I should start this post by saying that from the moment I met Lauren in person I thought to myself, wow, this woman will make a beautiful bride, and the energy and kindness of her and her mother Kathy, really got to me and made me get even more excited to be part of their special day. When the wedding weekend finally arrived and I saw Nick, who greeted me with a big hug and smile, I thought, these two are perfect for each other.
We first got together to take the pre-wedding portraits in town. It was a truly beautiful session, photographed with a mix of digital and 35mm film, which you can see here.
The party began on the second day (though these two probably brought the party with them from California). The rooftop of the Casa 1810 Parque hotel, with its beautiful view of the Parroquia of San Miguel, was the setting for welcoming the couple’s loved ones and hosting a lovely rehearsal dinner at sunset which ended with laughter, tears, hugs, and the biggest tequila shots I’ve ever seen.
On the next day, the wedding began early with Lauren getting ready at the hotel, where she dazzled her whirlwind of friends with her divine vintage Italian wedding dress and her whole bridal glow.
And then came the first look, when Nick would see the stunning Lauren and yes, the excitement was at its peak. We had a few minutes for photos after, before heading to the Instituto Allende, where the ceremony would take place. When we arrived, I could really see everything Lauren had dreamed of for this day. Color everywhere, the bridesmaids matched the pink, red, and orange flowers that decorated everything around them and the special beauty of this place, so beloved by Lauren and her family’s history. A magnificent floral arch decorated the center and backdrop of the ceremony, as did the fountain in the main patio, and all this lush greenery remained the star of the show as these two tied the knot.
There were quite a few favorite moments for me during the day, and one of them was when Lauren walked down the aisle to Nick, hand in hand with her powerful mother Kathy. I couldn’t help but shed a tear of emotion, as it probably did for everyone else. After a very emotional and fun ceremony officiated by one of their closest friends, the mojigangas danced, the mariachi played, and the burrito spread his love everywhere with tequila and mezcal, just like a good Mexican wedding.
The reception on the terrace with that immaculate view and a sky full of golden stars was magical, and as I said, these two brought a party with them at all times, their presence filled everyone with joy, and that’s how the rest of the reception and party went. Dinner was served, speeches were made, and then came their first dance as husband and wife to the rhythm of Queen, something that, as Lauren mentioned, felt like them: unconventional, full of personality. Another great moment was seeing them dance with their respective mothers, which later turned into a dance floor full of girls and quickly became wild fun with grandma on the dance floor.
A memorable highlight was Lauren’s second outfit change, with her hair down and a silver mini dress fit for a dancing queen. Everyone went wild, in the best sense of the word, and the night ended with Nick at the microphone surprising everyone who was going along with his improv and dying of laughter by his side. A great night, out of the ordinary, and I really loved seeing how everyone enjoyed themselves to the fullest and celebrated Lauren and Nick in the best way possible, without stress, without delays, pure love.
This beautiful wedding was documented using a combination of formats: digital, 35mm, 120mm, Polaroid, and 3D film.
3D Film + Associate Photographer: Nahuel Aseff
Wedding Venue: Instituto Allende
Rehearsal Dinner Venue: Casa 1810 Parque
MUA: Dani Pal
DJ: Voltron