Carly & Taylor

The Story

Ever since Taylor proposed to Carly in Antigua Guatemala under the Arco de Santa Catalina, they had dreamt of their destination wedding in the charming colonial town. COVID, however, posed some very challenging obstacles. Due to the border closures, the couple had to cancel and reschedule many of their original wedding plans, like so many other brides planning to get married in 2020. However, Carly was determined not to let her dreams be foiled by the global shutdown, and as soon as Guatemala announced they would be reopening its borders for tourism- just 6 weeks before their wedding date- she reached out to me to photograph her wedding.

My schedule is always full in November. Always. November's temperate weather combined with the start of the holiday season make for an ideal time to have a wedding in Antigua Guatemala. Typically, I am booked out for the month of November up to two years in advance, with both Saturdays and Sundays reserved for weddings. Last-minute availability due to another rescheduled wedding gave me the opportunity to photograph their special day.

*The newly weds celebrating after an intimate ceremony!*

VENUE AND VENDORS

CNPAG canceled reservations for events in 2020 for all of Antigua Guatemala's ruins, including Carly's dream venue, Santa Clara. Nonetheless, her heart was set on ruins for her venue. She searched far and wide for an equally stunning setting, stumbling upon Ruina Santa Rosa.

As an Antigua-based photographer, I am very familiar with many of the town’s wedding venues. To my surprise, I had never heard of Ruina Santa Rosa. As I wasn't familiar with the location, there were many unknowns; but what I did know was that this would be a unique opportunity to capture their special day in a venue that was off the beaten wedding path. The day before the wedding, we had our first in-person meeting on site. I couldn't believe that a place this beautiful had been kept a secret!

Luckily for Carly and Taylor, they were working with some of Guatemala's best wedding vendors, including Bea from Addy Florales. Carly's vision was to keep the wedding decor to a minimum, as to not detract from the beauty of the ruins. Bea took Carly's vision and ran with it, creating an altar with floral arrangements that climbed the sides of the ruin's arches, highlighting and complementing its colonial architecture.

This wedding venue has made its way to the top of my list as one of the most stunning. The space inside of the ruin is cozy and intimate, making it the perfect venue for smaller weddings of between 15-50 people. Additionally, the ruin is accompanied by a house that can be rented for an incredible deal.

THE WEDDING DAYRuina Santa Rosa

*Carly just outside of these undiscovered ruins with her bouquet designed by Addy Florales.*

On the day of the wedding, I arrived early to meet with Carly who was getting ready at the accompanying house with her mother, sisters, and closest friends. We photographed at the house until Taylor and his friends and family arrived. The guests were welcomed with cocktails, provided by Cafe No Se, in the grass- filled garden in front of the ruins. As Carly slipped into her dress, her friends and family took their seats inside of the ruin where the ceremony was set to take place. As she entered the ruin and walked down the aisle with her two sisters by her side, I could sense a special energy and excitement in the air as their dreams were becoming a reality right before their eyes. The ceremony, officiated by Taylor's brother, was filled with lots of tears and laughter. The couple's sister-in-law played a song she wrote for them on an acoustic guitar, and Carly and Taylor read their vows to each other from leather bound journals. I would be lying if I said I didn't tear up while looking through my viewfinder!

After the ceremony the couple celebrated with a champagne tree. At the top were Carly's late grandparent's Golden 50th Anniversary champagne glasses, which Carly and Taylor filled and toasted to their guests and to one another for the first time as husband and wife. The friends and family enjoyed cocktails and hors d'oeuvres while I snuck the newlyweds off for photographs under the Arco de Santa Catalina, the place where their wedding journey began. After a delicious dinner prepared by chef Jose Carlos Payeras of Por Que No? Cafe, the guests danced the night away under the stars inside the candlelit ruins.

Keep scrolling to see photographs from this beautiful and intimate wedding in Antigua Guatemala!