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“Francisco and I met in Boston whereas I used to be a freshman at Northeastern College, and he was a senior. Regardless of having mutual mates again residence in Venezuela, our paths had by no means crossed,” tech chief of employees Alexandra Pueyo Linares shares as she remembers the possibility second she met her husband. She was standing in line on a freezing winter evening in 2018 when she observed Francisco López Pietri, an leisure skilled at Amazon Prime Video. “Though I acknowledged one among his mates and exchanged greetings, Francisco and I weren’t launched. Nevertheless, we stored taking a look at one another all through the evening,” Pueyo Linares shares. “As my mates and I made a decision to go away because of the chilly, we obtained into an Uber, and simply earlier than it drove off, I impulsively blew a kiss to Francisco as our eyes met by means of the window. It was uncharacteristically daring of me, however one thing inside urged me to do it. Once we have been lastly launched weeks later, we clicked immediately.”
Only a week into courting, the couple met sudden obstacles. “I felt an instantaneous connection to him, however little did we all know that our relationship would quickly face a big problem. Per week after we began courting in Could 2018, Francisco was identified with most cancers. This tough chapter introduced us nearer and deepened our bond in methods we hadn’t imagined,” Pueyo Linares explains. “Regardless of the challenges, we glance again on these days as a time once we celebrated life and related on a profound degree. In the present day, Francisco has been cancer-free for 5 years. We have been collectively for six, and we now reside in Miami with our beloved son, our canine Obi Juan.”
In June 2023, the couple had a visit deliberate to go to their households in Venezuela on the Canaima Nationwide Park. “It was purely a coincidence that the journey coincided with our five-year anniversary and my birthday—it was merely the one weekend everybody may make it,” Pueyo Linares says. “Throughout these occasions, the concept of a proposal did not even cross my thoughts. I wasn’t in a rush and knew it might occur when the time was proper, however on the ultimate day of our journey, throughout a go to to a panoramic waterfall within the sacred Indigenous caves of Kavac, Francisco proposed. I used to be utterly caught off guard and totally thrilled. The shock proposal—surrounded by my household in probably the most stunning locations on Earth—made the second much more extraordinary and unforgettable.”
The couple then determined upon a marriage in Yaracuy, Venezuela, in February 2024 at a sprawling cocoa ranch constructed by López Pietri’s grandmother half a century in the past to have a good time their love amongst household and mates. Each element, from the décor and the costume code to the delicacies, was infused with their shared Yaracuyan traditions.
“The welcome occasion was held at La Antigua Misión, a stupendous colonial resort the place a lot of our visitors stayed. It was a white social gathering, and I wore a Zimmermann outfit that blended completely with the setting—a selection I made to enhance the venue’s ambiance. Francisco wore a shocking blue guayabera.”
“The occasion featured an open bar, buffet-style eating, reside native music, and a DJ. Though we needed to finish the social gathering at 1:00 a.m. to make sure everybody, together with ourselves, was well-rested for the ceremony the subsequent day, it was an extremely enjoyable night. We have been thrilled that the majority of our visitors arrived on Friday, even those that traveled from completely different nations and hadn’t been to Venezuela in years. It was a heartwarming reunion with a lot of my highschool family and friends members who hadn’t visited the nation in a very long time.”
“Preparing was a peaceful and particular time, shared principally with my mother. I selected to not have my 25 bridesmaids prepare with me, as I wished these moments to be intimate with my mother, as I’m an solely little one, and he or she is principally my every thing. Though we ended up operating a bit late, the time spent with my mother was treasured, and her presence calmed me down throughout these closing emotional moments earlier than the ceremony.”
“The costume I wore whereas preparing was a stupendous white linen piece gifted by Patricia Pietri, Francisco’s cousin who additionally designed all of the bridesmaids’ attire and the groomsmen’s shirts. The morning was emotional, particularly once I was given a small medal with a photograph of one among my expensive mates who handed away two years in the past. It was connected to my bouquet, and I could not assist however shed some tears.”
“For the ceremony, Francisco wore a tailored elegant liqui liqui—a nod to Venezuelan sartorial heritage.”
“I wore the Anika robe by designer Danielle Frankel. I did not strive many attire on, truly. My first bridal appointment was in Miami at a boutique referred to as Ever After. I already had Danielle Frankel in my thoughts, and as quickly as I attempted the Anika robe, I simply knew. I later went to her atelier in NYC with my mother-in-law for the complete DF expertise, and there, I confirmed this was my costume. As for jewellery, I stored it minimal, carrying solely my rings and a pair of classic earrings lent to me by my mother-in-law.”
“Essentially the most memorable second from our marriage ceremony day was, undoubtedly, the ceremony itself, which came about on the Resort Antigua Misión, the place most of our visitors stayed and and the place the welcome occasion came about. Surrounded by towering royal palm timber, we discovered ourselves immersed in an ethereal cathedral formed by nature itself. Native wildlife joined us—with monkeys swinging by means of the branches, unique birds hovering overhead, and majestic peacocks including their splendor to the scene.”
“Although we met in Boston and constructed our relationship in the US, there was by no means any doubt that we’d get married in Venezuela, the place we have been each born and raised. We wished a location that was really particular, untouched, and surrounded by nature—away from the bustling metropolis. We selected Hacienda Guáquira in Yaracuy, a state three hours from Caracas. This sprawling cocoa ranch, constructed by Francisco’s grandmother half a century in the past, holds a particular place in his coronary heart, crammed with enchanting reminiscences from his childhood.”
Company arriving for the ceremony.
“Our wedding-party bridesmaids and groomsmen [were] adorned in customized Costaiia items that have been designed by nobody else than Francisco’s gifted and beloved cousin, Patricia Pietri. These clothes additionally paid homage to each La Guáquira and the wealthy cultural material of Venezuela, as this has at all times been Patricia’s North Star as nicely with Costaiia. Although 25 bridesmaids appears like loads, every one among them is extremely particular to me, and having them with me on that day was so essential to me.”
“The true magic unfolded when the band unveiled a music my husband had penned six years prior—a heartfelt tribute to our journey by means of adversity and the unyielding love that certain us collectively. His unfinished melody discovered its completion that day, resonating with the depth of our shared experiences and the promise of without end. Then, Francisco stunned me once more with a soul-stirring speech, weaving phrases of affection and devotion that moved us all to tears.”
“Past the aesthetic magnificence and delights, our marriage ceremony was a testomony to our love story—a journey that transcended obstacles since day one.”
“[Our wedding] was a celebration of unity, resilience, and the facility of affection to collect so many cherished individuals in such a particular place.”
“Our marriage ceremony invites have been notably particular as a result of they have been a collaborative effort with my mother-in-law, who owns a famend paper agency in Venezuela, Papelería Papieri. With over 30 years within the enterprise, she’s the main supplier of invites and stationery within the nation. Collectively, the three of us designed invites that have been timeless and stylish but uniquely ours. We included watercolors depicting numerous features of Hacienda Guáquira, together with the primary home the place the reception was held. We additionally included a map of the placement and close by lodges, all wrapped in a stupendous watercolor-painted wrapper that includes Yaracuyan flowers and vegetation. Our monogram—combining the initials L and P for López and Pueyo—cleverly served because the ‘and’ in ‘Alexandra and Francisco.’ The consequence was a very stunning and significant invitation.”
“From the start, we envisioned a marriage that may replicate our creativity and cultural satisfaction. It was a celebration that honored our roots whereas embracing the great thing about nature and the heat of our closest household and mates, a lot of whom had by no means set foot in Venezuela. We wished a celebration that was not nearly saying ‘I do,’ however about weaving a tapestry of reminiscences rooted deeply in our heritage and shared experiences.”
“As our visitors gathered amid the luxurious environment of Hacienda Guáquira, they have been enveloped in an environment of magic and nostalgia.”
The couple and visitors arriving on the reception.
“The air was crammed with the aromas of Yaracuyan dishes—every plate a masterpiece crafted with love and care—with flavors that evoked cherished reminiscences of shared meals and familial bonds. There is no formal sit-down dinner throughout the reception. As an alternative, a buffet opens at a sure level, and visitors can eat at any time when they like. From the second visitors arrive on the reception, they’re handled to canapés, numerous meals stations together with conventional Venezuelan dishes, and bars that stay open all through the night.”
The couple celebrating with household and mates on the marriage ceremony reception.
“Since Hacienda Guáquira is such a stupendous place, we did not really want lots of décor. Flowers have been all sourced from locals in Yaracuy. We wished every thing to really feel extraordinarily natural however elegant.”
“In the end, we actually wished our visitors to have one of the best time and to understand the great thing about Hacienda Guáquira. After the primary dance, the dance ground was open, and everybody actually danced the evening away.”
“A novel characteristic of Venezuelan weddings is the ‘loopy hour,’ a convention additionally frequent in different elements of Latin America and Spain. Throughout this time—late into the evening however not fairly on the finish—social gathering props are handed out, and traditional songs are performed. It is an extremely enjoyable a part of the night, with everybody donning props and taking pictures.
“For our marriage ceremony, we wished to focus on Venezuelan tradition, so as a substitute of the standard glow sticks and glasses, we sourced conventional Venezuelan objects. The spotlight was the masks from a Yaracuyan custom referred to as ‘los diablos danzantes de Nirgua,’ a colourful and full of life customized. We additionally handed out sombreros llaneros, conventional hats from the Venezuelan plains, and different regional headpieces. So as to add to the enjoyable, we had a percussion group carry out throughout the loopy hour, creating an electrical ambiance that was each stunning and culturally wealthy. We danced till 7 a.m. when our marriage ceremony day was formally over.”
Photographers: Monika Frias and Silvia Sanchez
Videographers: Everlasting Motion pictures and J. Leo Weddings
Marriage ceremony Costume Designer: Danielle Frankel
Bridesmaid Costume and Groomsmen Shirt Designer: Costaiia
Hairstylist and Make-up Artist: Wilanny Meza
Venue: Hacienda Guáquira
Marriage ceremony Planner: Private Plus
Invitation and Stationery Designer: Papelería Papieri
Caterer: Festejos Mar
Baker: Jaquemate
Florists: Alfonso Vivas and Clementina Cuesta Viso
Mild Designer: Iluminacion
