In Marrakech, Morocco, Daniel Guaqueta captured video footage of snake charmers as they hypnotized snakes by playing an instrument called a Pungi. As the camera starts rolling, one of the snake charmers unexpectedly turns and dangles a viper inches away from his new bride, Megan Storm's, face. She remains calm and doesn't move as the snake makes its way around her neck, and then does the same to Guaqueta. The snake charmer claims it's a ritual for good luck and demands $60.
"Megan and I both like to explore and go on adventures," Guaqueta says. "It's pretty scary to think about the snake incident, and I realized how crazy it was after the fact. Think about it: We are on our honeymoon. Most couples go to Jamaica or the Bahamas."
The Jackson couple got married Jan. 30 and then went on a honeymoon reminiscent of the television show "Amazing Race," taking 11 flights over the course of 18 days throughout Europe where they traveled to Morocco, Spain, Italy, France, Belgium, Switzerland and the Netherlands.
Honeymoon highlights included attending the Carnival of Venice, sledding in Switzerland, and eating crepes in France. Guaqueta admits that trekking around Europe wasn't always the most relaxing experience. He suffered from allergies and couldn't find proper medication, and the couple had to navigate through foreign cities where they didn't speak the language. Despite the challenges, Guaqueta says the honeymoon strengthened the couple's relationship.
"In the end, none of the setbacks matter because you are spending time with someone you love," he says. "You are there to learn and grow. It was trying at times, but overall it was a really great experience because now we know we can communicate and deal with stress better."
Guaqueta, 33, and Storm, 23, met in 2005 in Fondren while Guaqueta was testing out his own crepe stand, a business the young entrepreneur was pursuing at the time. Guaqueta, now the founder of his own music production company, Guaqueta Productions, invited Storm to his radio show, "Mississippi Happening," and the two started dating soon after.
"At the time, I was thinking about doing crepes instead of music, but thank God I was doing that because that's how I met Megan," he says.
The couple shares similar interests, but also balances each other with their differences. Guaqueta is a music enthusiast who appears weekly on his radio show, and is a member of the local bands Storage 24, Hunter Gibson and Questions in Dialect. He says he prefers to be front-and-center, while Storm is more thoughtful, quiet and easy-going. Megan has a bachelor's degree in chemistry from Millsaps College and a master's in biological science from Mississippi College. She works as a researcher at the University of Mississippi Medical Center and is currently applying for medical school to get her doctorate. Guaqueta was born in Hattiesburg, and grew up in Bogota, Colombia as the oldest of four sons. Storm grew up in Jackson and is the second youngest of nine children. They both share a love and interest of different cultures and customs.
Guaqueta says they both knew early into the relationship that they would eventually get married but a trip to Colombia in summer 2009 made that goal a reality. "I realized two months into the relationship that she was the one," Guaqueta says. "I could see how sweet and wonderful and open she was. She wasn't judgmental, and she supported me. I knew this was the person I wanted to be around my whole life."
During their Colombia trip, Storm met Guaqueta's extended family and picked out an emerald engagement ring. Guaqueta says emerald symbolizes the connection to Colombia and his family.
"It was important for her to see how much family means to me," he says. "The trip was amazing. It was like she was a member of the family. She spoke Spanish and got along with everyone. We both knew that was it."
When they returned to the states, they went on a vacation with Storm's family to Branson, Mo., where Guaqueta officially proposed. How he proposed remains a secret, but later that night when they went to the 12 Irish Tenors concert, Guaqueta managed to get on stage in front of 400 people and announce their engagement.
The couple was married at Crossgates United Methodist Church in Brandon and afterward held a reception at the Old Capitol Inn for 200 of their family and friends. As a producer, Guaqueta wanted to create an environment where everyone—young and old—could dance. Guaqueta, also a deejay, has played his share of weddings and wanted something special so he worked with DJ 5150 and created a playlist with a wide range of music including Latin, electronic, Texas swing and jazz. DJ 5150 also incorporated lasers, a smoke machine and a bubble machine creating a club-like environment.
Guaqueta's dad, Ricardo Guaqueta, a horticulturist in Miami, provided unique floral arrangements made of white, purple and pink calla lilies, hydrangeas, 400 white roses, oriental lilies, bear grass and horsetails. Old Capitol Inn Chef Bruce Cain created an eclectic array of food that included sushi, sugar cane roasted pork loins, crawfish, beignets, fried catfish, mufalettas and jambalaya.
Since their nupitals, the couple, who live in Fondren, say the adjustment to married life has been a smooth transition.
"Married life is awesome," Guaqueta says. "It's a cool feeling that the two of you are going toward the same goals together. We have decided to build a family and a foundation together. … And, best of all, she makes bread."
To see videos and photos from the couple's honeymoon, visit the couples Wedding Gallery.
Vendors
Bride Design
7951 NW 64th St., Miami, Fla.
305-433-2114
[e-mail missing]
http://www.guaqueta.com
Flowers by Mary
395 Crossgates Blvd., Brandon
601-825-0071
Cakes by Iris
601-540-6347
[e-mail missing]
http://www.cakesbyiris.com
The Cake Shoppe
601-932-2914
[e-mail missing]
Molly Gee feather hair pieced worn by bridesmaids
are sold locally at:
Alex and Lele
1481 Canton Mart Road
601-206-7720
http://alexandlele.bigcartel.com
and
Libby Story
120 W. Jackson St., Ridgeland
601-717-3300
http://www.libbystory.com
Photography: Josh Hailey Studio
2906 N. State St.
601-214-2068
[e-mail missing]
http://www.joshhaileyphotography.com
Accents
Smart Planning: Megan planned the entire honeymoon on a budget of $3,000 by comparing hotel rates and booking tickets in advance. She used http://www.hotels.com and http://www.bookit.com, and found hotel rooms close to main attractions to cut down on travel costs. The couple made sandwiches whenever possible instead of dining out.
Previous Comments
- ID
- 157905
- Comment
Great story! I usually don't like sappy wedding stories, but this one rocked. Thanks JFP.
- Author
- dd39203
- Date
- 2010-05-20T09:59:58-06:00
More stories by this author
Support our reporting -- Follow the MFP.
