A History-Filled Wedding in Guanajuato, Mexico

In January of 2014, Patricia Guerra and Luis Gonzalez were both at a friend’s party in Manhattan, where she was attending Columbia Graduate School of Journalism and he was in town for an interview. “After an hour of chatting, we realized we were both from the same small town in Mexico, and an hour later, we’d totally hit it off,” says Patty. So much so, in fact, that Patty texted her mom at 3 a.m. to say she’d met the man she was going to marry. Luis had already called his parents to say he'd found the one.

The couple dated for just over two years, commuting back and forth between Boston, New York, D.C., and Pittsburgh, and in October of 2016, they headed to Italy to visit Milan, the Amalfi Coast, Capri, and Venice. One evening in Venice, Luis asked Patty to sit in a secluded courtyard for a picture, but when he handed her the phone to see the result, he was playing a video documenting every milestone of their relationship. “When it was over, I looked down to see Luis on one knee with a gorgeous solitaire,” she recalls.

The couple wanted to get married in Mexico and had a soft spot for the town of Guanajuato. Guanajuato was colonized by the Spanish. “It is an historic mining town, and I found a gorgeous mine on Instagram where you can have weddings,” Patty explains. “It was different from anything we’d seen before, and we loved the story and significance of the place.” From there, they curated an adventure for their 320 guests on April 14, 2018, selecting an 18th-century church with altars decorated in locally sourced gold leaf for the ceremony. Dramatic white flowers, lush greenery, and glowing candles brought the celebration together, and Yessica Cruz was on hand to photograph every detail. “We really wanted to show our gratitude for our family and friends who flew from near and far to join us, as well as for the love and support they’ve provided for us,” says Patty. We can’t think of any better inspiration for a wedding!

The save-the-dates were a set of four custom coasters illustrated with details that represented Guanajuato, so, of course, the weekend kicked off with a party! “One of the coasters had a tequila donkey on it, which was a prominent part of our welcome party," says the bride. "Luis and I love tequila!”

The next day, the bride slipped into her lace Enzoani gown, which she customized with a flowing overskirt. The form-fitting lace gown had a detailed belt and off-the-shoulder sleeves, but the bride felt it was missing a "little bit of drama." The addition of a flowing overskirt gave her two looks in one, and the extra something she’d been seeking.

Patty’s stunning sapphire earrings had belonged to her great-grandmother, while Luis paired his tuxedo with his grandfather’s cuff links.

A vintage convertible, decked out in a dramatic display of roses, lilies, and eucalyptus, was the perfect way for the bride and groom to get around town for photos.

The altar at Templo de San Cayetano is adorned in gold leaf from the local mines, and makes an incredible statement when you walk into the space. “We had flowers on each pew and arrangements at the altar, but stuck to a simple white palette so as not to take away from the stunning church,” says Patty.

The exterior of their reception venue, Mina de Guadalupe, was uplit in warm tones to showcase the historic architecture. Nearby, guests gathered beneath a clear tent filled with candlelight and with floral chandeliers. The couple put as much thought into their table settings as well. “We wrote notes to every one of our guests and placed them on their seats at the reception, thanking them for being a part of our wedding day," says the bride.

Guests sipped carajillo cocktails (a Spanish drink that combines coffee with brandy), whisky, or anisette, as they dined on an indulgent three-course dinner. Roasted figs were served with Iberian ham and mozzarella, alongside baby lettuce with Serrano ham and phyllo-wrapped brie. Dessert included a delicious vanilla wedding cake, as well as caramel ice cream with rich chocolate and honey tuile.

“Every hotel room in Guanajuato was booked by our guests for the weekend of our wedding—the entire town knew about our celebration!” Patty says. “When everyone was all together, filling the dance floor, Luis and I stepped back to take it all in. The moment turned into a memory in the blink of an eye!”