An epic Wedding at Instituto Allende, Theresa + Nate

One thing I really love about my job is connecting with couples who may come from anywhere in the world and yet we still laugh and see eye to eye. Theresa and Nate are one of those couples who, in addition to being perfect for each other, they were a delight to photograph.

They enjoyed every second of this beautiful experience of having a multi-day destination wedding in San Miguel de Allende. From their engagement shoot the previous year all the way through to the wedding weekend, it was a huge joy for me to share in everything they were doing.

The Callejoneada and The Night Before

The celebration began with a traditional “Callejoneada” in the park—a must-have at any authentic wedding in San Miguel de Allende—and proved to be a wonderful and colorful experience for all the guests. After dancing to the rhythms of the Mariachi and the Mojigangas, a welcome party continued on the beautiful terrace of Casa 1810, with its epic view of the Parroquia, where people enjoyed a Mexican dinner, drinks and saxophone music as night fell.

The Wedding Day, Instituto Allende

The next morning the bride and groom got ready at Casa Cien, followed by a very touching first look and a photo session. Later, we headed to the historic Instituto Allende, where just before sunset, a beautiful reception full of flowers and cocktails awaited the guests for the wedding ceremony in the venue’s main courtyard.

I can add that this ceremony was one of the most beautiful I’ve ever witnessed at this location, where the setting itself served as the backdrop. The central fountain was beautifully adorned with wild floral arrangements that seemed to spring from the stone and water, becoming part of the fountain itself. A warm, beautiful, and creative color palette banished the winter and transformed this wedding into a timeless, dreamlike setting. Nate shed tears as the beautiful Theresa walked toward him in her stunning Martina Liana gown, in which she looked like a princess.

It was a very heartfelt and cheerful ceremony, followed by a cocktail on the terrace with a splendid view of San Miguel. Once again, it’s worth mentioning both the flawless planning by Monserrat Guerrero’s team and the exquisite decorations by Maye Cordova and her incredibly talented daughter Valeria—who, I must say, always goes far beyond simple wedding decorations to create a special world tailored to that day and each couple.

The reception began to light up with the twinkling candles on the tables and the setting sun and the bride and groom made their epic entrance, which culminated in fireworks behind the church—a lovely coincidence.

After dinner, an incredible dessert table delighted everyone. Theresa stunned us with a sexy second bridal look, just before they had their first dance as husband and wife and a shower of paper butterflies fell from the sky to celebrate them and open the dance floor. And boy, how they danced!

A face-painting station run by Dani Pal decorated everyone’s faces, and giant, colorful Alebrijes livened up the party alongside the live musician who had been performing since the ceremony.

Honestly, this was one of the most epic parties I’ve ever photographed—no one stayed seated and everyone had the time of their lives.

The Morning After

The next day we went back to Casa Cien, where the newlyweds—as fresh as the morning—were already waiting for everyone for an after-party by the pool. They had a bar set up and one of their friends was the DJ. A mix of Mexican food and a Peruvian ceviche bar (in honor of Nate’s family) provided the delightful food for the day and everyone spent time together in a much more relaxed yet still very joyful atmosphere.

Each of the events was documented using a mix of digital and analog photography, with formats such as 35mm, 120mm, and Polaroid film—an incredibly fun and versatile experience that we, as photographers, thoroughly loved creating.

These two inspired me so much, and I’m now sharing their beautiful wedding in the hope that it will inspire other couples to embrace and cherish their love in their own unique way.