The Couple

Alan William Tardio and Weston Garrett O’Neal married on December 31, 2018, in La Paz, Bolivia. Alan, 32, is a chemistry teacher at Uplift Preparatory. While he was born in New York, Alan lived in Bolivia until he was 22. He went to the University of Texas at Dallas and graduated with a degree in biology. Weston, also 32, is the director of manufacturing at Nerium SkinCare. He was born in San Antonio and graduated from the University of Texas at San Antonio, where he studied biology with a focus in biochemistry.

The Story

The couple, who live in Deep Ellum, met in 2011. While they finished college, they dated long distance, driving back and forth between Dallas and San Antonio. Then, Weston landed a job in Dallas, and their futures aligned. They exchanged promise rings in 2015 and in 2016 traveled to Bolivia to see Alan’s family and get their blessing for marriage. While they were taking photos in the Bolivian salt flats, Alan got down on one knee and proposed for real.

The Wedding

The Bolivian wedding took place at DM Andino Hotel on New Year’s Eve. The couple processed together with their mothers by their sides. They exchanged vows surrounded by their closest friends and family with the scenic Atlas Mountains as their backdrop. Following the ceremony, they moved inside the hotel where they prepared for the reception or “la hora loca.” They feasted on traditional Bolivian food and danced to “Real Love Baby” by Father John Misty, a favorite song of the couple, and then “Into the Mystic” by Van Morrison, a favorite of both their mothers. The festive celebration ended with fireworks, ringing the newlyweds into the new year and chapter of their lives.