found anything more perfect. To be honest, I was shopping at Belks (a department store in the South) for clothes. This dress was on the sale rack for 75.00 and it was perfect!
The Food- We did do traditional food throughout our events. For our rehearsal dinner at our friend Anne's house we did pepian. For our wedding dinner we had a traditional squash soup. Our cocktail party had some Guatemalan apps and for our brunch the traditional breakfast! Corbin took amazing pictures of the food.
I am late in responding but if anyone has any additional questions I am more than happy to respond. And if you ever get the chance to go to Guatemala or Antigua you must!
Wendy,
I'm planning my wedding in Antigua too. Would love to get some referrals or point of conacts in Guatemala that helped you put the wedding together.
thanks,
Nancy
My mom's co-worker recommended this venue and I must say, I am intrigued. It's so incredibly charming.
I would also appreciate any referrals or contacts that you like and trust.
Congratulations on a beautiful wedding and best wishes for a lovely life.
Kristiaan
kristiaan@eyewonderphotography.com
Nancy- Please feel free to message me on Facebook and I will try to help you in anyway I can (Wendy Strickland Charlotte NC). Planning a wedding in Antigua can be a challenge but one that is well worth it :)
Kristiaan- Were you looking for contacts/referrals in Antigua? If so please feel free to us the contact information above. Thank you very much for your best wishes.
Hi Wendy! What a fantastic wedding! I got engaged over the holidays in Antigua and my fiance and I have decided to get married there also!
Did you use a wedding planner? If so, would you mind recommending? I'm in the process of starting to plan the wedding and it seems that it might be a bit of a challenge. Especially because I would like to have an english speaking priest for the ceremony and I'm not sure how easy that will be to find.
Any suggestions or recommendations would be highly appreciated!
Maria,
That is so exciting!!!!!! Congratulations!!!! More than happy to help out. Please message me on Facebook and I will try to help you in anyway I can (Wendy Strickland Charlotte NC). (I have two FB pages - the one you want is my non-teacher page with the picture of the cute little boy, my nephew) Planning a wedding in Antigua can be a challenge but one that is well worth it :)
wow...sooo deserved this! afterward he explained: "I'm gonna love the scent of confidence on my own tuxedo tonight when I grapple the wife". Gotta love him. In case you haven't seen Sherlock Holmes, SEE IT! He's pure genious...and gorgeousness!
I loved planning Wendy and James wedding. I was meeting with a couple just this morning who found this web site, loved Wendy & James' images and then found me. My company is called 14 Degrees North Event Planning & Destination Weddings, but I do not advertise and have no web site; only word of mouth. I take on about 5-6 destination weddings a year in the best months for Antigua (Nov. to Feb.). This weekend's wedding for a darling NY couple will be my 25th in 6 years! This one will be at the Santa Clara convent. Claudia Cuevas is the woman who makes the tall, ivory tapers. Yes, they are made in Antigua, all handmade; secret beeswax based recipe from 1851. She does not ship the candles, but a few brides have actually convinced me ship to them in the US via DHL or Fed Ex in wooden boxes.
what an awesome wedding Catherine Docter! My daughter and her fiance are planning a Antigua wedding for 2012. How would they get a hold of you to talk to you about possibly planning their wedding?
I would also like to get in touch with the wedding planner Catherine Doctor too, as we would like to suggest she comes to look at our rental property as not only a place for wedding couples and their family and friends to stay but also to hold the ceremony or pre/post-wedding party in the beautiful courtyard with swimming pool.
Thank you.
Where was the ceremony? Casa Blancas isn't coming up on the internet?