Sophisticated Wedding

Dean Overdyk and Cecilia Villareal | January 15, 2022

Photography by Michael Segal

A sweet couple celebrates their Oaxacan wedding with family, friends and mezcal

Dean and Cecilia (“Ceci”) met at work while working on a project together in Richmond, VA. After the project was over, Dean asked Ceci out on a date by leaving her favorite dessert (a locally baked Nutella brownie) on her desk. Their sweet future together took off from there.

Their wedding was a destination wedding in Oaxaca de Juarez, Oaxaca, Mexico, where Ceci’s family had traditionally spent vacations. The ceremony started at 1:30pm at the historic Temple of Santo Domingo de Guzmán, built between 1575 and 1608 in the center of Oaxaca with a finely carved baroque facade and breathtaking interior decorated in three-dimensional relief with elaborate gilt designs wrapping around a plethora of painted figures. Ceci looked gorgeous in an Anne Barge dress. Her favorite bridal accessory was her grandma’s antique sapphire earrings (something old, blue, and borrowed). The strapping groom, an impressive 6’8” tall, only had eyes for his bride the entire Catholic ceremony.

Immediately following the ceremony was a calendar, a traditional wedding parade through the center of town that featured dancers in Oaxaqueñan wardrobes and giant papier-mâché puppets called mogigangas that resembled the bride and groom. There were also traditionally costumed women serving shots of mezcal in bamboo shot glasses. The wedding party then proceeded to the reception dinner at Jardín Etnobotánico de Oaxaca behind the church. After an elaborate multi-course dinner, the dancing began, and women were given slippers so they could dance until the wee hours.

The signature cocktail was named after Dean and Ceci’s seven-year-old Australian Shepard, Kora. Ceci’s cousin, a graphic designer, created a lotería card based on Kora’s picture. Following dinner and the cake cutting, the festivities went into high gear lasting until 2:00am. Dancing amongst the guests were giant colorful alebrijes carried on sticks by puppeteers, and the guests could don a pair of neon flashing wings while dancing. The evening concluded with a spectacular fireworks display over the garden.

Dean and Ceci’s honeymoon to southeast Asia was postponed due to Covid, so they spent a week in Tulum, Mexico. They stayed at the Conrad Tulum, a beautiful resort described as “a sanctuary of wonder on the coast of Riviera Maya” that just opened a few months ago.

Dean works as a Senior Account Manager, and Ceci is an Associate Marketing Manager. Both work for large CPG (consumer packaged goods) companies. They currently live in Dallas, TX. Dean is the son of Frank Overdyk who is a member of the OTR (see the publisher’s letter for more details) and one of our closest friends. Ceci’s family resides in McAllen, TX: parents Juan Jose and Macarena, and siblings Juan Jose Jr. and Maya. Dean’s family lives in Charleston, SC: parents Frank and Elyse, sister Mieke and brother-in-law Chandler Catanzaro.

MC Weddings (Marcela Cerbón) out of Cabo San Lucas. IG Handle: @mc_weddings Gaby Muro Weddings (Gaby Muro) out of Mexico City. IG Handle: @gabymuroweddings ...and John Tyson (also of OTR)