Rafael and Shirea said “I do” in a stunning and stylish wedding weekend in Mérida, Mexico, the capital of the beautiful lush jungles of the Yucatan.
The wanderlust couple, who first connected on the dating app “OK Cupid” back in February 2017, spent two years traveling the world together (including an extended stay in Argentina during the pandemic) before Rafael proposed back in the United States in August 2020.
The day he proposed, Shirea recalls, “Rafael was acting strangely, but I was too happily distracted by being with my loved ones to give it much thought. After a wonderful evening, we returned to our hotel and settled in for the night. When I came out of the bathroom, Rafael was on one knee with a ring box and proposed.”
After composing herself, Shirea happily said “yes” to the man of her dreams! The couple who live overseas set out to create a wedding style that emulates the “sexy hazy vibes of Havana Cuba” mixed with the “natural simplistic lush vibes of Bali.”
To create this look, guests arrived dressed in melanated neutrals, and every detail (planned by Diana Lomeli of Charming Studio Weddings and designed by Vara Alta) felt organic with touches of luxury and grace. As a proud Afro-Latino, Rafael also celebrated his Latin and Dominican Republic culture through their food, music, and entertainment.
Keep scrolling to relive all the special moments from their wedding weekend in Mérida, Mexico!
- Full names of the couple: Rafael Peña & Shirea Carroll-Peña
- Occupations: Travel Journalist/Advisor & TV Producer; both Real Estate Investors
- Wedding date: November 11, 2023
- Wedding location: Mérida, Mexico, capital of the beautiful lush jungles of the Yucatan
Quick Facts:
- Gifts for one another: The groom gave the Bride a diamond watch, and the Bride gave the groom her hand in marriage…and the ability to just show up to the wedding…lol.
- Ceremony entrance song: They had a specially produced track from a producer in Thailand, that mixed Sunday Service’s “Paradise,” for the wedding party entrance, with “God Is,” by Kanye West from the Groom’s solo entrance, and acoustic version on Mini Ripperton’s “Loving You” for the Bride entrance.
- First dance song: Under the fireworks and the night’s stars the couple shared their first dance song to Luke Burr’s acoustic cover of Bob Marley’s “Is This Love?”
Getting ready for forever…
An emotional first look with Dad…
How did you meet?
So before people were sliding into DMs and shooting shots via social media, we met on an online dating site called “Ok Cupid” in February 2017.
I had joined to find American friends when I was on a trip to Hong Kong, and when I returned to the States I forgot to deactivate the app. Because the app began picking up on my location, I didn’t realize she had started getting messages from guys in the States, and a racially ambiguous face stood out to me because Rafael’s messages were coy and persistent.
“And there was no response for weeks,” Rafael remembers. “Afterward, I felt like I had to send her my last and final MESSAGE. It read, ‘After sending several unanswered messages, I guess it’s safe to say you aren’t selling guys hope’.”
What Rafael didn’t know is that I had prayed my own version of “Ciara’s prayer” on Jan 1st of that year.
I had asked God that the next person I dated, I would let go of pursuing and focusing on what I WANTED and surrender my desires to only include who God felt I NEEDED.
Tell us about the proposal:
After traveling the world for two years, including spending the 2020 pandemic in Argentina, we were finally able to fly back to the United States in August 2020. After taking a few days to settle in, we went to see Shirea’s family for the first time in 2 years.
Rafael was acting strangely, but I was too happily distracted by being with my loved ones to give it much thought. After a wonderful evening, we returned to our hotel and settled in for the night. When I came out of the bathroom, Rafael was on one knee with a ring box and proposed.
I started laughing nervously out of shock, and it took me a while to say “yes.” He later explained that he had planned to propose during dinner with the family but got too nervous. Although I wish my family had experienced it – I’m glad we had that moment to ourselves…lol.
Describe your wedding attire:
My dress was understated a curve-hugging mermaid gown with subtle white glass beading, back lace, and halter top straps. To bring the drama I opted for so the three-tier crystal maang tikka I found on Poshmark and the 25 ft train I wore into the ceremony created a perfect balance to my look.
We like to blend in with the venue so I wore a Black Tux Ivory tuxedo with black lapels. Shirea didn’t want any flowers so I wore a gold feather pin with pearls and I rocked my signature crown braid.
What was your wedding shopping experience like?
Easy Peasy. I went dress shopping three times with three different friends, went a fourth time with my parents, and found my dress immediately. Everything else I needed for the wedding attire for the weekend, I used the online platform Poshmark and found my jewelry, additional dresses, additional outfits, my shoes, my accessories, and his shoes. Regarding shopping for other things for the wedding, my super professional wedding planner Diana Lomeli took care of it all with my guidance.
The Ceremony…
Here comes the bride!
Reception decor details…
Dinner under the stars…
Did you incorporate any culture into your wedding?
Rafael: It was important to honor my Latin culture because both my parents are from the Dominican Republic, and I’m a proud Afro-Latino. Although DR isn’t Mexico, I wanted to be sure the Latin culture via the food, music, and dancing was present on the day.
What is your best memory from your wedding?
Rafael: So the party’s happening, everyone’s mingling, but then we have these professional drummers burst in with people on stilts and surprise everyone like BAM! The vibe goes from zero to a hundred real-quick.
They’re bolting out these incredible Afro drum beats with a spicy Latin twist, and suddenly, nobody’s sitting down anymore. We’re all just letting loose on the dance floor, feeling the rhythm the energy – it was indescribable.
Shirea: What really made my heart happy was watching all our guests take in the whole experience throughout the entire wedding weekend.
We are world travelers, who live overseas and try to help others do the same. It’s not just about fancy vacations for us; it’s about living and breathing travel in a whole different way. And seeing our friends and family get a taste of that? Man, it was like a sneak peek into the future.
We have a travel startup called BLUX, and it’s all about flipping the script on luxury travel for Black and Brown travelers. So to have our loved ones right there, living it, breathing it, feeling it… It was everything. Like, they were getting a firsthand look at the experience our company is about to unleash on the world.
What is the best wedding advice you can give to engaged couples?
On the surface, the best advice we can give is to keep your guest list under 75 people so you can create an experience over multiple days. On a deeper level, skip pre-marital counseling and start hardcore couples therapy the week after you get engaged. Implement all the tools you learn to minimize the stress of wedding planning.
Looking for more lush celebrations like this wedding weekend in Mérida, Mexico?
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Vendors:
- Venue: Hacienda Yaxacopil
- Planner: Diana Lomeli of Charming Studio Weddings
- Wedding Design and Florals: Vara Alta
- Photographer: Emmanuel Alor of Cosmos Weddings
- Videographer: Meraki Weddings
- Makeup: Daniela Reyes Mattar
- Hair: Felicia Peacock of She Sewn In Style
- Cartering: Vero Lara Eventos
- Bridal Dress: Allure Bridals
- Bridal Boutique: Magnolia Lane
- Groom Suit: The Black Tux
- Men’s Grooming: Ricky Thyam
- Wedding Stationery: Charming Studio, Truly Engaging
- Jewelers: Souly & Co. and Adamans
- Transportation: Servitran
- Wedding Cake: Amore Mio
- Fireworks: Arpisu
- Travel Coordinator: Blux Travel
- Bartender: Culmix
- Entertainment: El Grupo Multidisciplinario Nómada
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