MLB Player Jake Cronenworth Marries Sports Reporter Brooke Fletcher in Destination Wedding with Ties to Mayan Culture (Exclusive)

• San Diego Padres player Jake Cronenworth married sports reporter Brooke Fletcher on Jan. 18 at The St. Regis Kanai Resort, Riviera Maya in Mexico

• Their three-day celebration beginning on Jan. 17 and ending on Jan. 19 paid tribute to the local culture and featured a champagne sabrage at the welcome party, live music during the wedding reception and "a nod to all things sports" at the farewell party 

• Now, the newlyweds are looking forward to married life and eventually want to "have kids and settle down near family"

MLB player Jake Cronenworth is married!

The San Diego Padres player, 30, tied the knot with sports reporter and former Miss Georgia USA Brooke Fletcher at The St. Regis Kanai Resort, Riviera Maya in Mexico on Saturday, Jan. 18. The couple's weekend wedding celebration kicked off on Friday, Jan. 17 with a fun welcome party, and concluded on Sunday, Jan. 19 with a farewell pool party.

"Overall, our wedding weekend played into the locale and really celebrated Mexico and its vibrancy alongside the Mayan culture," the bride tells PEOPLE.

She adds that their itinerary "emulated the circular Mayan calendar" and that they "infused the 'circle of life' theme," which inspired the resort's architecture, such as by incorporating native plants and organic florals into their events.

The Chicago-based couple wanted to "escape the winter" and provide their 130 guests with a "fun vacation." The St. Regis' purposeful architecture is what especially appealed to the bride and groom.

"With the way the resort’s design symbolizes marriage and life, we felt compelled to have it in such a meaningful location," says the bride, who is host of the Chicago Sports Network's The Chicago Lead and covers college football on the Big Ten Network.

The luxurious beachfront property is built on a natural mangrove reserve. The layout of the Mayan calendar is represented through the resort's circular buildings, which reflects the position of the Pleiades constellation. Its surrounding Ceiba trees are sacred in Mayan culture because they're believed to connect the earth, underworld and heavens.

Like how the Maya believed in a circular way of life, each resort detail "is a reflection of the journey of marriage and life, and brings everything full circle," Fletcher notes.

"But perhaps the most important component of our wedding was to ensure others were enjoying the experience just as much as we were," she adds. "Jake and I care deeply about seeing our closest friends and family happy."

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During a first look before the ceremony, Fletcher and Cronenworth privately exchanged vows.

"We wanted to have an intimate, personal moment for just us to enjoy before the big event," Fletcher says.

She later made her way down the aisle to the classical mashup "Oceans X Goodness of God." Fittingly, she wore a gown by Ines Di Santo that mimics the movement of ocean waves. Her hair and makeup was done by Alyssa Lalagos, Sandy Mendez and Alejandra Llamas.

While walking down the aisle, Fletcher carried a special heirloom — a handkerchief that has been passed down on her mother's side of the family since her grandfather and his brother brought it back from World War II. Every woman from her maternal side has carried it in their weddings. Now, it was her turn to carry on the tradition.

The "deeply personal" ceremony was officiated by Gordon Beckham, the bride's brother-in-law and a former MLB player. But he's not the only one in Fletcher's family to have been a baseball pro.

Her father, Scott, is a former MLB star, having played in the league for 15 years, primarily with the Chicago White Sox and Texas Rangers. During Scott's time on the Rangers, former President George W. Bush became a fan and named his dog "Spot Fetcher" after him.

Her brother also played baseball for Auburn University and later in the minors for the Kansas City Royals. Eric Hosmer, a former teammate of her brother and Cronenworth, introduced the bride and groom. After a few DMs, their relationship "took off," leading Cronenworth to propose at their candlelit home surrounded by their families in early February 2024.

"We’re each other's best friend. We’re excited for the new adventures that await us and to grow and experience life alongside one another," Fletcher says. "Ultimately, we’re excited to spend our lives with each other."

The newlyweds shared their first dance to "Loved by You" by KIRBY. For their afterparty, Fletcher changed into a dress by Netta BenShabu.

A plated dinner was served at the wedding reception. Guests enjoyed a watermelon salad for an appetizer, then chose between a filet mignon, chicken breast or mushroom risotto for their main course before diving into slices of a four-tier vanilla wedding cake and spoonfuls of mango sorbet topped with Tajín. Everyone was also welcome to drink at an open bar.

Everything on the menu during the wedding weekend was delectable. The food at the welcome party "paid tribute to Mexican culture" and included ceviche, tacos, guacamole and churros.

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Because music is their "love language," the couple made sure to also have good tunes throughout the "one big celebration."

Friday began as a "competition day” in which female guests played tennis while the men played golf at the El Camaleon LIV Golf Course. That night, they headed to the welcome dinner at the resort and had the honors of doing the ritual St. Regis sabrage (opening a bottle of champagne with a saber). Flamenco-style and local music by Jesus and Julissa of Nativo Producciones was played at the welcome party.

At the wedding on Saturday, Taylor Pace Orchestra of Jordan Kahn Music Company was flown out to serve as the main band. Dulce Rullán, a local renowned Mexican DJ, spun tunes at the afterparty.

The wedding celebration concluded on Sunday with a farewell pool party at the hotel's Jack's Club, which was temporarily transformed into "Jake's Club." The "Sunday Funday" had a nod to all things sports, including a football watch party and fun games at the club.

The wedding was planned by Brianne Garritano of Michigan Avenue Events.

For their honeymoon, Cronenworth and Fletcher are off to Saint Barthélemy. Afterward, they plan to keep working, which requires living in separate cities at some points in the year. Eventually, they "want to have kids and settle down near family."

"With our crazy work schedules that require a lot of travel and sometimes living separately throughout the year, I think the one constant is having that person who feels like home, no matter where you rest your head at night," Fletcher says. "We both know that we found that within each other, and that we’ve each found our teammate for life."

Additional Credits:

Wedding Design: Bash House

Groom's Attire: Gentlemen's Playbook

Videographer: Carlos Gallardo, Gallardo Films

Stationery: Magnificent Milestones

Reception Linens: BBJ La Tavola

Transportation: Maritur

Read the original article on People