As fun as it is to photograph a gorgeous wedding like that of Jalé and Ken at La Reve near Playa del Carmen, I have to think it must also be one of the most amazing things in the world to be a guest at a destination wedding and spend a whole weekend in Paradise kicking back and celebrating the marriage of a wonderful couple. What a fantastic experience. I think everyone should have a destination wedding if at all possible and rejoice if they are invited to one and able to make the journey!

Jale and Ken made us feel like special guests at their Mexico wedding. I will confess that I have a slightly immature love of “out of town bags”,  those wonderful goodie filled bags that destination couples often prepare for their guests. Something about those little trial size tubes of sunscreen and personalized playing cards just appeals to my inner child!  Jale and Ken graciously surprised us by having one of their OT bags waiting for us, it was lovely and truly did make us feel like honored participants at this very special event. Thank you Jale and Ken, it was such an honor to document your wedding!

Before the welcome dinner we did a few casual photographs near the Quinta Avenida and I was happy to have a chance to get the know the bride and groom before all the action started.

The wedding was held at le Reve, a very intimate “boutique” hotel. The whole hotel was reserved for the wedding guests…wow!

A few details.

Bridal prep.

Just beautiful.

The gorgeous ceremony site.

A memorable moment between the bride and her father.

We were able to do photographs on the beach after the ceremony.

The cocktail hour.

Reception details.

The girl friends were so much fun!

First dance.

I guess I was’t the only one having fun with my camera!

Early teh next moring we met to trash the dress. I admire people who not only get up so early on the morning afte the wedding but look so good!

Trashing the dress!

Riviera Maya destination wedding photographer Elizabeth Medina is a wedding photojournalist who photographs destination weddings throughout Mexico.

Sometimes we meet a couple and notice right away how very beloved they seem to be by friends and family. Usually when that happens by the end of the day we also end up thinking the couple is the just the greatest and that is just what happened with Shannon and Jeff. I loved receiving Shannon’s emails and almost don’t want to send off the photographs because then she will have no reason to email! The ceremony was held on the lawn of the Hilton Cancun which overlooks the ocean. By some miracle it rained on the golf course which is just across the road and not one drop on the wedding! It was truly a beautiful day. And a great party!

The “first look”, i would recommend this to anyone getting married, I loved the portraits of Shannon and Jeff taken before the cermony.

A few details from this destination wedding.

The ceremony was beautiful and I was so appreciative of Shannon’s videographer, who was considerate and non obtrusive enough to film from behind the last row of guests. This makes such a huge difference in the photographs, I think the photograph below would NOT be the same with a videographer standing front and center next to the best man, between the bride and groom or in the center of the aisle as is so often the way at destination weddings.

The reception was held in one of the Hilton’s ballrooms. I guess it should come as no surprise that the banquet service was fantastic.

The first dance…

A funny toast…

And a great party. DJ Mannia really knows how the crowd moving, but I think this group did not really need much encouragement!

Cancun, Mexico wedding photojournalism by destination wedding photographer Elizabeth Medina.

Another beautiful, beautiful day in the Maya Riviera. Christi and Lee planned their intimate destination wedding on the beach of the Secrets Capri resort. Destination weddings tend to be very warm and intimate affairs, really enjoyable and special for the guests as well as bride and groom. Everyone seemed to be so happy all day, especially Cristi and Lee who seemed to be absolutely delighted! I was very happy with the photographs because they seem to me to reflect the happiness of the day. Congratulations Cristi and Lee and thank you for being such a great couple!

Mexico wedding photographer Elizabeth Medina, wedding photojournalism, Maya Riviera, Mexico, Secrets Capri.

Here we go, as promised I will be updating this blog often over the next weeks, so please be sure to scroll down so you don’t miss any amazing weddings! Rachel and Aaron’s destination wedding in Cancun…what can I say? This was a beautiful couple in every way, such a pleasure to photograph together as they experienced their day. The ceremony was held on the beach of the brand new Excellence Playa Mujeres, which is outside Cancun. It was a very emotional (somehow Rachel seemed to manage to laugh and cry at the same time!) and very joyous ceremony. Basically it was a perfect day and a real treat for the photographers.

The bride and groom had a fantastic suite with a private deck terrace overlooking the ocean, it was a wonderful spot to meet before the ceremony.

Recognize these two? We met when I photographed their Cancun wedding in late August. It was great to hang out with them again at this wedding…hopefully next time they come to Mexico it will be to Merida! Although I will have to make Reggie promise to stop stealing my thunder with his fast photo delivery.

Rachel entered the ceremony on both parent’s arms.

I loved this photograph of Aaron waiting at the “altar”.

Yes, I have said it before and I will say it again, destination weddings are the BEST! What a blessing to be able to tell the story of such a happy day!

Wedding photography in Cancun, Mexico byt destination wedding photographer Elizabeth Medina.

It never stops amazing me how each wedding I photograph is unique and full of surprises. Melanie and Chris in particular had some very interesting surprises along the way! They found out just weeks before the wedding that a new location would be needed, but rolled with it and had an amazing beach wedding at the Paradisus resort in the Maya Riviera. They were married on the beach accompanied by more than a hundred guests who had traveled to Mexico for their destination wedding. The weather was kind of so-so…but then in true Maya Rivera form took a turn for gorgeous, rewarding Melanie and Chris with an incredible rainbow during the ceremony! I may not have believed it had I not been there!

Melanie before the ceremony…

Chris waiting patiently.

for the “first look” before the ceremony.

Melanie and her girls on the way to the beach for the ceremony….

Such an exciting moment as Melanie and her father entered the ceremony.

Melanie and Chris were the last ones to realize that an incredible rainbow had appeared right over the wedding chuppah.

Lauren captured this one of the happy crowd as I was photographing from a second floor balcony.

Bride and groom after the ceremony on the beach.

The reception was also held on the beach, the next image is from the “first dance”.

The two families are so united, what a beautiful thing to witness.

I love the next photo from the cake cutting.

Things got a little crazy…

Fotografa de bodas Elizabeth Medina, fotografia de boda en la Maya Riviera.

All during the year leading up to Fannie and Pierre’s wedding I would get emails from Fannie asking if I had any new slide shows for her to see and commenting on the photographs on my blog. So Fannie before you ask…I will have a VERY special slide show for you next week…the story of the beautiful day that you and Pierre were married in Mexico! It was an outrageously beautiful day! I love the photographs as much as I loved being around Fannie and Pierre all day on the wedding day and early the next morning when we met for the trah the dress session. The photographs seem to me to really tell the story of the day, with nervous expressions in the beginning and huge smiles once the rings and vows were exchanged. It was fun being around a crowd that spoke in French and I learned that despite being fluent in English and Spanish I don’t understand one bit of French! Congratulations Fannie and Pierre I am so happy for you both!

I am going to break with tradition and start off with an image from the trash the dress session the next morning…scroll down to see the bride and groom in the water!

Now the wedding day…Pierre chose the shoes!

Fannie’s father gave her his blessing before the ceremony.

Wow!

The hand off…

After the wedding ceremony there was a special Mayan blessing.

The day after trash the dress session…

Mexico photographer Elizabeth Medina, destination wedding photography in the Maya Riviera.

Isla Mujeres has always been one of my favorite places to visit. The isla has a lot of personality and a laid back, “real Mexico” vibe. Being there to photograph Kim and Robert’s wedding made it even more special. I got to know Kim quite a bit before the wedding and know she would be a fun bride. Both she and Robert made the Medina team feel like a valued part of the wedding weekend! We arrived the day before the wedding to photograph the welcome dinner at Casa O’s on the far end of the Island. We hitched a ride with Kim and Robert on their golf cart and stopped at a few spots along the way for some quick casual photographs of the two of them. Casa O’s is a wonderful spot and the perfect choice for the dinner.  The next day we were able to enjoy the perfectly gorgeous ocean in the morning. The beach wedding was that afternoon and Na Balam absolutely did not disappoint. Wedding coordinator Patricia Aguirre was never far out of sight, I loved how the wedding was both chic and relaxing at the same time. Kim and Robert, thank you for being such a wonderul couple!

Welcome dinner…

The first image is the welcome dinner location, the second a cerveza at the beach wedding the next day. How pathetic that I am doubling up to sneak more images onto the blog!

Bienvenidos a Na Balam!

We hung out here in the morning, those few hours were like a much needed mini vacation, thank you Kim and Robert for taking such good care of your photographers!

Wedding preparations…so much happy energy.

A few bridal portraits.

The symbolic ceremony on the beach.

At the end of the ceremony everyone threw petals into the ocean.

Bride and groom on the beach…

A few images from the outdoor reception. It could not have been more pleasant.

Kim and her father.

This little guy really seems to be getting a great shot of the first dance!

Wedding photojournalist Elizabeth Medina photographs weddings in Isla Mujeres Mexico, Cancun Mexico, Playa del Carmen and Tulum Mexico, as well as Puerto Vallarta and locations throughout Mexico.

Cancun PhotograpThe briThis was an especially pretty one! Josh and Maddy had two weddings, one in Mexico and one in Canada! I was fortunate to be chosen as their photgrapher for the beautiful Mexico wedding on a gorgeous beach in the Rivera Maya.  The weather in the Riviera Maya can change remarkably quickly. When i arrived at the resort it was a beautiful sunny day, however the weather changed completely from one second to the next and rain began to pour down! I can only imagine what Maddy and Josh were feeling, I was in shock! Amazingly the weather changed once again and held all the way through the ceremony! All in all a beautiful day with a fantastic couple!

guys..

Maddy getting ready…

I was able to do a few quick bridal portraits, by quick I mean about 2 minutes on the way out the door for the ceremony which was overdue to start. In moments like these are I am thankful for the experience I have in shooting weddings, it really does help me anticipate and cover the day more completely even when things are not going quite on schedule.

the ceremony…

the rings and some of the native coral.

The weather lifted and the light was gorgeous!

I tried to blog only one of these portraits of the bride, but couldn’t decide between the two. What do you think?

What a beautiful day!

The wedding party…

Cancun photographer Elizabeth Medina photographs destination weddings in Cancun, the Riviera Maya, Yucatan, Merida, Puerto Vallarta, San Miguel de Allende and throughout Mexico.

One thing I love about destination weddings is that they lend themselves so well to very intimate, expressive ceremonies. Witnessing so many couple’s special day, each one unique and beautiful, I realize over and over again that it is not large guest list or all the trimmings and extras that make the wedding truly meaningful, rather it is the spirit of love and commitment that can be felt most powerfully. Of course sand, ocaean and sky make th most wonderful decorations! Shura and Tim love the ocean, and he actually proposed under water while scuba diving! So I guess the choice of an intimate beach ceremony at the beautiful and relaxing El Dorado Maroma (AKA Mi Hotelito) surrounded by a close group of friends was a natural one. Thank you Shura and Tim for allowing us to join you on your wonderful day, best wishes to the two of you!

I liked the warm, rich colors of the flowers! Rings and rose petals…

Shura’s bouquet.

A little champagne toast during the getting ready photos from the HMOH. (honorary matron of honor!).

Shura and tim met before the ceremony so we could get photographs of the two of them. That was great but kind of scary when it started to rain during the photo session! They were good sports though and thankfully the rain stopped in plenty of time!

The ceremony on the beach.

Tim’s vows were on little slates just like his underwater proposal! It was hilarious!

Time to celebrate!

The coctail hour was held in a poolside palapa, very laid back.

A few night photographs after dinner. The second was captured by Lauren, I loved her take on the moment!

Destination wedding photography in Mexico by Elizabeth Medina. Elizabeth is a wedding photojournalist based in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico, photographing weddings throughout Mexico in locations including the Maya Riviera. To view her online portfolio of wedding images visit:  www.elizabethmedina.com

Bobbie and Frank had a beautiful wedding! The Dream Cancun is located right in the heart of the Cancun hotel zone, in an incredible spot, the wedding gazebo actually sits on a little peninsula, surrounded by the bluest water ever. It was a very warm but beautiful clear day, perfect for the marriage of such a sweet couple.Thank you Bobbie and Frank, you are a delightful couple! I hope you enjoy your photographs as much as I have!

I loved Bobbie’s starfish theme.

A few getting ready and detail photos…

The view of the wedding gazebo set up from the tower.

I love how Lindsey composed this next one.

Bobbie, here’s palm tree…I told you it was a little “untraditional!

A relaxed portrait of the groom.

And one of the bride.

The flower girl took over the veil after the ceremony! She was so much fun the whole day!

Fortunately it cooled off after the sun went down. At this wedding absolutely everyone had a great time dancing!

Cancun photographer Elizabeth Medina specializes in wedding photojournalism in Mexico. She photographs a limited number of destination weddings in Cancun, Maya Riviera, Yucatan, Tulum, San Miguel de Allende, Puerto Vallarta, Los Cabos and throughout Mexico.  Visit www.elizabethmedina.com to view more of her wedding photography portfolio.

Kevina nd Sara were a wonderful couple to work with. Kevin had been my point of contact during the planning stages so I knew he was very enthusiastic about having great wedding photographs. He and Sarah were so patient, they really collaborated to go the extra mile for their photographs, both on the wedding day and by waking up the morning after the wedding for a sunrise trash the dress session at 6 AM on the beach in Playa del Carmen. They had some great surprises for their guests on the wedding day. Every one seemed so happy for the bride and groom, and I have absolutely never seen a happier mother of the groom as Sarah was welcomed into the family! Here are some images form the weddign day and the fabulous trash the dress session the next morning…I think it was worth the 5 am alarm clock, which is saying a lot!

A couple of images from the trash the dress photo session…the name of this fishing boat was ¨corazón¨, or ¨heart¨in Spanish.

One thing about portrait photography is knowing how to connect with subject and knowing how to pace the session for the most variety and expressions possible. During the wedding day and the trash he dress session Sarah and Kevin were such good sports and we got all kinds of photographs of the two of them but I still felt like there was something a little below the surface yet and that it would make a special photograph. When I saw the image below in my camera´s viewfinder I think I actually said ¨That´s it!¨ Just what I had been after!

The rings…

Sarah´s beautiful dress.

A few shots from the ceremony in the Gazebo at the Royal in Playa del Carmen. Happy, happy bride…

The gazebo and sand ceremony…

This one is kind of a funny moment…Only at a resort wedding would you see something like this!

One of the surprises for the wedding guests was the mariachi group.

6 AM, time to trash the dress! Sunrise in the Maya Rivera happens over the ocean.

I loved the textures in this image.

Time to trash the dress (or wash the dress) in the ocean.

Elizabeth Medina, es fotógrafa profesional de bodas. Ofrece fotografia de bodas en Mexico, en la Riviera Maya, Cancun, Playa del Carmen, isla Mujeres, Cozumel, Tulum, Yucatan, Merida, Puerto Vallarta, San Miguel de Allende, Y Los Cabos. Se especializa en bodas de destino en haciendas y playas.

I get a surprising number of emails every week from destination brides and grooms asking for suggestions of locations for their weddings. I know the choices must be overwhelming, especially since there is not always the opportunity for a site visit before actually making the trip to Mexico for the wedding. When asked about Dreams Tulum I am always happy to give an enthusiastic thumbs up, especially if the crowd is a bit laid back and may be bringing children. Everyone just seems to have a great time at Dreams Tulum! This wedding certainly is a case in point, I was struck over and over as I edited all the photographs by the smiles on everyone’s face. Audra and Joe are a very active and fun couple, great to hang out with and to photograph! The ceremony was held on the beach and the dinner and dancing afterward also overlooked the ocean, in the Seaside Grill restaurant. Thank you Audra and Joe for letting us photograph your day. Best wishes to the two of you,may you continue to be blessed!

Bride and groom getting ready…

I thought this tee shirt was the best!

Audra and her team before they helped her with her final preparations.

So beautiful! I love it when there is enough time to do bridal portraits before the ceremony, they are always some of my favorites of the day.

The ceremony set up on the beach.

This is one of my favorites from the day.

In the warm weather sometimes the ring just doesn’t want to go on! iI loved Audra’s reaction!

Married!

The black and red color scheme is a bit different for a beach wedding, I thought the punchy color looked just fantastic.

Bridal party formals..

The first dance…

Not quite sure what was going on here…

Wedding photography in Mexico by professional wedding photographer Elizabeth Medina. Elizabeth Medina is a Wedding Photojournalist based in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico. She photographs weddings throughout Mexico at locations including the Maya Riviera, Yucatan haciendas, Cancun, Cozumel, Isla Mujeres, Puerto Vallarta, Los Cabos y San Miguel de Allende.

Erin and Justin were absolutely one of the nicest couples ever! I think that Erin must have a skill for choosing people to surround herself with…not only did she find her special “one and only” very early on (they have been together amazingly long for such a young couple!) They also have wonderful families and the most upbeat fun to be around bridesmaids of all time! What a pleasure to spend the day with such a beautiful coupleand in the company of a fun group like this, relaxed, having a good time and fully enjoying the gazebo wedding and beach reception at the fabulous Royal Resort in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. Erin, I love thinking that as a graphic designer you will find a million ways to enjoy your photographs, thank you to you both for choosing me as the photographer for your destination wedding in Mexico!

Thanks to Lindsey for spotting the girls on their way out…they were so excited for Erin!

I thought this was a fun shot!

The walk down Playa’s 5th Avenue on the way to the wedding….

Portraits of Erin right before the ceremony…

The Gazebo at the Royal overlooks the ocean. it was such a clear day you could see Cozumel perfectly.

The groom waiting at the altar for his bride.

Erin was fortunate enough to have two arms to walk in on!

These next two images have so much of Erin and Justin’s personality, they were having such a good time, even during the ceremony.

The bright and colorful bouquet.

The beach reception site right after sunset.

Let the party start…

First dance..

The Mother son and father daughter dance

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Elizabeth Medina is a creative wedding photographer based in Mexico. She photographs weddings at the Royal Porto Real in Playa del Carmen, in the Riviera Maya and throughout Mexico. She is a member of the Wedding Photojournalist Association, WPJA.