Elizabeth Worrall  & Juan Antonio Solis
October 21, 2023

Standing out on Hinge can be tough, but Juan Antonio Solis’ pic and profile were enough to stop Elizabeth Worrall mid-scroll. “I thought he was cute,” she says. “Plus, he seemed normal.” Juan Antonio liked what he saw, too. “She had more of a quirky profile—she referenced Lord of the Rings, which I thought was interesting.” The two bonded over Tolkien and a million other things via text before meeting for a very loud first date at Bowen House a month later. “There was a huge birthday party seated next to us, so we had to scream the whole night,” Juan Antonio says. “But it ended up being a really great time.”

The epic first date was just the beginning. Two years later, Juan Antonio asked for Elizabeth’s hand in front of her nearest and dearest in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The bride-to-be knew she wanted a storybook event that would combine her betrothed’s Mexican heritage, her New Mexican roots, and some of the memories they’d shared together. “When we first started dating, we traveled to San Miguel [de Allende, Mexico],” she says. “We thought it would be an interesting spot for our wedding.” 

Like her sister, Elizabeth turned to planner Emily Clarke to pile on plenty of local flavor along with fantastical flourishes. “The invitation suite was pivotal—I knew Lizzie liked stained glass—and that was the launching point,” says Emily. The paper inspired the stunning cathedral-like, candle-filled reception tent and everything inside it, including place settings featuring hand-painted Mexican retablos and a trio of tequila shots. “It’s called ‘La Banderita,’ and each one represents a color on the Mexican flag,” says Elizabeth. “Everyone loved it.”

Sweet Suite:

The colors and architecture of San Miguel inspired the entire affair, including the invitations—designed by House of CLRK’s The Detail Department—and the chapel-like tent Emily had built for the reception.

Light Up the Night:

A massive firework display provided the perfect transition from dinner to dancing during the action-packed event.

Set the Table:

Emily and senior design and production manager Rielly Kidwell created a stunning tabletop with hand-painted pieces adorned with well-wishes from the couple’s parents; a trio of tequilas; and arrangements of roses, ranunculus, and lisianthuses packed in petite vessels.

Lean into the Location

While Elizabeth Worrall and Juan Antonio Solis wanted a wedding that honored his Mexican heritage and highlighted the beauty of San Miguel, they strove to make sure that the results were more elegant than EPCOT. Enter designer Emily Clarke, who toed the line beautifully. “She was conscious of making sure nothing would be considered distasteful,” explains Elizabeth. One of the highlights of the weekend was a market Emily and her team set up with locally sourced items. Wedding guests “shopped” for the things they wanted and created very personalized welcome bags. “We actually did that for both of the girls,” Emily says. “It was easy to do in Mexico—we hunted for beautiful candles and high-end touches for two days right around Day of the Dead.”

Guests:  200

On the Menu:  Steak and lobster

First Dance:  “That’s How Strong My Love Is” by Otis Redding

Friday Night Delights:  Party guests paraded through San Miguel before the rehearsal dinner

Honeymoon: South Africa and Mozambique

Special Touch: Planner Emily Clarke printed out well-wishes from the couple’s parents and had local artists paint them on Mexican retablos.