SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE, Mexico - Allison LaCalle and Travis Michel were joined as man and wife in a romantic destination wedding held in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico Nov. 23, 2012.

The traditional Mexican ceremony took place at five o’clock in the afternoon at the historic Hacienda Las Trancas.

The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Davis LaCalle Sr. of Eunice. Allison is the granddaughter of Mrs. Claire Smith and the late Harry Alvin Smith Sr. of Eunice. Her paternal grandparents are the late Mr. and Mrs. Lester LaCalle Sr., also of Eunice.

The groom is the son of Michael Michel of Franklin and Phyllis Michel of Lafayette. Travis is the grandson of the late Mr. and Mrs. Dalton C. Michel of Charenton. His maternal grandparents are the late Mr. and Mrs. Kearney Boudreaux of Baldwin.

Family and guests arrived early for a week of pre-wedding celebrations and excursions. Hosting and arranging the week’s events and the wedding ceremony were brother and sister-in-law of the bride, William and Aimee LaCalle, who are part-time residents of San Miguel de Allende.

Arrival day included an open house and welcome reception at the LaCalle’s colonial Mexican home followed by an informal walking tour to the city’s main square.

The next morning, family and friends attended Catholic mass at La Parroquia, the parish church of San Miguel, and later spent the evening enjoying the lively closing performance of the annual San Miguel Jazz and Blues Festival.

On the next evening, guests attended a cocktail hour and formal seated dinner where they were served seasonal organic cuisine in an 18th Century Moroccan courtyard.

The following morning, guests enjoyed a trip to the vibrant “Tuesday Market.” Afterwards, the group headed to the authentic Rancho Xotolar for an afternoon sunset horseback ride, an exhibition of roping and riding by resident ranchers, festive live music and a home-cooked meal.

The next evening, guests enjoyed cocktails and Spanish tapas on the beautiful Rosewood Hotel terrace before participating in a traditional procession led by local musicians through the cobblestone streets back to the LaCalle home, where festivities continued into the night.

On the night prior to the wedding, guests enjoyed a traditional American Thanksgiving meal at the LaCalle home.

On the day of the wedding, guests were called to the exquisitely adorned intimate Templo de Loreto church in the heart of the village just before five o’clock in the afternoon. Pews decorated with fresh rose pomanders, soft hues of blush and ivory fresh flowers ornamenting the altar, white candles glimmering in translucent votives and a center aisle covered with a white runner and plentiful soft shaded rose petals welcomed the attendees. Msgr. José Asunción Briones Barrientos, a bilingual priest from the diocese of nearby Celeya, Mexico, officiated the ceremony.

Traditional Mexican wedding customs were observed during the ceremony. Travis presented Allison with a box containing thirteen gold coins pledging that he placed all of his earthly goods into her care and safekeeping, a symbol of Travis’ unquestionable trust and confidence.

The matron of honor placed a long loop of antique crystal rosary beads, called a lasso, in a figure eight over Allison and Travis after their wedding vows were exchanged. The couple wore the lasso, symbolic of their love bonding them together every day as they equally share the responsibility of marriage for the rest of their lives, throughout the remainder of the service.

Ensemble Quartet, a group of gifted musicians from San Miguel de Allende, performed the classical wedding music. The quartet consisted of the violin, oboe, piano, and bass. Cherished friends of the family in the quartet were bass player, Antonio Lozoya, and his wife, Teresa Urtusistegui Fernandez, on the oboe. Accompanying the quartet for select musical pieces during the wedding ceremony as a sign of their adoration for their aunt were Allison’s nephews, Will and Jack LaCalle.

Escorted by her proud father down the elaborately decorated aisle, Allison was remarkable in an ivory embroidered full-length lace gown designed by Watters. The exquisite strapless gown, lined in blush, concluded in a sweep train. Allison’s fingertip veil was designed with silk illusion trimmed in scalloped lace. Allison carried a stunning bouquet of fragrant ivory and blush hued fresh roses.

Allison also honored customary traditions by entwining into her bouquet a sapphire and diamond necklace of her sister, Mary, for something old. She wore her new wedding gifts from the groom, a light grey pearl necklace clasped with an Italian gold medal and a matching set of delicate pearl earrings. The antique crystal rosary lasso used in the wedding ceremony was borrowed from Allison’s sister-in-law, Aimee LaCalle, and was subsequently gifted to Allison as a memento. Aimee also had a custom raw silk purse lined in light blue silk made for the bride for use on her wedding day that provided the “something blue” element of the tradition.

The groom wore a charcoal grey tuxedo designed by Vera Wang. His ensemble featured a modern fit, via a slightly shorter coat length and narrow lapel, providing a sophisticated look. He wore a simple, sophisticated rose boutonniere in a blush hue.

Mary LaCalle Burke of Lubbock, Texas served as matron of honor to her younger sister. Mary was exceedingly graceful in an Amsale crinkle chiffon strapless gown. The full-length blush gown featured a ruched bodice.

The flower girl, Vivienne Rose Burke, daughter of the matron of honor and niece of the bride, looked adorable in a satin full-length gown in pearl. The sleeveless gown featured a pleated bodice and bubble skirt cinched at the waist with a shirred waistband.

The matron of honor and flower girl carried complementary bouquets of fresh roses in shades of blush and ivory.

Trent Michel of Baton Rouge served his younger brother as best man. Trevor Burke, son of the matron of honor and nephew of the bride, served as the ring bearer. Alex LaCalle, brother of the bride, as well as Will and Jack LaCalle, nephews of the bride and sons of William and Aimee LaCalle, served as the ushers.

Trent Michel, Alex LaCalle, Will LaCalle, Jack LaCalle and Trevor Burke all wore charcoal grey tuxedos designed by Vera Wang to complement the groom. The men also wore blush rose boutonnieres.

Mother of the bride, Evelyn Smith LaCalle, was elegant in a hyacinth silk dupioni two-piece ensemble. The splendid quarter length sleeved jacket with ruffled V-neck stylishly draped to one side where it clasped with crystal button closures and overlaid the floor length A-line skirt.

Phyllis Michel, mother of the groom, looked particularly impressive in her tastefully selected attire. She chose a stylish, sleeveless full-length delicate lace design. A sheer taupe organdy and lace jacket was secured at her waistline with a subtle textile enclosed button.

The mothers of the bride and groom wore wrist corsages fashioned of fresh miniature roses in soft blush and ivory hues.

Contributing in the celebration by presenting the selected readings during the ceremony were William and Alex LaCalle, brothers of the bride, and Aimee DeVillier LaCalle, sister-in-law of the bride.

Guests showered the cheerful newlyweds with ivory and blush colored rose petals as they left the church. Festive mariachis dressed in white and playing traditional celebratory music led the wedding procession from the entrance of the church through the walls of the rustic hacienda to commence the festivities.

Round tables, swathed in romantic white linens and ornamented with arrangements of fresh flowers in soft ivory and blush, were set under a white gathered fabric tent. The dreamy sanctuary was illuminated with delicate clear lights. A Mexican string trio stood in the courtyard in front of the massive stone fountain, filled with rose petals and encircled in glimmering candlelight, and played softly as the guests enjoyed a traditional Mexican dinner.

Following the meal, the bride and groom cut their cakes. The wedding cake was a delectable almond flavor with almond buttercream frosting, amaretto filling, and embellished with ivory buttercream miniature roses. A lavish arrangement of fresh flowers in subtle shades of ivory and blush cascaded down the confection.

The triple-layer chocolate groom’s cake was frosted with chocolate buttercream, filled with tasty raspberry preserve and decorated with dark chocolate buttercream polka dots.

The godparents of the groom and honored guests, Terry Boudreaux and Vickie Boudreaux Chauvin, tended the presentation of the wedding cake.

Pink champagne, at the request of the bride, was served to guests for toasting.

Decorated favor bags of traditional Mexican candies were handed out allowing guests to sample local delights.

Giant “mojigangas,” dancing 10-foot-tall puppet figurines, an essential part of San Miguel fiestas, dressed as a bride and groom joined the reception.

Celebratory mariachis and a charming donkey wearing a wreath of paper flowers and baskets bearing tequila accompanied the giant puppets.

Guests were presented native folk art papier-mâché shakers in vibrantly painted animal and bird shapes to take home as souvenirs.

Next, wedding guests enjoyed an energetic performance of a “Ballet Folklorico,” traditional Mexican folk dancing carefully preserved and passed down from generation to generation.

Guests were also treated to a breathtaking firework display. Designed by local craftsmen to celebrate the marriage, a customized firework “castillo,” a sculpture-like construction featuring spinning fire wheels, screaming sounds and lots of smoke and sparks, was presented to the crowd. The newlywed’s initials, along with a befittingly chosen heart encircled by Mexican wedding birds, burned brilliant pink at the end of the show.

Honoring true Mexican fashion, guests continued to partake in dancing and libations into the early morning hours.

The newlywed couple will be celebrating their honeymoon in the captivating Galapagos Islands off the coast of Ecuador later this year.

The couple is currently residing happily in Austin, Texas where Mr. Michel is employed as a civil engineer and Mrs. Michel is working as a clinical audiologist.