Influencer Rachel Love’s Chic Wedding in Antigua, Guatemala

Influencer and model Rachel Love first met Nic Platt at a mutual friend’s party in December 2015. “He caught my eye, and we struck up a conversation; we discovered we had a lot in common,” she remembers. "We both love traveling, trying new foods, and watching movies. As the party continued, we found ourselves gravitating toward each other. By the end of the night, we exchanged phone numbers and made plans to go on a date.” That first date turned into a second, and then a third. Just a few weeks later, they made their relationship official. 

Nic proposed on a weekend getaway in Isla Holbox, Mexico, in 2021. “We decided to take a walk on the beach, and as we walked, I noticed he seemed nervous," Rachel says. "I quickly picked up on how nervous he was all day and felt like something was going to happen...until it didn’t. We spent all day together through dinner, and nothing happened. Suddenly, right at the end of the night, he stopped and turned to face me, telling me how much he loved me and how much I meant to him. Then, he got down on one knee.”  

For their equally tropical wedding at the Jardin Real de Santiago in Guatemala, the Florida-based couple worked with a Miami-based production company who helped translate their vision to a wedding planner and designer in Antigua. “Our vendors came from Florida, Guatemala, Mexico, and California, and we chose them based on the quality of their work and how it aligned with our vision,” Rachel says. One challenge the couple faced with planning? “Meeting with all of the vendors on Zoom since everyone was located all over the world, in different time zones, and spoke different languages.” But in the end, it all came together flawlessly. Their wedding was "fresh, airy, and bright with natural tones, colors, and textures,” Rachel says. “Something I will still love to look at 20 years later.”

Read on to see all the stunning details of their December 3, 2022, wedding day, with planning by Vivianne Brichaux, videography by Ellen DiSorbo, and photography by Stetten Wilson.

Rachel and Nic leaned into a palette of neutral tones and natural textures for wedding decor, letting the beauty of their venue shine. It began with a soft ivory invitation suite, finished with a wax seal and vintage stamps.

“Nic wore a black peak lapel black tuxedo among all of the male guests who wore white dinner jackets,” Rachel describes. “He paired it with brass cufflinks and mother of pearl shirt studs.” The couple’s pup served as flower girl, walking down the aisle in a collar of faux florals.

After trying on a number of wedding gowns—including Monique Lhuillier’s Admire gown from the spring 2021 collection—Rachel let herself sleep on the decision. It worked: “For a few nights in a row, I would wake up in the middle of the night and just think about this dress and it’s gorgeous sleeves,” she remembers. That's how she knew it was the one.

The bride perfected her skin pre-wedding with regular hydrafacials and microneedling by Ana Malvarez, then opted for natural soft glam and a low loose bun on the day of the wedding. “I wanted to look like my best self," she says.

“We wanted to get the nerves out of the way beforehand so we could truly enjoy everything about the wedding itself,” Rachel says of the couple’s first look. “Also, all we wanted to do was hang out with each other. Nic stayed with my dad and me until it was time to drive off to the venue.”

Their 200 guests congregated at a small cottage house that opened into the ceremony space. "The cottage was outfitted with lush greenery and textures, and guests were served Champagne and infused water to enjoy before our arrival,” Rachel says. When they were let into the ceremony space, they found an aisle lined in snapdragons and a custom open floral arch at the altar.

Rachel’s father escorted her down the aisle to Kina Grannis’ rendition of “Can’t Help Falling In Love.”

The couple exchanged personalized vows in a sweet ceremony officiated by a family friend—then sealed it with a romantic kiss. 

“We got all of our pictures out of the way after our first look, so we really enjoyed seeing and hanging out with our guests for our cocktail hour,” the bride remembers. There, they sipped signature espresso martinis named for their dog, Nike. 

The showpiece of Rachel and Nic’s tented reception was a stunning ceiling draped with fluidly curved sheaths of white fabric. This took more than a little effort behind the scenes. “Since it was such a high-standard event, the couple had a very particular design for the reception,” says planner Vivianne Brichaux. “That design implied that we had to remodel the whole venue. Getting the permits and authorization from the owners and regulators was definitely the most challenging part of the planning.” It came together to stunning effect, with tall trees and varying tabletop decor for visual stimulation.

On the menu for the reception? Beef tenderloin encrusted in coffee grounds served with wild rice, and asparagus wrapped with bell peppers. Guests could complete their meal with Mandarin cheesecake for dessert.

“We went nontraditional [in many ways], such as no bridal party, no speeches, and no cake,” Rachel says. They did, however, opt for first dances, twirling as newlyweds then with their parents to “The Way You Look Tonight” by Frank Sinatra and “Dancing in the Moonlight” by King Harvest.

Next came one of the bride’s favorite moments. “We snuck out of our venue and had dinner alone in the cottage,” she shares. "It really gave us time to relax, take everything in, and enjoy each other’s company.” (It also gave them time to eat, which many couples forget or don’t have time to do at their reception!)

After some alone time, the couple returned reinvigorated and ready to party. “We had a live DJ and producer, a great combo that read the crowd well,” Rachel says. They blasted smoke guns and confetti rained down. “We both got on the bar and really enjoyed the last part of the night," she reminisces.

“Wedding planning was stressful, rewarding, exciting, and nerve-wracking all at the same time,” Rachel remembers. “But, don’t stress; everything turns out amazing. Whatever goes wrong, it’ll still be the best day of your life.”