Nothing like kicking off the wedding season with a beautiful local event that takes us back to our hacienda wedding photography roots! Having known Daniela for some time and having photographed her brother Paco with his bride Zahia back in May we knew it was going to be a wonderful day spent in very good company. Hacienda Chichí Suarez dates from the 16th century, we have photographed a few events in this location and love the way different spaces have been used in a way that has made each event seem very unique. Daniela and Alejandro had their wedding at 1:00 pm, which allowed for wonderful photography opportunities.  …I love love love seeing and working with natural light, there is just nothing like it!

The first one is Lindsey’s photo, what a lovely composition!

Daniela was an extremely beautiful bride!

Daniela and one of her “pajes”

The next one is Lindsey’s, I wish it were mine though!

The two familes together…

The reception had such colorful details! All perfectly tied toghether but very unexpected, just perfect for this afternoon wedding… a very unique twist on the hacienda setting! My regular blog readers have probably deduced, this Merida, Yucatan wedding was designed and coordinated by my friends at BAKU Events.  I really can’t say enough good things about the BAKU team, it is a real treat to watch them in action as they work their magic!

We were ablet o do a few more photographs around the hacienda grounds before it was time for Alejandro and Daniela’s ‘first dance” as husband and wife.

First dance and father daughter dance…

Many more coming soon!

Elizabeth Medina, wedding photographer Mexico.

It is such an amazing thing when I hear couples have fallen in love with their wedding location through the “pages” of this very blog! I could not be more overjoyed to spread the word about Mexico’s incomparable wedding destinations, especially when the location is the Hacienda Las Trancas outside of San Miguel de Allende, Mexico and I have the pleasure of photographing a fantastic couple like Juan and Jessica! Seriously, there is nothing like a destination wedding in Mexico, I see over and over how the magical atmosphere brings people together for unforgettable celebrations. Las Trancas is an authentic hacienda, perfect for groups who would like to experience the “real” Mexico and explore the countryside, the people and the wonderful local cuisine. (there is also a fantastic gym and a brand new spa area!).

We were able to do an engagement photo session with Juan and Jessica on the grounds of the hacienda the afternoon before the wedding, I loved the photos and the chance for Lindsey and I to spend some “quality time” with Jessica and Juan before the big day.

A few of Jessica’s “getting ready” details from the wedding day…

And an image from Juan’s getting ready time…

The wedding ceremony was held at a beautiful old church in the city of Dolores, hidalgo, Lindsey went ahead with the groom and his group and got this crossroads shot along the way…

After the ceremony we did a few bride and groom photos in Dolores before heading back to the hacienda, much to the interest of these future Hidalgo brides.

Jessica made a comment to me that I have heard several times from my brides, sometimes with a bit of trepidation…saying that she had noticed on this blog that all of the brides I photograph are so beautiful.  The truth is that I absolutely agree with that comment and having spent a very special day with them all I will add smart, kind, loving and joyful. Oh and of course possessed with impeccable taste in both grooms and wedding photographers! And Jessica…I have to say that you are a great example of all of the above!

A couple of my favorite bride and groom photos…

The reception set up…

Mexico wedding photojournalist photographer Elizabeth Medina, wedding photography at Hacienda Las Trancas, San Miguel de Allende, 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.

Unfortunately I seem to have run out of superlatives somewhere during my last post, if anyone has a few to donate I appreciate it, I will be needing them over the next few weeks as the blog explodes with amazing weddings! I guess for now I will have to let the photographs do the talking for Nicole and Ben’s fantastic Riviera Maya destination wedding at Azul Beach near Puerto Morelos. The wedding was coordinated by Luxe Destination Weddings and featured a very stylish and fun bride and groom, basically it could not have been more beautiful!

I know this could not be the view every bride dreams of seeing out her window a few hours before the ceremony! Fortunately if was a false alarm and it stopped sprinkling just in time for Nicole and Ben’s “first look” and bride and groom photos on the beach.

A few getting ready details…

The first look…

The Catholic ceremony was held at the Marina Maroma Chapel, what a nice location!

Gotta love those signature drinks! And in my favorite color!

The reception was held back at Azul Beach, perfect!

Mexico wedding photographer Elizabeth Medina, Wedding photojournalism in the Maya Riviera, Cancun, Cozumel, Puerto Vallarta and throughout Mexico.

One thing tha I LOVE about photographing destination weddings is the multicultural aspect. Being part of a multicultural family myself it makes me happy to see so many couples of different backgrounds travel to an exotic location to start their lives together! The world is getting smaller all the time! Nicole and Alfredo are North American and Nicaraguan and got married in Mexico, what a great combination. It was fantastic that so many people were able to make the trip from both countries! They are both bilingual and amazing salsa dancers…see more on that below, but most of all I enjoyed their sparkle throughout the day and Nicole’s kindness when the photographs from my last 2008 wedding took a little longer than expected. Gracias y un abrazo!

Nicole and her girls got ready at La Tortuga en Playa del Carmen, I was happy to be able to catch a few relaxed portraits on the way out the door.

We met at The Royal for photographs before the ceremony.

I had a backup photographer for the family photos….she was not kidding around, I am sure she got a lot of great shots! And I could tell she was a true photographer because she didn’t care to be in front of the camera at all!

We were able to photograph on the beach before the ceremony, nice!

The next image is a little crazy but I loved it.

Teh ceremony was held at Nuestra Señora del Carmen. After never having photographed there this was my third wedding in 2 months at that chapel! It is very pretty but a little challenging to photograph in because of its very small size.

When Nicole reached the altar and saw Alfedo it was such an emotional moment.

Nicole and Alredo used the traditional Mexican lazo during their Catholic ceremony.

The reception begain with an outdoor cocktail hour in the garden area of The Royal resort, the dinner and dancing were held in a ballroom.

The first dance started out slowly…

and suddenly turned into an amazing salsa performance!

The next photograph of the musician is from Lauren’s camera.

Wedding cake…

And the whole group hit the dance floor, fue una muy buena fiesta.

Playa del Carmen wedding photographer Elizabeth Medina, wedding photography in Playa del Carmen, Mexico.