Photography by Move Mountains Co. | @movemountainsco
This couple turned their love for all things nerdy into a medieval dream wedding.
In the summer of 2013, Estefania’s sibling, Kat, and Luis cousin, Chris, were dating. The pair had conspired for Estefania and Luis to meet, stating they would get along as friends due to their similar interests in movies, music and books. Cupid’s little assistants were right: When Estefania and Luis locked eyes, it was love at first sight. Luis later asked for her number, and the two have been inseparable ever since.
Estefania and Luis are fans of The Lord of the Rings, “Game of Thrones” and any form of media set in a medieval or fantasy universe. “We are both self-proclaimed nerds. It just made sense to have our wedding be as spooky and nerdy as we are,” says Estefania. “More than anything, we just wanted to have a fun, unique wedding that we would remember forever.”
To match their particular theme, Hammond Castle Museum in Gloucester, Massachusetts, was their choice to achieve the gothic medieval fantasy wedding of their dreams. Estefania’s family is familiar with the castle since they would visit almost every fall. “I’m obsessed with historic houses and museums,” says Estefania. “After we got engaged, my sibling mentioned that Hammond hosted weddings.” Upon hearing this information, the pair – who dub themselves the Witch and the Wolf – began planning their fantasy wedding.
The bridal party had handbooks with detailed instructions on how to dress the part, and everyone understood the assignment. The medieval dress code gave guests the opportunity to not only keep a cohesive theme, but to be creative and join the bride and groom in traveling back in time.
“We trusted our friends, knowing they are fans of the theme as well,” Estefania says. “For our guests, we pretty much told everyone the attire was wedding formal, but to dress as if they were going to a fancy Renaissance fair. Everyone did just that, and it was amazing.”
The ceremony was the pair’s favorite part of the day, as the autumn sun set while they shared vows in front of loved ones. Partying in a historic and charming castle comes in close second, of course. “Not only were our vendors phenomenal, the onsite staff at Hammond Castle were a delight to work with, both during the planning phase and on the day of,” says Estefania. “One of the perks of hosting the wedding at a museum is that there were multiple staff members in attendance to offer our guests free tours of the castle and grounds. It was a fun and unique experience for them as well.”
Another perk was the built-in decor and aesthetic. The color scheme was neutral, and greenery like eucalyptus and leatherleaf fern were used instead of floral bouquets. Boston Event Divas helped the couple bring their fantasy wedding to life by making the interior of the castle seem like an enchanted forest.
Estefania and Luis executed their medieval-themed wedding with confidence, and advises those planning their own wedding to be themselves as well. “Don’t let anyone influence your decisions and don’t be afraid to be as ‘out there as you want,” says Estefania. “Let your creativity shine and just have fun with it! At the end of the day, it’s your wedding and you should celebrate however you’d like.”
The Details
Ceremony and Reception: Hammond Castle Museum, Gloucester, MA | Catering: Sensational Paella Catering Company, Medford, MA | Cake and Desserts: Mayflour, Essex, MA | Hair and Makeup: The Artists Hair & Makeup, Beverly, MA | Jewelry: (Estefania) Ring from eMerakiGalaxy on Etsy; crown and earrings from Magaela (Luis) Ring from LadiesAndGentsBands on Etsy; necklace from GoodSpiritWolf on Etsy; crown from Amazon | Bridal Attire: Woná Concept dress from the Romance collection (custom-made cape added); American Duchess shoes | Groom’s attire: Generation Tux; Punkrave cloak | Decor and Lighting: PEAK Event Services | Florals and Wedding Coordinator: Boston Event Divas, Peabody, MA | Entertainment: Mass Bay DJ Entertainment | Videographer: Humberto Blanco, @iluvfilming
