This Dia de los Muertos Wedding in Mexico Was a Chic + Colorful “Fiesta of Love”

All Saints’ Day. All Souls’ Day. The Day of the Dead. Dia de los Muertos. It goes by many names, but every year at the beginning of November the veil gets thinner, the colors get brighter, and the spirit world and the world of the living collide.

For those who aren’t familiar, Dia de los Muertos — the complex + beautiful Mexican tradition honoring loved ones and ancestors who’ve passed away — is full of both remembrance and life-affirming joy. The skulls aren’t spooky, they’re made of sugar! The spirits aren’t there to haunt you, they’re happy to be visiting! And since so much of Dia de los Muertos centers on family (past and present), it makes perfect inspiration for a wedding!

We are SO enchanted by Cenit + Alfonso’s Dia de los Muertos wedding. And, though the holiday just passed us by a few weeks ago, we can’t get over these gorgeous pictures of the day taken by Evy of Pearl Memories!

“The inspiration came from blending modern romance with Día de los Muertos traditions,” Evy says. “The design featured bold florals, candlelit tables, hand painted dance floor, and pops of color that symbolized life and remembrance, turning every moment into a living piece of art.”

Cenit + Alfonso, both from Mexico, chose to tie the knot in a famously beautiful Mexican city. “Set in the romantic town of San Miguel de Allende, the wedding embraced Mexico’s vibrant charm,” says Evy, “from the cobblestone streets to the terracotta rooftops and the bursts of color that filled every corner.”

“And the venue, Live Aqua San Miguel de Allende, reflected the city’s timeless soul, creating the perfect blend of elegance and authenticity,” Evy adds.

There was a giant papel picado ceremony backdrop. An ofrenda overflowed with pictures and treats. The radiant yellow-orange of the traditional marigolds shined. And you’re going to love the couple’s Catrina skull makeup looks at the reception.

With the help of planner Paula Balderas and event designer + florist María Limón, memory, meaningful tradition, and the marriage all came together to make this colorful Mexican celebration the exquisitely joyful “fiesta of love” that it was, and we can’t wait to show you!

Cenit started off the day surrounded by all three of her wedding day looks while wearing a very coquette aesthetic fit of blush silk, bows, and lace.

We are loving the ornate gold panels of this elegant, deep green mother of the bride dress!!

For wedding shoes, Cenit went with a timeless pair of white lace pointed toe pumps by Jimmy Choo.

How sweet is the custom embroidery on Cenit’s wedding veil!!

Absolutely in love with this lace wedding dress by Ecliptica. Feminine. Dramatic. Quintessentially bridal.

There is an infinite amount of elegance to a long sleeve wedding dress. SO obsessed with the antique feel of that pointed cuff.

Alfonso kept things suave + sophisticated with a wedding tuxedo from La Tigre.

The First Look

“Cenit and Alfonso have known each other for years, and their love radiates the kind of warmth that naturally pulls everyone in,” Evy says of the happy couple.

“Their connection was the heart of the celebration, pure, effortless, and filled with genuine joy.”

The lace edged veil with the all-lace gown?! So entrancingly intricate! Shop the Pronovias x Anthropologie Weddings Eika Lace Cathedral Veil for a similar silhouette.

Married Under the Marigolds

“El papel picado (translated literally to “perforated paper”) is the big white perforated paper you see in the ceremony as a backdrop,” Evy says of this amazing installation by Maracas Mexico. “It’s usually colorful in the tradition and is often used on Día de los Muertos altars.”

“It represents the wind and the presence of the spirits. The delicate designs symbolize how fragile life is, and the movement of the paper shows that our loved ones are near. It also adds color, joy, and a sense of celebration to the ofrenda. When it’s white like the one Cenit & Alfonso chose, it specifically symbolizes purity, hope, and the spiritual connection.”

“María Limón’s main focus was the orange flower used in Día de los Muertos, which is called cempasúchil (also spelled cempazuchitl),” Evy says of the blooms that anchored the day’s sunny color world. “In English, it’s usually called Mexican marigold or Aztec marigold. It’s super meaningful in the tradition.”

“Its bright color represents the sun, and the strong scent helps guide the spirits back home. It’s also a symbol of the cycle of life and death, and people use the petals to create little pathways that lead the souls to their “ofrenda” (the altar that usually features the favorite foods of their dead).”

Jimena Bond was at the ceremony live painting the couple as they took their vows and immortalizing the moment in art. How’s that for a creative + meaningful wedding ceremony idea!

We’ve got to shout out Raiza Montes, the brilliant artist behind Cenit’s glowy, subtle glam wedding makeup and effortlessly curled bridal hairstyle.

So Much To Celebrate

The modern-meets-traditional architecture of Live Aqua San Miguel de Allende was a perfect backdrop for this courtyard reception, outfitted with so many chic furniture + decor details from Warehouse Guanajuato. Those black frame caned chairs! 😍

Each place setting featured sleek, minimalist menu and a black + white calavera skull.

Over-the-moon for all these marigolds? Check out this vibrant garden wedding and this chic West Texas wedding to see some of our other fave marigold-filled weddings.

DJ Parties was on hand to start the night off with this romantic first dance and then keep the tunes coming all night long.

The Beauty of Tradition

Absolutely floored by this contemporary take on Catrina skull makeup. AND by that colorful sheer bodice tiered lace reception dress!

An ofrenda is the colorful altar a family creates each Dia de los Muertos. Ofrendas are filled with pictures of loved ones who’ve passed away as well as their favorite sweets to welcome their spirits home. Oh, and plenty of candles and flower petals, too!

“The weekend ended with a parade through the streets, music, laughter, and everyone dressed in Día de los Muertos attire,” Evy says. “It was a moment that perfectly captured the essence of San Miguel, where joy, community, and love meet.”

Some final insight from Evy: “Don’t be afraid to infuse your day with meaning. Traditions, culture, and personal details tell your story more beautifully than perfection ever could. Focus on the feelings, that’s what everyone will remember.”

Congratulations, Cenit + Alfonso!! Your San Miguel de Allende celebration was a true “Fiesta of love.” GWS wishes you two nothing but the best!