This colonial town is known for its bright and colorful atmosphere as well as a bold and lively culture. A UNESCO World Heritage Site 150 miles north of Mexico City, San Miguel de Allende was named by Travel & Leisure as 2017’s No. 1 city on the planet in their annual World’s Best Awards! And it does not disappoint! With romantic cobblestone roads, baroque Spanish architecture, and many unique ceremony and reception options, it’s no wonder it is quickly becoming a popular choice for couples planning a Mexico destination wedding. A+S fell in love with the romance of this town, and so did we when we photographed their beautiful two-day celebration designed and planned by the talented team at Penzi Weddings.
A+S got ready at two different private villas, had a traditional Catholic ceremony at the Templo de San Francisco in downtown San Miguel de Allende, and celebrated with friends and family at a tented reception in the gardens of Casa Sonjowasi. Each of these different locations offered opportunities to create unique images!
We love to play with shadows and light to create a dramatic image. During the pre-ceremony portion of the day, we asked the bride to walk slowly down the dark stairwell with just a shaft of natural sunlight from the window to illuminate the back of her wedding gown. We envisioned this as a grainy black and white image to accentuate the textures of the wall and delicacy of her veil. We used this same style for some of the groom’s getting ready photos - our favorite is when he is doing up his tie, backlight illuminating his profile and eyes.
Black and white images also really put the emphasis on emotion! This is why it’s often our preference for undirected, real moments during the ceremony. The photojournalistic shot when the couple is walking down the aisle, joyfully smiling with the recognition that they are now husband and wife, is always an image we strive to capture.
Of course, the bold color of San Miguel de Allende is one of the town’s defining characteristics. After the ceremony, we took advantage of the colourful buildings near the reception location as backdrops for some bride and groom portraits. Our favorites were of the couple embracing at a brilliant orange wall. We loved the tropical combination of it with the bright magenta bougainvillea and the deep green palms.
In addition to portrait time after the ceremony, we often try to convince the couple to sneak away for 10 minutes or so during the reception for some night shots. Twilight, when the streetlights are on but the sky is still a deep blue, is one of our favorite times for photography. We were so happy to be able create a nighttime portrait of this couple with San Miguel’s famous landmark, the Gothic church Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel, in the background.
There are so many notable details in this San Miguel de Allende wedding. From the hand-drawn invitations to the blue floor tiles of the church to the mariachis singing at the reception, every detail is unique.
The bride was inspired by the book A Secret Garden, and the design of their party indeed had the air of a fairytale! Green vines growing over stone walls, elegant white draping, and golden urns overflowing with cream and white florals. We love the addition of hanging chandeliers to add extra sparkle to this wedding reception.
Our favorite? The Mexican hand-carved wooden corazon hearts placed on each place setting as a gift for the guests. This is one of the many special details designed by the team at Penzi Weddings to add romance to the couple’s garden reception.
San Miguel de Allende Wedding Vendors
Photographers: Chris+Lynn Photographers Design: Penzi Weddings // Event Planner: Penzi Weddings // Hair & Makeup: Lorena Raza // Wedding Dress: BHLDN // Jewelry: Tiffany & Co // Shoes: Peter Kaiser