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A Romantic Wedding in San Miguel de Allende That Celebrated the Bride’s Mexican Heritage

By Shayna Seid | Photography by 

Kristen Kilpatrick

|Planning by 

Penzi

Maria Cristina Hetherington, co-owner of Casa Clementina, would pass by Andrew Peyton McDonough so much on the way to a class at the University of Texas in Austin that he began to anticipate and intercept her route and practice what he would say to her beforehand. “He asked me to be his date to a football game freshman year, but I ended up standing him up to sit with some girlfriends in air conditioning,” she admits. “I still feel so bad about that!”

Their romance got a second start during senior year, and after five years together, he proposed at her parents’ home in Austin. She was driving back from Dallas with her sister, who couldn’t convince her to change out of her scrubs. Upon their arrival to the house, Peyton had flowers and had strung white papel picado—a traditional Mexican wedding decoration—throughout the rooms, and outside, under string lights, he got down on one knee.

As Tina’s mother is Mexican and wanted her children to identify with the culture and learn Spanish, they spent every summer in San Miguel de Allende. “I love that even though San Miguel has grown in popularity over the last few years, it still looks the same as when I was five years old,” Tina remarks. “The cobblestone streets, colorful adobe facades, and the cathedral that the whole town was built around truly made the aesthetic for the wedding incredibly unique and exactly what I had envisioned when I thought of my wedding.”

After renting summer after summer, Tina’s family eventually built a home there called Casa Cece—named after the bride’s mother—where they hosted their rehearsal dinner and where Tina and her bridesmaids got ready. For their October reception, they chose their close friend and Penzi wedding planner Guadalupe Alvarez’s hacienda, Casa Xido, which had a large lawn that could accommodate the large number of guests. Together with Mee-Ngan Cardenas Cruz, also from Penzi, Guadalupe was able to grasp Tina’s wedding vision immediately and expand upon it. 

When shopping for her gown, the bride began looking for something sleeveless and somewhat fitted with floral appliqués and a high neckline. “Walking through the streets in San Miguel, you cannot go two feet without seeing bougainvillea tumbling over a stone wall or patio, so I wanted to mirror that in my dress,” Tina explains. After visits to six boutiques in Texas, she ultimately found her Mira Zwillinger look on Moda Operandi. Joan at Joan Pillow Bridal Salon in Houston was able to have the Harper dress sent to her shop within the month. 

Bridesmaids complemented Tina well in custom Fame and Partners dresses, while the groom and his groomsmen wore blue suits from The Black Tux.

On October 19th, 2019, Tina walked down the rose petal-filled aisle to “Come Though Fount” with her father at Casa Cien, which was converted into a hotel by the couple’s friends, Juan and Ali. Hollands Floreria adorned the whole property with roses, hydrangeas, ranunculus, and greenery in shades of blue, white, and lavender for a lush, romantic feel. And the bride’s aunt officiated the special ceremony, making the day super special.

After saying, “I do,” the newlyweds walked back down the aisle and were immediately handed tequila shots. “It was probably the quickest shot I’ve ever taken,” Tina admits. The callejoneada with a mariachi led everyone to Parque Juarez, where guests were shuttled to the reception. 

Upon arrival at the hacienda, it was pouring rain, so the poolside cocktail hour was moved under the tented dinner space. Chandeliers, flowers, greenery, fairy lights, and star lanterns decorated the space above everyone during the delicious three-course meal. 

For entertainment, Dallas-based In10city Band played tunes until midnight. “Guests swarmed the dance floor during their very first song, ‘Start Me Up’ by The Rolling Stones, and it was packed all night!” Tina remembers. The new Mr. and Mrs. had their first dance to “Your Song” and because the 19th was also the bride’s brother’s birthday, they made sure the band played “All The Small Things” in his honor.

During the hora loca, mojigangas (paper mache puppets on stilts) poured tequila into people’s mouths on the dance floor and partied with everyone. And then at midnight, the couple made their “faux exit,” and Tina changed into her mariachi-inspired set by David Peck. When the couple returned, Guadalupe and Tina’s parents surprised everyone with a fireworks display in the shape of a heart with “Felicidades Peyton & Tina” written in the middle to kickoff the after-party. 

Guests danced to music from DJ Esli Cano until 4:00 a.m. And the next day, Tina and Andrew reminisced and recovered in San Miguel before heading to Costa Rica for their honeymoon. The bride adds, “It was the perfect place to relax and recuperate.”