Alana Buenrostro and Federico “Lico” Valiente Bolaines first crossed paths at a World Cup 2014 watch party, but it wasn’t until years later, when they matched on Hinge, that they really connected. Four years later, he proposed at sunset on the first day of 2020, while they were on vacation in El Salvador with both of their families. “Lico’s Salvadoran family were the most gracious hosts and both families knew that he would propose to me on the trip,” Alana says.
Once engaged, the two started planning for a destination wedding during Valentine’s Day weekend in San Miguel de Allende and hired Penzi Weddings. Once the pandemic started, they were comforted by how strict the town was with COVID regulations and restrictions, so they stuck with their original date and asked their small guest list to attend, if they were comfortable, and bring a “positive attitude and a negative test,” Alana shares. Guests were also tested privately at the couple’s rental home on the day before the wedding, and everyone’s results came back negative.
Since Alana started her dress search during America’s summer COVID spike, she luckily found her dream dress at a shop just five minutes from her home. “When I stepped out of the dressing room and saw my parents reaction, I felt it might be the one, and after seeing myself in the mirror, I immediately thought of my grandmother, Gloria, when I saw how the dress hugged my hips—the ones I inherited from her,” the bride says. And when she tried on a lace-trimmed veil with Swarovski crystals, Alana thought of her other grandmother, Marlene, who was an avid collector of Swarovski crystal—it was meant to be.
On the morning-of, the bride got ready with makeup artist Daniela Palacios alongside her mother and mother-in-law, while Lico prepared for the ceremony with Gnocchi, their adorable Yorkie. Their photographer Mariana Pierce was there from sunrise to sunset, making sure she captured every important and candid moment.
On February 13, 2021, Alana walked down the candlelit aisle with her father to Lico and their priest, Father Corona—“oh, the irony,” she jokes. After the meaningful and special ceremony, the newlyweds joined their guests at Rancho Las Sabinas to toast the occasion with Mexican cocktails and a cheerful Mariachi serenade.
The reception space was beautifully decorated with baby’s breath clouds hanging above and lush florals by PS Flower Studio, bringing the couple’s “starry night” story to life.
During the delicious dinner, Mamutt Music serenaded the group. And after, everyone danced with DJ Charly Montufar on a talavera tile floor under a canopy of gold tin stars—a tribute to Mexico’s unique art forms and the bride’s Mexican roots. The new mister and missus made their energetic grand finale entrance with a parade of giant Valentine hearts and mojigangas dressed in wedding attire. The bride concludes, “Many tequila toasts, conga lines, and dancing with puppets ensued and made for the perfect ending to a truly magical day!”
