- Quick Facts:
- How they met...
- Tell us about the proposal.
- Describe your wedding attire. What was the wedding shopping experience like for you?
- What is your best memory from your wedding?
- What is the best wedding advice you can give to engaged couples?
- Want more timeless destination wedding inspiration?
- Vendors:
Rose and Chuck cemented their love in a timeless destination wedding amid the breathtaking ruins of one of the oldest churches in Antigua, Guatemala.
Chuck first noticed Rose from across the room at a Houston restaurant on Mother’s Day. As Rose enjoyed brunch with her mother, Chuck couldn’t help but inquire about Rose’s bright blue hair. He decided to introduce himself and, at the encouragement of Rose’s mother, the pair struck up a conversation that lasted for hours.
A week before a romantic getaway to Mexico, Chuck popped the question in front of the couple’s closest family and friends.
Chuck worked with Rose’s daughter to plan the surprise, knowing the vacation would throw Rose off his scent. “I didn’t know it would happen at home,” Rose admits. “But he wanted family to be present so it was perfect.”
In 2024, the couple tied the knot on the grounds of La Ermita de la Santa Cruz, one of the oldest churches in Antigua, Guatemala. The venue’s stunning exterior served as a picturesque, idyllic backdrop for their outdoor ceremony and reception. The couple’s timeless décor and luxurious floral arrangements only added to the site’s natural beauty.
See all the details from the couple’s timeless destination wedding below!
- Couple: Rose & Chuck Gipe
- Occupations: Rose – Realtor | Chuck – Civil Engineer
- Wedding date: April 20, 2024
- Wedding location: Antigua, Guatemala
Quick Facts:
- Gifts for the bridesmaids and groomsmen: We didn’t have bridesmaids and groomsmen, but our guests dressed in the wedding colors we specified. We also had bags delivered to all their rooms with beer, wine, Guatemala snacks, and other monogrammed items from us to them!
- Gifts for one another: He got a Patek watch that he forgot back home that he was supposed to wear for the wedding. I, the bride received a pearl Jimmy Choo clutch purse that I also forgot at home. Lol
- Ceremony entrance song: “A Thousand Years” by Vitamin String Quartet
- Bride’s entrance song: “Do 4 Love” by Snoh Aalegra
- First dance song: “While We’re Young” by Jhené Aiko
How they met…
Mother’s Day is the day we all celebrate our beloved mothers, daughters, grandmothers, stand-in mothers, and moms-in-waiting. On this special day, Rose wanted to do something different to celebrate her mother, Roslyn.
Instead of having a big family celebration, she chose to take her mother out for brunch, just the two of them. They enjoyed a wonderful brunch and fellowship that day and to their surprise, a man sat down beside them and boldly asked, “Do you get the blue hair from your dad’s side of the family?”
An honest and fair question because that day, Rose in her usual electric and vibrant personality, was indeed–you guessed it–rocking fabulous blue hair. The gentleman introduced himself as Chuck Gipe. Rose immediately thought his comment was funny, ‘off the beaten path’ and quite interesting. They struck up a conversation that lasted a few hours.
Rose thought he was nice but nothing more than that, while her mom enthusiastically thought she should give him a chance.
A pseudo-blind date on Mother’s Day was perfect! Upon leaving brunch, Rose walked out of the restroom, and to her surprise, Chuck was standing there waiting and immediately asked for her phone number. Rose was so caught off guard that she contemplated giving him a false number but was ultimately impressed with his tenacity and determination.
He immediately called and began his romantic pursuit. Rose found him incredibly funny, and sincere in his approach in a cute, playful way. A few months into their relationship, Chuck surprised Rose with a vacation to Jamaica for her birthday. It was then that she said she realized she was deeply in love with Chuck; “his attention to detail to make me happy was and is still truly amazing.”
Tell us about the proposal.
For the proposal, he got with my daughter who was 16 at the time to set up a surprise dinner with my closest family and friends at a nice restaurant and popped the question. I knew it was happening because we were going to Mexico the next week for my birthday, but I didn’t know it would happen at home. I figured in Mexico, but he wanted our family to be present so it was perfect.
Describe your wedding attire. What was the wedding shopping experience like for you?
La Ermita gives a vintage look and feel to the ruin so I wanted to match that style and feel. I knew I wanted vines and flowers with ivory, neutral colors for my dress, and warm fall tones for my husband and guest. That’s how I came up with greens, oranges, and brown colors for the wedding. Chuck found an amazing bespoke designer in Houston for his custom suit, lined with the year of the pig silk fabric. His suit was a nice safe green color tone. My dress name was Georgia. Classy vintage trumpet style with a lining to match my skin tone. Tailored to fit all the nonexistent curves. Lol.
What is your best memory from your wedding?
Dancing with my son. I still get tears in my eyes thinking about that moment.
What is the best wedding advice you can give to engaged couples?
Take it all in. Embrace every moment because it goes by so fast. You are really gonna wanna do it again, like you missed something. If I could do it again I would.
Want more timeless destination wedding inspiration?
Click here.
Vendors:
- Makeup artist: Kimmy J from Eye Can Transform You
- Groom’s suit: Kamran Bespoke
- Bride’s dress: Vivienne Atelier Houston
- Hair: Studio 360 Hair Gallery
- Nails: Majestic Nail Bar of Richmond
- Flowers and décor: La Magnolia GT
- Wedding planner: Helen Russ Events
- Photographer: Daniel Lopez Perez Photography
- Glassware Rentals: Uniquo Guatemala
- Furniture Rentals: Dlux Mobiliario Rentals
