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Andrea Meza and Ryan Proctor have exchanged vows and are now officially married. After four years of dating, the former Miss Universe and the American influencer said "I do!" on January 11, beginning a new chapter in their lives with a stunning seaside ceremony.
After months of anticipation, the Mexican host finally celebrated her civil wedding. Originally scheduled for October 12, the event was postponed due to Hurricane Milton's arrival. "There were so many changes. We were just so eager to have the wedding and share this moment with our family. I wanted it to happen as soon as possible. It was supposed to take place a few months ago, but well, a thousand things happened," Meza shared.
Another unexpected challenge was having to design a second wedding dress. The original gown was created for Florida’s typically warm weather, but colder-than-usual temperatures prompted Andrea to request a more covered bridal outfit just weeks before the ceremony in Naples, north of Miami. "I had to change my dress because I would have frozen. They made a new one for me in two weeks. Both were spectacular, and I wore them during the wedding," the Mexican beauty revealed exclusively to ¡HOLA! AMÉRICAS just hours before her big day.
Speaking about her relationship, Andrea couldn’t help but gush over her new husband: “Ryan is the funniest person I’ve ever met. I think he’s incredibly handsome, my best friend. I love spending time with him. There’s no moment in my life I don’t want to share with him. Whatever happens—good or bad—he’s the first person I think of and the one I turn to. I’ve never understood why people plan vacations to get away from their partner. I love sharing everything with him,” she said, clearly smitten.
A beachfront ceremony
Calm and very happy, Andrea allowed ¡HOLA! to join her from early on during the preparations alongside her outstanding team of professionals, who took care of every detail to ensure she looked spectacular and everything was flawless. Starting at one in the afternoon, the former beauty queen began her beauty routine with makeup and hairstyling by Marlene Franco, who works with her daily for her shows on Telemundo and special events. Image consulting and creative direction were handled by Reading Pantaleón, with whom Andrea has collaborated for years.
Once she was ready and radiant, Andrea made her way to meet her beloved, and around 5 p.m., the couple exchanged vows and were pronounced husband and wife by Lauren, Ryan’s only sister among his five siblings. “We asked Lauren, Ryan’s only sister, to officiate our wedding. It’s our civil ceremony, but we wanted it to have a special meaning, not just signing a legal document. We decided to do it this way, surrounded by our loved ones, our closest family members, and dearest friends,” the model shared.
Surrounded by a stunning setting, the ceremony took place at an exclusive private beach club with approximately 53 guests. On the bride's side, her parents and two sisters attended, while on the groom's side, his parents, siblings, and grandparents were present. "We chose this location because Ryan's family is from Saint Louis, Missouri, but they either live in or spend half the year in Naples. His grandparents live here, and, in fact, the club where we got married is the beach venue where his grandparents reside, and they offered it to us," shared the former Miss Universe.
Ryan's attire, with his brother serving as his best man, was a custom-made ensemble by the Dominican brand specialized in linen, Hippólito. His choice was an elegant white suit, a modern reinvention of a classic design by the brand, tailored to match the groom's personal style.
"When I see her, I realize how lucky I am to have met her. I'm one of those who wants to have more than two children, and she only wants one, so we’ll have to come to an agreement on that."
Down the aisle: The bride’s dresses
Tall, elegant, and radiant, Andrea walked slowly along a sandy aisle leading to Ryan, accompanied by a delicate melody performed by violinists. Her bridal attire was unveiled: two stunning dresses designed by renowned Dominican designer Luis Domínguez, showcasing her beauty and sophistication on this special day.
The first piece she wore, the ceremony dress, featured a trumpet column silhouette with a medium train, an off-the-shoulder neckline, and long sleeves. It was made from fine ivory Moroccan crepe fabric, finished with delicate hand-covered buttons placed as details on the cuffs and back. The look was completed with a lightweight blusher veil, edged with a delicate matching silk trim.
The second ensemble, which she wore during the reception, was a Grecian-style gown featuring a knotted neckline and a diamond-shaped front opening, paired with a gathered, bias-cut skirt. It was meticulously hand-draped and accented with a double cascading back with asymmetrical panels, crafted from fine corrugated silk gauze in a chalk-white hue.
The jewelry was a detail by Leslie Mota, and the headpiece was one of the crowns she won at Miss World, her first international pageant. The rings were exclusively designed for Andrea at Ryan's request by the Mouawad brand, the same jewelers who crafted the crown she wore during her reign as Miss Universe, and from which the symbols of the rings were inspired. She completed her look with Dior lace shoes that matched her dress.
"I wanted a light, flowy dress—something elegant yet sexy and romantic. I didn’t want anything over the top because I don’t think it fits my style or personality. Originally, I wasn’t planning to wear a veil. The dress had a long cape I was going to wear down the aisle. But when we changed the wedding date, I thought, ‘I’ll just stick with that dress.’ Then, two weeks before the wedding, a cold front came through, and I panicked, thinking, ‘What am I going to do?’ I didn’t want to just throw a coat over it because it wouldn’t work with the dress. So, I called the designer and my stylist, and we all agreed on a change. In the end, I walked down the aisle in a simple, long-sleeve, fitted white dress with a slight off-the-shoulder detail. It didn’t have any embroidery or embellishments, but this time, I added a veil. It was such a special touch—one of those veils that covers your face as you walk down the aisle. I absolutely loved it," the bride shared.
Both are fully aware of how lucky they are to have married each other while being completely in love. For Ryan, Andrea is, without a doubt, the apple of his eye. "At first, I was captivated by her beauty—she's stunning—but now I love her even more because I know her completely. She's amazing, incredibly kind and grateful, loving, intelligent... She has all these qualities that make her an incredible life partner. Every time I look at her, I think, 'Oh my God, she’s the most beautiful woman in the universe!'"
"My mom always told me, 'Find a man who respects you.' My dad said the same. They taught me what kind of man deserves to be by my side and deserves my love—it has to be someone I admire, and I’ve always kept that in mind. Getting married was never in my plans."
The vows they exchanged, gazing into each other’s eyes, captured the love they’ve built over nearly five years together. While they don’t need to reaffirm the feelings they share daily in private, the public declaration of love they made in front of their family and friends serves as a meaningful reminder—a mantra that helps strengthen their bond.
"My sister-in-law gave us a small message that we had to repeat when we exchanged rings. We also included a sand ceremony, where each of us had a glass of sand that we poured together into a jar, symbolizing the union of both sides. Additionally, we had a small box where we placed our written vows, and we’ll keep it there as a visual reminder of our promise," shared the 2020 crown winner.
Andrea and Ryan base their relationship on words of affirmation. "Every day, we tell each other a thousand times, 'I love you, you’re the best thing in my life, you’re my everything,' those kinds of things we’re constantly saying to each other. So, when I started writing my vows, it was like, okay… how can I express this message in his language in a way that’s not repetitive and truly reflects how I feel? Finding those words was difficult, but in the end, I trusted myself, and we did it in English," they both shared.
"My mom always used to say, 'Find a man who respects you.' My dad said the same. They taught me what kind of man deserves to be by my side and deserves my love—it has to be someone I admire, and I’ve always kept that in mind. Marriage was never in my plans. When you’re little, you fall in love and imagine a life with that boy... but as I grew older, it just wasn’t a priority for me. My parents also always emphasized that the important thing is your education and preparation. The important thing is that you can provide for yourself and that if you want to achieve something, you work for it. It was never about 'find a man to support you or fulfill your dreams,'" explains the Chihuahua native.
A celebration with Mariachi and Frank Sinatra
After the emotional ceremony, the reception kicked off at 6:30 p.m. with an upscale cocktail hour for the guests. The venue, softly lit with warm lighting, was elegantly decorated with beautiful pastel-toned floral arrangements that adorned each centerpiece, creating a cozy yet festive atmosphere.
The three-course dinner started with a fresh salad of fruits and vegetables. For the main course, a Surf & Turf featuring lobster and potato was served. To end on a high note, dessert was a rich Chocolate Lava Cake, paired with refreshing vanilla ice cream.
Honoring her Mexican roots, Andrea and her now-husband, Ryan, were welcomed by the lively sounds of mariachi as they began a celebration that lasted well past midnight. The radiant bride debuted her second dress, while guests enjoyed an experience that will remain a cherished memory in their hearts.
Their first dance as a married couple was to Frank Sinatra's classic "L.O.V.E," a song that has been a constant in their life together. "We didn’t plan anything, honestly—no choreography, nothing extravagant. We just chose a song we both love and sing all the time. For some reason, it’s always been a favorite—we sing and dance to it in the kitchen, in the living room, everywhere. So it felt like the perfect choice to kick off the party," Meza explains. "And I’ll be wearing the original dress, the very first one I had made."
Honeymoon in Europe and future plans
For Ryan, one of the short-term plans—or rather, in the coming months—is to fulfill a dream for his beloved wife: taking her to visit Europe. Surprisingly, Andrea has yet to explore the Old Continent, so the plan is already in place and just a matter of time before it happens. "I’d love to surprise her soon and take her to see the beautiful countries in Europe. I hope we can make it happen soon. In the meantime, we’re also thinking about traveling to a nearby destination in the near future," shares Ryan Antonio, as he’s known on social media.
Andrea explains: "I’m currently in the process of getting my residency, so it depends on when I can leave the country and things like that. I’d love to visit Europe because I’ve never been to any country there. Ryan tells me, ‘I think it would be special for us to go together, and I could show you the places I know.’ So that’s our number one plan, although we’ve also talked about going to Hawaii or somewhere similar."
When it comes to starting a family, although both come from large households, they haven’t made a definitive decision yet. "We’re both on the same page, like... well, at least when I met Ryan, I changed my ‘no’ to a ‘maybe.’ Maybe I can see it happening. He tells me there are two options: either we don’t have kids or we have more than one, because he wants a big, close-knit family," Andrea shares with a smile.
Credits
Creative Direction and Image Consulting: Reading Pantaleón
Styling Assistance: Geneva Corbin
Photo: Enrique Flores
Makeup and Hair: Marlene Franco
Jewelry: Leslie Mota
Rings: Mouawad
Dresses: Luis Domínguez
Shoes: Dior
Suit: Hippólito
Wedding Planner: MaryAnn Szlachetka
