But a historic site came with loads of complications. “The government owns the ruins, and the process to book wasn’t extremely clear online,” Amanda says. Eventually, she learned it required going to Antigua in person to stand in line for the one day per year, in June, when they release dates for the following year. People can then apply for events and pay a deposit on the spot. “It’s all very manual, and first come-first serve,” she says. “You have to be super flexible with your dates.”
Knowing they wanted to avoid the rainy reason by holding their wedding in winter 2022 or 2023, the couple stayed open-minded and were thrilled when they nabbed a date for February 2022.
Choose your vendors based on their responsiveness rate
The couple got engaged just weeks before the release of dates in June 2021, and so there wasn’t enough time to go stand in line themselves. “It was critical that we had someone on the ground that spoke the language and knew the customs and people, so the wedding planner was one of the first [hires],” Andrew says.
They learned quickly that unlike, say, New York and Houston, there were very few planners to choose from, but found themselves cool with it. “I feel like there’s almost this burden of vendors and information and fatigue here; there’s just so many options!” Amanda explains. “I reached out to probably five, and it took a few a while to get back to me.” Chill though the couple is, they needed someone to work quickly. The one they chose, Silke Wahl of Bride & Groom Guatemala, “offered a call immediately, gave me information I’d been asking for upfront, and actually took the time to answer the questions I’d sent initially,” she continues. “I didn’t even interview anybody else. She was absolutely amazing!”
Use Pinterest to cross language and culture barriers
Aside from her sense of urgency and preparedness, another wonderful aspect of Silke was that she could handle interactions with vendors who only spoke Spanish, such as their videographer, Kinema Wedding Film. “That was interesting, communicating with with a team who entirely communicated through somebody else—to communicate what you were looking for,” Amanda says. “You’re like, ‘I hope they’re on the same page!’”
A bigger translation problem was less literal. “Understanding my aesthetic—there was kind of a barrier there,” Amanda says, “because the traditional Guatemalan way is very different from what I wanted.” In order to make sure they understand her taste in flowers and decor, the admittedly “Type A” bride created Pinterest boards and PowerPoint decks to showcase their desired vibe, right down to the look of the dance floor. Their planner was able to recommend vendors based around these aesthetic choices, too.
Introduce your guests to the local culture
Andrew estimates that at least a quarter of their guests extended their trips on either end of the wedding weekend to explore Guatemala, but the couple created a solid four-day schedule for all involved. The first night, they ordered local food and hosted a welcome party on the rooftop of their Airbnb, followed by a day trip to a brewery outside Antigua. The third day brought their rehearsal dinner, for which they served “more of a Guatemalan tipico menu,” as the groom puts it, and the fourth was their wedding at the historic site.
