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The Bride Wore An Audrey Hepburn-Inspired Wedding Dress To Marry At Her Grandparents’ Home In Mexico
Although their paths only briefly crossed at an event in college, Benjamin A Coppel S swiftly set his sights on a happy ending with Andrea Fernández. Twelve years after their first meeting, Benjamin asked her on a date over text, finishing his message with: “And then just maybe, we live happily ever after, sounds good?” Andrea replied, “Sounds like a plan.”
While their first date took place in Los Angeles, where they currently reside, Benjamin headed to the Tamayo Museum in Seoul, where Andrea worked at the time, for their second. From then on, their relationship has been filled with spontaneity, art and far-flung journeys together.
When it came time to plan their wedding, Andrea notes the couple wanted their celebration to feel deeply personal – and in a venue imbued with history, character and meaning. “We envisioned a location that we could drive by years from now and tell our grandchildren, ‘We got married there,’” the bride says. “When we asked ourselves what space could hold all that sentiment, my father’s childhood home in Chihuahua was the only answer. It’s a house filled with warmth, family traditions and stories, and we knew it would make the perfect setting for a truly intimate and nostalgic celebration.”
The vision for the autumn wedding day was clear. “We wanted the reception to feel like an elegant yet effortless gathering – as my grandmother would have organised it in the ’50s – that celebrated the home’s beauty while adding a refined, contemporary touch,” says Andrea. “Our planners, Jerónimo Gaxiola and his team, perfectly balanced nostalgia with modernity.”
This balance was also reflected in the look and feel of Andrea’s wedding dress. When daydreaming about what it could look like, Audrey Hepburn immediately came to mind. “I remember stumbling upon a photo of her in the Givenchy gown she wore to the premiere of The Nun’s Story, and at that moment, my search felt complete,” she shares. However, finding her dream dress was proving impossible, until she came across bridal stylist Gabrielle Hurwitz. “I sent her an email explaining my struggle, and she kindly responded. I attached the Givenchy reference, and from our first Zoom meeting, she completely understood my vision,” explains Andrea. “Gabrielle presented three designers, but when I saw Emilia Wickstead’s work, I got the chills. It was an instant connection – I didn’t want to see the other options. She immediately arranged a meeting with Juulia from Emilia’s team, and the process began seamlessly.”
Andrea would go on to visit London three times for fittings of the sleeveless ivory silk gown with an elegant Watteau train. “My last visit turned into a mini celebration with my friends, toasting to my dream dress,” says the bride. To accessorise the look, she paired the dress with chic Jimmy Choo Mary-Janes and Cartier earrings – a gift from Benjamin. For his own wedding look, the groom kept it classic in a Tom Ford tuxedo.
On a bright and sunny October morning, guests filled the church near her grandparents’ home. “It was a place woven into my childhood, where we celebrated Christmases, baptisms, weddings and even the farewells of loved ones,” shares the bride. The couple decided to see each other for the first time at the church as an 18-person chorus sang. “A moment that felt like falling in love all over again,” remembers Andrea. “As I walked down the aisle and met his gaze, all nerves disappeared. It was a reaffirmation of our love, our commitment and the life we were about to build together.”
The bride notes that exchanging the rings was a particularly profound moment for her during the ceremony. “What a weird feeling how a simple piece of metal can bond us – our Cartier Alliance 1895 bands, each engraved with a simple yet profound promise: ‘Always’ on his, ‘& Forever’ on mine.” The newlyweds and their guests then headed to the family home, which was perfectly curated for a party. “The flow of the evening was designed to encourage movement and discovery,” says Andrea. “Guests were greeted by a martini bar hidden in what used to be the kitchen pantry, where they could see the heights and dates of my cousins marked on the doorframe.”
Live jazz from the solarium drifted through the house, while a Vivian Suter painting provided a focal point in the softly-lit room. “Even though both of our grandparents are no longer with us, there were moments when it felt like we were pulling off a little mischief and getting away with it,” Andrea adds. Cocktail hour took place in the back garden, where lush greenery, white florals and checkered floors created a relaxed space for conversation. “Later, guests were led to the front garden for dinner, where the tables – dressed in Portuguese linens and embroidered napkins featuring our monogram – sat beneath the rose gold hues of my grandmother’s Chinese flame trees,” says the bride.
The music was a standout element of the celebration for the couple. “From Cornelia Murr’s ethereal live set during lunch to our first dance to ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love’ by Elvis Presley (a surprise by Benjamin), each song was intentionally chosen to create a feeling, a memory in the making,” shares Andrea. “Some guests felt confident and free to play the solarium piano at different moments.”
After pizza was served at midnight, the party was brought down to the basement, which had been transformed into a hidden nightclub. “The lighting was warm and intimate, and the music curated by Arman Nafeei set the perfect mood,” the bride shares. “Seeing our friends and family dancing, laughing, and completely immersed in the moment was pure magic. We danced until 5am!”
Most of all, Andrea remembers the love in the air that evening. “Everyone was the main character, and the stories we heard made us feel like we had created something timeless,” she says. “This day wasn’t just about beautiful details; everyone felt safe to be themselves, and it had meaning, history and love.”
Monica Varas.1/23“Sheer elegance! My after-party dress by Francesca Miranda – a delicate lace masterpiece tailored by Sara Rothan – catching the golden light before hitting the dance floor.
Monica Varas.2/23“These gorgeous Cartier earrings were a meaningful gift from Benjamin before the proposal, given with the promise that I would only wear them on our wedding day – a surprise symbol of our first vow.”
Monica Varas.3/23Bridal gloves to go with the Emilia Wickstead gown.
Monica Varas.4/23“Stepping into forever. My Jimmy Choo satin Mary-Janes, each step filled with love, anticipation and the promise of a lifetime together.”
