Skip to content

Top Navigation

Martha Stewart Martha Stewart
  • FOOD
  • HOLIDAYS
  • ENTERTAINING
  • HOME
  • GARDENING
  • CLEANING & ORGANIZING
  • WEDDINGS
  • SHOP
  • DIY
  • BEAUTY & WELLNESS
  • LIFE
  • NEWS
  • MARTHA'S BLOG
  • About Us

Profile Menu

Martha's Blog
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletter
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Contact Us
  • Your Content
  • Logout

More

  • Enter to Win $10,000 to Makeover Your Home!
  • Martha's Blog
  • Weddings
Login
Pin FB

Explore Martha Stewart

Martha Stewart Martha Stewart
  • Explore

    Explore

    • 7 Things to Do in the Morning to Be Healthier and More Productive

      7 Things to Do in the Morning to Be Healthier and More Productive

      Kick-start your day by making habits out of these mood-boosting tips. Read More
    • Should You Refrigerate Bananas?

      Should You Refrigerate Bananas?

      It's one of your favorite fruits, but does it belong on the counter or in the refrigerator? Read More
    • This 3-Ingredient Homemade Weed Killer Uses Vinegar to Safely Remove Pesky Growths from Your Garden

      This 3-Ingredient Homemade Weed Killer Uses Vinegar to Safely Remove Pesky Growths from Your Garden

      A few easy-to-find ingredients are all you need to create a powerful formula that squashes weeds. Read More
  • FOOD

    FOOD

    See All FOOD
    Our 20 Most Popular Recipes for Summer

    Our 20 Most Popular Recipes for Summer

    • Breakfast & Brunch Recipes
    • Lunch Recipes
    • Dinner Recipes
    • Appetizers & Snacks
    • Dessert Recipes
    • Drink Recipes
    • Salad Recipes
    • Side Dishes
    • Soup Recipes
    • Healthy Recipes
    • Quick & Easy Recipes
    • Vegetarian Recipes
    • Cooking How-Tos
    • Baking
    • Menu Planning
    • Food News & Trends
    • Wine
    • Mastering the Holiday Meal
    • What's for Dinner
    • All Recipes
  • HOLIDAYS

    HOLIDAYS

    See All HOLIDAYS
    The Most Patriotic Flowers for the Fourth of July, According to Symbolism

    The Most Patriotic Flowers for the Fourth of July, According to Symbolism

    Show your love of country by displaying these varieties on America's birthday.
    • Father's Day
    • Fourth of July
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Hanukkah
    • Christmas
    • New Year's Eve
    • Valentine's Day
    • St. Patricks Day
    • Passover
    • Easter
    • Mother's Day
  • ENTERTAINING

    ENTERTAINING

    See All ENTERTAINING
    How to Start Entertaining Friends and Family More Regularly

    How to Start Entertaining Friends and Family More Regularly

    Make gathering with loved ones a priority.
    • Seasonal Entertaining & Decorating
    • Baby Shower Ideas
    • Dinner Party Ideas
    • You're Invited
  • HOME

    HOME

    See All HOME
    We're Putting Up Walls Again—Is the Open Floor Plan on Its Way Out?

    We're Putting Up Walls Again—Is the Open Floor Plan on Its Way Out?

    We asked the experts to weigh in on this popular home design concept.
    • Home Design & Decor
    • Paint Colors & Palettes
    • DIY Home Projects
    • The Well-Kept Home
  • GARDENING

    GARDENING

    See All GARDENING
    A Month-by-Month Hydrangea Care Guide

    A Month-by-Month Hydrangea Care Guide

    Confused about when to do what to your favorite flowering shrubs? We have you covered.
    • Container Gardening
    • Flower Gardens
    • Houseplants
    • Landscaping
    • Vegetable Gardens
  • CLEANING & ORGANIZING

    CLEANING & ORGANIZING

    How to Wash Pillows

    How to Wash Pillows

    They're an essential element of a comfortable bed, so keep yours fresh and in their best shape ever with these expert-approved tips.
    • Cleaning
    • Storage & Organization
    • Laundry & Linens
  • WEDDINGS

    WEDDINGS

    See All WEDDINGS
    Who Pays for What for the Wedding?

    Who Pays for What for the Wedding?

    Get the traditional rules for who pays for the wedding details.
    • Real Weddings
    • Wedding Party
    • Wedding Planning & Advice
    • Wedding Ceremony & Reception
    • Wedding Jewelry
    • Dresses & Style
    • Wedding Beauty & Wellness
    • Wedding Registry
    • Wedding Showers & Parties
    • Love & Marriage
    • Wedding Travel
  • SHOP
  • DIY

    DIY

    See All DIY
    How to Melt and Reuse the Leftover Wax from Candles

    How to Melt and Reuse the Leftover Wax from Candles

    Our easy melt-and-pour method saves the last bit of this home essential.
    • Dyeing
    • Holiday Crafts
    • Kids' Crafts
    • Knitting
    • Paper Crafts
    • Sewing
    • Rescue & Revamp
  • BEAUTY & WELLNESS

    BEAUTY & WELLNESS

    Can Rice Water Really Encourage Hair Growth?

    Can Rice Water Really Encourage Hair Growth?

    This buzzy ingredient is a star player in many new-age hair care products.
    • Beauty
    • Health & Wellness
    • Live Well
  • LIFE

    LIFE

    See All LIFE
    • Family
    • Pets
    • Travel
    • Net Worth
  • NEWS
  • MARTHA'S BLOG
  • About Us

Profile Menu

Martha's Blog
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletter
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Contact Us
  • Your Content
  • Logout

More

  • Enter to Win $10,000 to Makeover Your Home!
  • Martha's Blog
  • Weddings
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. marthastewart.com
  2. Weddings
  3. Real Weddings
  4. Amanda and Jared's Destination Wedding in Guatemala
Martha Stewart Weddings

Amanda and Jared's Destination Wedding in Guatemala

becky-mickel-0414.jpg
By Becky Mickel
Skip gallery slides
Pin
2014-amanda-jared-0900-ds111350.jpg
Credit: Corbin Gurkin

A travel-loving duo and their 160 guests ventured south for an Old-World affair.

Start Slideshow

1 of 17

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

The Couple

2014-amanda-jared-0900-ds111350.jpg
Credit: Corbin Gurkin

Once Jared Carter proposed to Amanda Weingarten on his parents' dock in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, in 2012, the travel-obsessed couple went to work researching an original (but still accessible) destination wedding spot. The bride fell for the colonial town of Antigua, Guatemala, and pitched the locale to her groom, who needed little selling on it; coincidentally, he had been there years earlier for volunteer work. Then it was on to convincing their loved ones to join them. After an 18-month engagement spent doing just that with Jared's South Carolina relatives and their pals in Charleston (where the duo live), the couple went south with 160 guests for a five-day adventure of volcano hikes, bona fide Guatemalan cuisine, and, of course, a wedding!

1 of 17

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 17

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

The Invitations

2014-amanda-jared-0011-ds111350.jpg
Credit: Corbin Gurkin

International travel may have left their attendees uneasy at first, but it's the very topic that forged a connection between the bride, who works for The Citadel Foundation, and the groom, a critical-care nurse, when they first met in December 2011. Amanda was celebrating her birthday at a bar; Jared was playing wingman for his brother, who was chatting up her friend. As solid copilots, they entertained themselves by talking about their globetrotting. "We realized we had a lot of travel experiences in common," says Amanda, who let Jared take her number, breaking her normal code of giving fake digits to men in bars. "He called to wish me a happy new year and then asked me out," she says. "His brother and my friend never went on a real date, but we're living happily ever after."

For their wedding's stationery (by Braxton Crim), plum tones and a wax seal evoked Antigua's regal past as Guatemala's former capital city.

2 of 17

3 of 17

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

The Welcome Bags

amanda-jared-wedding-0440-ds111350.jpg
Credit: Corbin Gurkin

Their Central American celebration began on Friday night, when guests salsa-danced, enjoyed cigars, and ate handmade tortillas at a barbecue in the lantern-lit garden of a private home. The couple thought that the best way to welcome guests to Guatemala was to gift them goodies local to the area. And they did just that. Coffee grounds held salted plantain chips, Guatemalan coffee, and a booklet with a map and guide to the fun-filled five-day celebration. A striped luggage tag, made by a local women's cooperative using native textiles, doubled as a gift tag and wedding favor."

3 of 17

Advertisement

4 of 17

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

The Location

2014-amanda-jared-1070-ds111350.jpg
Credit: Corbin Gurkin

For the candlelit vow exchange, guests filed into the restored ruins of San Jose El Viejo.

4 of 17

5 of 17

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Lovely Little Ladies

amanda-jared-wedding-0795-ds111350.jpg
Credit: Corbin Gurkin

Amanda's adorable nieces preceded her down the aisle in their Bhldn dresses.  

5 of 17

6 of 17

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

The Ceremony

2014-amanda-jared-1197-ds111350-bw.jpg
Credit: Corbin Gurkin

One of seven blessings the pair penned for the service read, "May you be better together than either of you are apart."

6 of 17

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 17

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

The Fashions

2014-amanda-jared-0900-ds111350.jpg
Credit: Corbin Gurkin

The bride, in Monique Lhuillier, posed with her groom-to-be.

7 of 17

8 of 17

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Bold Bouquet

amanda-jared-wedding-1065-ds111350.jpg
Credit: Corbin Gurkin

Matthew Robbins limited the bride's clutch to one flower—a phalaenopsis orchid—and one color. "Amanda wanted something bold and cascading but unfussy, so using only one variety of orchid kept the more dramatic and classic cascade very fresh and unique," says Matthew. 

8 of 17

9 of 17

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

The Bridesmaids

2014-amanda-jared-0779-ds111350.jpg
Credit: Corbin Gurkin

Amanda's orchid bouquet complemented her bridesmaids' Amsale dresses and Alexis Bittar jewelry.

9 of 17

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 17

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Feathery Touches

2014-amanda-jared-0005-ds111350.jpg
Credit: Corbin Gurkin

Jared and his 'men wore silk and guinea­ feather bow ties by Brackish.

10 of 17

11 of 17

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Retro Transportation

amanda-jared-wedding-1060-ds111350.jpg
Credit: Corbin Gurkin

This vintage ride, the groom's pick, added a touch of Old-World glamour to the couple's ceremony exit and reception entrance. 

11 of 17

12 of 17

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

The Reception

2014-amanda-jared-0478-ds111350.jpg
Credit: Corbin Gurkin

Post-ceremony, everyone moved to the nearby Casa Santo Domingo Hotel for a cocktail hour with rum-spiked tamarindo aguas frescas, then dinner and dancing. Guatemalan maracas served as escort cards, dance floor props, and favors.

12 of 17

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 17

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

The Centerpieces

2014-amanda-jared-0443-ds111350.jpg
Credit: Corbin Gurkin

Glazed ceramic vases bursting with lisianthus, native succulents, fuchsia orchids, and hydrangeas shared the table with mercury­ glass votives. Matthew Robbins designed the tables using an embroidered fabric sourced from a shop in Guatemala City. The linens' tone-on-tone pattern and gauzelike weave is indigenous to Cobán, a city in Central Guatemala, and the fabric is all-natural cotton, free of dyes and bleaches. An Antigua artisan designed the custom metal charger plates that were topped with tasseled napkins woven by women in a local co-op.

13 of 17

14 of 17

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

The Dinner

2014-amanda-jared-1251-ds111350.jpg
Credit: Corbin Gurkin

European, Asian, and Latin food stations made for a worldly dinner in the grand venue.

For dessert, Amanda and Jared designated an entire room. An apothecary chest was mounted on top of a refectory table—both antiques stored in the monastery-turned-hotel's basement—and piled with macarons, jars of homemade candies, petite cookies, and individual cakes. A tropical garland of orchids, leaves, and ferns spilled over the display.

14 of 17

15 of 17

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

The Dancing

amanda-jared-wedding-1526-ds111350.jpg
Credit: Corbin Gurkin

In a nod to their Latin-influenced locale, the newlyweds spun into the Bachata version of "Stand by Me" after a few bars of traditional ballroom dancing to the Ben E. King original. "Oh it was so fun! We threw a surprise in there," says the bride of the salsa dancing. They also participated in the traditional hora dance.

15 of 17

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 17

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Colorful Cushions

amanda-jared-wedding-0509-ds111350.jpg
Credit: Corbin Gurkin

Pillows in colorful, bold floral motifs decked out the after-party lounge. A local artist spent months finding and sewing the pink-, red-, and purple-toned covers.

16 of 17

17 of 17

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Sources

amanda-jared-wedding-0893-ds111350.jpg
Credit: Corbin Gurkin

Ceremony Location: San José El Viejo

Reception Location and Catering: Hotel Casa Santo Domingo

Event Design: Matthew Robbins Design

Event Coordination: Helen Russ Events  

Flowers: Adolfo Cojulún Hass Eiaf

Photography: Corbin Gurkin

Videography: Rodolfo Walsh Photo & Video 

Stationery Design: Braxton Crim Design

Desserts: Le Petit Paris; Scandies; Le Café

Makeup: Petra Makeupstudio

17 of 17

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Becky Mickel

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    `
    Martha Stewart Weddings
    View All
    • How to Get More Bang for Your Honeymoon Buck
    • Prince Charles Reportedly Got Emotional When He Met His Granddaughter Lilibet for the First Time
    • This Couple's Farm Wedding Perfectly Blended Rustic and Modern Aesthetics
    • What Is a "Volunteer-Moon" and How to Decide If You Should Take One
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 17 The Couple
    2 of 17 The Invitations
    3 of 17 The Welcome Bags
    4 of 17 The Location
    5 of 17 Lovely Little Ladies
    6 of 17 The Ceremony
    7 of 17 The Fashions
    8 of 17 Bold Bouquet
    9 of 17 The Bridesmaids
    10 of 17 Feathery Touches
    11 of 17 Retro Transportation
    12 of 17 The Reception
    13 of 17 The Centerpieces
    14 of 17 The Dinner
    15 of 17 The Dancing
    16 of 17 Colorful Cushions
    17 of 17 Sources

    Share & More

    Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message
    Martha Stewart

    Learn More

    • Contact Us
    • Customer Service
    • Media Kit
    • Martha's Blog
    • Advertise
    • Content Licensing
    • FAQ
    • Corporate
    • International
    • Accolades this link opens in a new tab

    Connect

    Subscribe to Our Newsletter
    Sign Up
    MeredithMartha Stewart is part of the Meredith Home Group. © Copyright 2022 Meredith Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright Martha Stewart. All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.marthastewart.com

    Sign in

    View image

    Amanda and Jared's Destination Wedding in Guatemala
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.