1/72We wanted our invitation suite to capture the colors and essence of Colombia as well as represent us. Happy Menocal first started with our crest and that set the tone for everything. It included flowers representing me, and fruit representing Brian’s favorite thing about Colombia. Different elements of the crest were painted and carried through all our printed material leading up to and during our wedding week.
2/72We wanted bands that were classic and timeless. Coady Culha designed a 14k white gold men’s 6mm half-round band for Brian, and Cindy Hawkins designed my classic platinum eternity band with round brilliant diamonds.
3/72Stealing a kiss on the winding steps of the Hotel Charleston Santa Teresa.
4/72Brian’s favorite thing about Colombia are the many different fresh fruits! So we made sure they were everywhere! We wanted the rehearsal dinner decor to feel super tropical and fun to kick off all the week’s festivities! Matthew Robbins and Luis Otoya of RobbinsOtoya designed tables featuring the best of local ingredients and crafts. The centerpieces were filled with branches of fresh green mangos and accents of bougainvillea, which grows from the balconies in the old city. Gorgeous local fruits were artfully placed on every table with flickering candlelight to add a little more of that dreamy, tropical magic. The plates, woven place mats, and linens were all locally sourced and made in Colombia.
5/72As people entered the dinner in the Colonial courtyard, they were met by waiters holding cocktails as well as a beautiful display made with local foliage and fruits. RobbinsOtoya created the escort card display with a variety of tropical leaves featuring hand-calligraphy by Joanne Day Calligraphy.
6/72Brian’s family is known for hosting the best dinners, and this was certainly one of them! The Colonial courtyard at the Hotel Charleston Santa Teresa was breathtaking with its hanging vines and palm trees. It was the perfect intimate space for our alfresco dinner by Harry Sasson, and the evening’s speeches.
7/72On our way to the welcome party, my girlfriends and I posed for a photo in the joyful and colorful streets of Cartagena!
8/72RobbinsOtoya transformed the Capilla into the most magical space. Playa Producciones added the perfect glow to the party with lighting that enhanced the architecture and created a dreamy and intimate vibe. It was a tropical garden paradise with lanterns and vines hanging from the ceiling. The original altar of the Capilla was covered in candles and tropical vines all framing a local Son Cubano band welcoming all our guests to fiesta!
9/72Dancing cheek to cheek till morning . . .
10/72Picture of paradise! Friday morning we headed on boats to the islands for an island party on Isla Baru. We were greeted by waiters holding cold cervezas, mojitos, and an incredible ceviche spread by Evento & Cocina. We danced, swam, and lounged. It was the perfect day!
11/72The beautiful palenqueras welcomed our guests in their traditional outfits, with fruits on their heads.
12/72On my tippy toes sneaking a kiss with my husband-to-be!
13/72My beautiful girlfriends looking adorable in colorful hats made by Colombian artisans. We gave them to all our guests, for a little protection from the strong sun!
14/72Beautiful besties lounging on the colorful Colombian hammocks found throughout the property.
15/72Our Romeo and Juliet moment! Friday night we hosted a Serenata at Casa Agua. The Serenata is a Colombian tradition in which the groom serenades the bride. Martha Medeiros helped me pick the perfect flirty lace dress from her collectsion and Cynthia Smith of Cynthia Cook Brides helped me pair it with my black Rebecca de Ravenel earrings and red Gianvito Rossi heels. Brian serenaded me and then came up to give me a kiss—our friends and family were below cheering with glasses of prosecco!
16/72My stunning ivory French lace Carolina Herrera wedding gown stealing the show at Hotel Agua!
17/72My French blue Mrs. Box that held my round brilliant three-stone engagement ring by Cindy Hawkins, Manolo Blahnik slingbacks, and my grandmother’s rosary made for the perfect something blue, something new, something borrowed!
18/72I’m lucky to have such a talented friend! My honor attendant and dear friend Dominique Porter, of The Glad Hours, created this beautiful bespoke French blue A-line silk charmeuse slip with hand-beaded lace panels. I felt so beautiful in it while getting ready!
19/72Cindy Hawkins worked with me to create my dream wedding earrings!
20/72I wanted my bridesmaids to feel beautiful and comfortable while getting ready for the wedding. My friends at Equipment created these beautiful personalized silk pajama sets with their initials on their collars!
21/72Yunotme created these red silk floral headpieces that I later gifted to my bridesmaids as a late-night wedding accessory.
22/72My flower girl Silvana, in her lace bespoke Isolda dress and Oscar de la Renta ballet flats, brought so much joy to the morning as she danced around the house!
23/72Never be afraid of a pop of color! My red Oscar de la Renta clutch that I carried at all my wedding events, red Gianvito Rossi heels for the wedding’s late-night dancing, and my bespoke Magnetic Midnight headpiece.
24/72My mom is half Brazilian. As a thank-you for everything she did for me, I had her favorite Brazilian brand, Isolda, create a bespoke dress for her. She looked radiant!
25/72Finishing touches! My beautiful maid of honor, wearing a powder blue Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini dress, helping me put on my lace Carolina Herrera cathedral-length veil.
26/72Brian’s accessories consisted of custom Belgian loafers, a Charvet tie, and his Coady Culha wedding band.
27/72Groomsmen looking handsome as ever on the stairs of the Hotel Charleston Santa Teresa! Brian and a few of the groomsmen wore Paul Smith suits and YSL button-downs. Brian gifted all his groomsmen their Charvet green knit ties.
28/72I fell in love with my dress the moment I saw the train with its subtle and beautiful lace detailing. I wanted to have unfussy hair and natural makeup. Like every bride, I wanted to look like the best version of myself. Thanks to our dream beauty team, Kelsey Gustovich and Jess Brown, I felt beautiful the entire week, especially on my wedding day!
29/72One of my favorite things about Brian are his dimples! Loved this special moment we shared while taking our photos.
30/72Picture-perfect backgrounds all over the streets of Cartagena! My bouquet featured a mix of local ferns and tropical garden textures with fragrant Colombian garden roses.
31/72Posing with my cousins and junior bridesmaids with our gorgeous lush green bouquets that Matthew designed. Each bouquet featured a variety of local ferns, foliage, and textures. The stems were tied with a locally made lace ribbon Matthew sourced in Cartagena.
32/72My favorite Colombian princess, Silvanita, getting ready to lead me down the aisle. Her green floral crown was the perfect complement to all the ferns and textures featured in the ceremony.
33/72This is one of my favorite moments! As we were all taking our photos, a few of the groomsmen bought cold cervezas for the group to enjoy and to help us cool down!
34/72Going to the chapel!
35/72Silvanita stealing the show as she walked down the candlelit aisle filled with lush, cascading bouquets of fern and tropical vines.
36/72Daddy’s little girl! Holding my dad’s arm as he walked me down the aisle. He is looking handsome as ever in his Ermenegildo Zegna suit and Salvatore Ferragamo tie I gifted him as a thank-you.
37/72My beautiful bridesmaids in different hues of blues and mints styled by Cynthia Smith.
38/72This was a special moment surrounded by candles as we signed our marriage license with our maid of honor and best man.
39/72The ring bearer and flower girl looking like two little angels.
40/72Giggling at the altar with my handsome husband!
41/72The Iglesia Santo Domingo looked magical with the endless greenery and candles! Matthew and Luis kept the church decor focused on abundant green foliage with large masses of white delphinium and ferns at the altar.
42/72Checking out my wedding band and listening to the beautiful choir behind us!
43/72Husband and wife!
44/72We were so overjoyed that we stole a kiss as we walked down the aisle!
45/72As we walked out of the church we were met by cheers from the local crowd as well as the musicians!
46/72I love the detail in the dancers’ white traditional dresses and the way their skirts swing down the streets!
47/72The moment we walked out of the church the party started! Here, dancing through the streets of Cartagena with our flower girl and our loved ones behind us!
48/72Our incredible menus by Happy Menocal! We wanted them to have Spanish and English elements.
49/72RobbinsOtoya created romantic tables with a tropical edge. French blue linen runners and napkins provided the perfect backdrop for beautifully colored Colombian garden roses and lush greenery. The blue water glass was a perfect added pop of color to the place settings.
50/72RobbinsOtoya transformed the existing bar with lush vines and tropical greenery. This provided a great centerpiece for the party and the space.
51/72We wanted floral elements everywhere! Matthew and Luis used beautiful hand-painted paper flowers to hold each of the escort cards! The cards featured hand-calligraphy and the flowers were a perfect welcome gift as each guest arrived to find their table.
52/72Michelle fanning herself off with the custom fans RobbinsOtoya designed especially for our guests and my bridesmaid Alexandra looking beautiful in Tome with their handsome dates enjoying the cocktail hour!
53/72The moment we picked out our paper flowers and escort cards from the lush wall of greenery! So excited mine said Mrs. Laks!
54/72Groomsmen toasting!
55/72I wanted the night to feel like an intimate dinner party! Our dinner under the stars was so magical with the hanging Edison bulbs and hundreds of lush palm trees surrounding the party.
56/72Cartagena looking magical that night! The decor was inspired by the beauty of the old city with a mix of European romance.
57/72We wanted to capture the Colonial side of Cartagena in the decor for this night. The dance floor was inspired by Spanish tiles you might find in many of the homes in Cartagena.
58/72Our escort cards were a beautiful addition to the decor of the dinner tables. It was fun to see guests adding the paper flowers to their place settings, jackets, and hair throughout the night. The contrast of the vibrant and rosy pink tones was so perfect against the French blue linens.
59/72Dancing in the moonlight to “What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong.
60/72Salud!
61/72The catering team from Evento & Cocina brought floral elements into our food as well. Ahi tuna in a bed of wild flowers—it was both beautiful and delicious!
62/72As Brian was saying his speech, we were interrupted by one of two sets of surprise fireworks. We were ecstatic—it was the best surprise from his family!
63/72Enjoying the other fireworks show with Brian, my mom, and my dad as we thanked them for such a touching speech!
64/72The night was filled with many surprises!
65/72Dinner with our best friends was the best!
66/72We took advantage of the fireworks and cut the cake right away. It was truly magical!
67/72I changed into my lace Isolda dress to dance with my dad. We danced to our song, “Brown Eyed Girl,” and brought everyone on the dance floor! Having the best time dancing here with my brother, dad, and new sister!
68/72My beautiful mother has the best moves! She looked stunning in her Monique Lhuillier gown, and was having the best time with her girlfriends!
69/72Bridesmaids toasting on the dance floor with aguardiente shots, and looking beautiful in their red party headpieces!
70/72My cousin on the dance floor showing how it’s done . . . Colombian-style!
71/72Late in the night we surprised everyone with the “hora loca”!
72/72Congo line through the party with the “hora loca” dancers—we danced until the sun came up!
