Wedding Planner, Rae Grijalva has dedicated her career to helping couples plan and coordinate their dream weddings so it came to no surprise that all eyes were on her when it came time to planning her own destination wedding! To celebrate Rae and Thyve’s first wedding anniversary, like all couples, they wanted to start the celebration by reliving their most romantic moments from their Guatemalan nuptials.
Continue to read as we share all the details and special moments from Rae’s destination wedding day.
Rae Shares Her Experience Planning a Destination Wedding
Wedding planning began with finding the perfect venue. Like all couples who want to host destination weddings, Rae and Thyve wanted to host a wedding in Guatemala because of the views and all the ambiance that comes with it. From the moment Rae traveled to Guatemala, it was love at first sight. “The first time I traveled to Guatemala with, my now husband, to see his home country, I instantly fell in love! We actually went to a wedding venue as a joke to see the views and we crashed a wedding setup. The decor blew me away. We met the decorator at the venue and I said, “years from now we are going to get married, and she’s going to be my decorator!” I saved her card, and she was my first call when Thyve proposed!”
They chose to host their wedding at the Finca Filadelfia Resort, a venue known for its picturesque mountain and volcano views in addition to its historic coffee plantation!
Continue to read as we share all the details from Rae’s dreamy destination wedding!
“My favorite moment from the wedding day was my first look exchange of personal vows. That moment meant everything to me, and I’ll never forget my husband’s words shared only with me at that moment.”
Rae Grijalva
Rae’s Elegant Garden Ceremony
When Rae began wedding planning, she enjoyed every minute of it. From idea to execution and every small detail in between, She described planning her wedding as fun and says, “I hired a coordinator (Jenniffer Sabrina) and decorator (Anabela DeNovela) immediately because I knew where I needed help. I had a blast designing my dream! Getting the chance to see it come to life from the awesome help and ambition of those two wonderful, badass ladies, and their businesses!”
Rae and Thyve’s wedding details, décor, and floral arrangements were perfect for their dreamy ceremony. Guests entered the ceremony space through arches of greenery and then led to their seats, which were clear acrylic ghost chairs. The lush floral arrangements lining the aisles and acrylic ghost chairs made the perfect finishing touches. Not to mention, the arch made of lush foliage and white flowers completed the ceremony space.
After the vows, the couple led a festive recession filled with cheer, love, and of course, a little confetti!
An Elegant and Romantic Wedding Reception
Following the memorable ceremony were their elegant and romantic cocktail hour and garden party reception. Like all brides, Rae had a vision in mind for how she wanted her wedding to look and feel.
She says, “I knew I wanted an open-air evening where our guests could enjoy the gorgeous night sky and tropical weather. We opted for an open-air structure design with flowing draping, hanging greenery installations, and chandeliers for that warm soft glow. I wanted to show all of the wonders Guatemala had to offer. I purposely used ghost chairs to have a completely clear view of the ceremony backdrop and volcano behind us. For the reception, we had decadent food showing authentic cuisine, tons and tons of tequila shots, haha, a Marimba band playing for cocktails. We were even blessed to see the active volcano erupt during our reception! It was absolutely everything I could have hoped for and so much more.”
From beginning to end, every moment and detail was thoughtfully curated to create the perfect elegant garden wedding for Rae and Thyve. Rae’s experience as a bride is a reminder that no matter where in the world you get married, the bride and groom should have every detail and design element they’ve ever dreamt of.
If you are an engaged couple and are looking for a destination wedding planner, click here to learn about how we can help you! Rae’s personal experience as a wedding planner and a bride makes her the perfect destination wedding planner for you!
Happy Anniversary, Rae and Thyve!
Rae’s Destination Wedding Vendors:
Photo: Lemus Studios
Video: KEJ Productions
Venue & Catering: Finca Filadelfia Resort
Decorator & Floral: Anabela DeNovela
Coordinator: Jenniffer Sabrina
Rentals: Uniquo Guatemala
H&M: Laura Reynolds Artistry Hair & Makeup Team
Wedding Dress Boutique: One & Only Bridal
Wedding Dress Designer: Stella York
Alterations: Thread & Needle Alterations
Bridesmaids Dresses: Bella Bridesmaids Winter Park
Officiant: Friend Maximiliano Castrillon
Wedding Bands: International Diamond Center & David Yurman
