I think photographers and fishermen have something in common….obsessing about the ones that get away. I was so sad not to be available for Christiane and Gerardo´s date, since from the very first contact with Christiane I could tell she would be a wonderful bride to work with and the wedding would be an absolutely one of a kind event at one of my favorite locations, the Hacienda Uayamón in Christiane´s home state of Campeche, Mexico. I was lifted out of my depression by the request that we travel to Campeche for a portrait session of the bride and groom prior to their civil ceremony. (For anyone not familiar with Mexican custom it is common to have both a civil and religious wedding. The civil wedding can be either the same day as the religious wedding or on a separate date, in which case it can be the occasion of a celebration with a more intimate group than on the ¨big day¨, kind of like a rehearsal or welcome dinner). True to Mexican tradition things ran a little behind schedule (or is there some alternate schedule somewhere that no one has ever told me about?). Watching the sun sink lower in the sky, I was just about to despair completely when Christiane and Gerardo appeared looking totally fabulous! I decided that if pilots can make up for a late start in the air (how do they do that anyway?) then Lindsey and I could at least try to do the same with such a fantastic couple´s photographs!

Hacienda wedding photographer Elizabeth Medina, Merida, Mexico. Fotografia de bodas en Mexico.

After having spent time with Natalia and Raul at the hacienda portrait session prior to the wedding day, photographing the wedding could not have been more relaxed! Having the rare treat of photographing close to home, having both Lindsey and Lauren along as co-photographers, seeing so many familiar faces through out the evening and the fact the wedding was designed and coordinated by my good friends at the fabulous Baku Events made it especially fantastic. As fortunate as we are to photograph throughout Mexico there really is no place like home, especially when home is Merida, Yucatan! Natalia’s family has a beautiful hacienda just outside Merida, the Hacienda San Ignacio Tesip, and it could not have been a more fitting place for this joyful celebration among family and friends!

A few wedding day images, Natalia getting ready…

The bride and groom prior to the ceremony. natalia said she felt very relaxed knowing that the photo session had taken place a few weeks earlier, I guess I could say the same, but did capture quite a few relaxed and happy portraits!

I received an email recently asking if I photograph the family on the wedding day which I thought was a great question. But of course! I think the family photos can be one of the most important aspects of the day, images from family milestones have always been a key part of family history. Having specialized in studio family portraiture before catching the wedding bug I welcome the opportunity to document the families on such an important day. The photo below is of the bride and groom with both of their immediate families, what a beautiful group!

The “paje” was such a cutie!

The beautiful bridesmaids, I loved the bouquets!

Natalia and her father arriving at the Nuestra Señora de Libano church in Merida, Lindsey captured this image as well as the tears that followed!

The church was decorated beautifully with greenery, flowers and trees hung with candles, amazing!

As the guests entered the hacienda they walked across the garden area accompanied by th music of a pianist…it was almost surreal to see the grand piano in that setting and very beautiful.

The walkway was lined with hundreds (or maybe thousands!) of candles.

The reeption area, Wow! the canopy was supported by “trees” lit up by candles, just amazing.

The first dance…

And time to party…there´s no place like home for that either!

Yucatan Mexico hacienda wedding photographer Elizabeth Medina, wedding photojournalism in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico.

I am not one to divide up my blog posts, but Natalia and Raul’s wedding will be an exception since it is vacation time here in Yucatan and I can’t wait until next week when it is all finished to share photos from this special wedding! Natalia and Raul were one of my favorite couples of all time before the wedding day even arrived! I was so happy that they planned a photo session prior to the wedding date. The wedding was a large one with many guests and this pre wedding photo session was a fantastic way to get to know each other better and to have plenty of time to really enjoy the photography without the hurry and nerves of the “big day¨.  I loved hearing Natalia say that she did not regret it, in fact it was the best thing they could have done! Here are just a few photos for now…stay tuned for many more images from the fabulous ¨big day¨in my next blog post coming next week!

The wedding was held at Natalia´s family´s beautiful old hacienda. This photograph of the bride surrounded by the beauty of the hacienda took my breath away even before I pressed the shutter of the camera.

Bride and groom….the first look was very moving, I am saving your tears for the slide show!

Natalia and Raul, just a few more for now, the rest to follow soon!

Hacienda wedding photography by elizabeth Medina in Merida, yucatan, Mexico.

Being a little bit allergic to perfume I guess I have never been able to get on board with the concept of aroma therapy…somehow it just doesn’t seem right that something that makes me sneeze could really be therapeutic. After photographing John and Jessica’s beautiful wedding in Careyes, Mexico I will say I am a true believer in color therapy. Actually Jessica is probably thinking about now that I want to keep her photographs all to myself…I guess they are so much fun and put me in such a good mood remembering this fantastic weekend in an amazing destination on Mexico’s Pacific coast that I have been working on them a little longer than strictly necessary! They are all yours now though John and Jessica! I hope they put a smile on your faces like they have mine! Thank you so much for allowing Lindsey and I to document such a special event, it could not have been more lovely.

The wedding ceremony and reception were held at a private villa overlooking the ocean, the next image was taken after the rehearsal at the villa.

The rehearsal dinner was held down the Costa Careyes beach at Playa Rosa, true to its name it was a celebration of pink.

The preparations and bridal party photos were done at the El Careyes Resort, a perfect location!

I love non matching bridesmaids dresses, Jessica’s color palette was brilliant!

The ‘first look’…then portraits of bride and groom and the wedding party around the resort grounds followed.

The wedding location was fantastic, it had several levels that were perfect for the cocktail hour, ceremony and dinner Julie Cambrell, a fab wedding coordinator from Colorado was on-site and made sure all ran flawlessly. The sunset ceremony…

A few details of the many details and a bit of reception action…

The next afternoon we travelled down the beach with John and Jessica to a secluded cove to “trash the dress” at sunset.

Elizabeth Medina, destination wedding photography at Costa Careyes, Jalisco, Mexico.

I am so happy to be able to share Tricia and Antonio’s wedding photos. Due to a busy shooting season and weddings in different parts of Mexico (shoots in 5 states in 21 days anyone?) there are so many images to share! Travel time cuts into editing time though, there’s just no way around it, so while turnaround has not been late it has been a bit slower than I like. I think I have been just as eager as any of my brides for the photographs from the recent weddings to be ready to see the light of day, maybe even more! I absolutely can’t wait to share them all on this blog, but then patience has never been my principal virtue!

I really appreciate having brides like Tricia, who from day one was a just a pleasure to work with. The day she and Antonio tied the knot in paradise at Dreams, Cancun  was bright and cheerful, the ceremony was lovely in the gazebo and the fiesta on the beach….Wow, what a party! Tricia and Antonio, Lindsey and I loved spending your day with the two of you and your group and wish you all the best.

Tricia has incredible eyes! I loved the close up, it doesn’t show up in this blog sized version, but in the full sized image you can see the blue Cancun water reflected in them.

A few details…the traditional Mexican lazo was included in the ceremony.

Portraits with Antonio and Tricia prior to the ceremony.

Tricia entered the gazebo with her mother, the image on the left was captured by Lindsey from the tower.

El beso!

Y uno mas!

Trica and her bridesmaids, what a fun group!

Time to party on the beach!

Mexico wedding photography Elizabeth Medina, wedding photojournalism in Cancun, Yucatan, the Yucatan Penninsula, Riviera Maya, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Jalisco, Puerto Vallarta, Guanajuato and throughout Mexico.