What a wonderful day! Because of scheduling conflicts Evonne and Forrest were unable to fit in a trash the dress session that had been contemplated for the morning after the Thanksgiving day (US Thanksgiving day that is) wedding. Instead, I arrived early in Playacar the day of the wedding in time for a photo session with just the bride and groom at noon. Looking over the images I am astounded by how many special images came from that session, held at a time of day notorious as bad for photography!…Forrest and Evonne make such a spectacular looking couple and interact in a beautiful way, and while they were initially a little unsure about what to do in front of the camera they loosened up very quickly! They also turned out to be really good at the kissing pictures, actually I think they may have even forgot about the camera completely for a while!

The resort is gorgeous and the weather was a photographer’s dream. I thought the ceremony was absolutely lovely, and I appreciated very much being able to talk to the officiant prior to the ceremony. He was very open to finding out what I thought would be the best positioning for himself relative to the bride and groom, that can make such a difference, in this case the camera (and the congregation!) could see Evonne and Forrest’s faces and expressions throughout the ceremony which makes the ceremony especially meaningful for the congregation. The icing on the cake was that after the family photo session and in the last minutes of daylight Forrest and Evonne decided to go for it and do a spontaneous mini trash the dress session before the reception! Of course Evonne had it all under control and walked into the reception an hour later looking fabulous in a second beautiful gown!

Gracias Evonne and Forrest, it was such a joy to met you both.

The groom….

I usually never see this sight because I don’t usually shoot in the sun at midday…which just goes to show sometimes its good to break the rules!

This image really makes me smile, it is just the kind of relaxed, beautiful moment that I hope to capture.

Forrest and Evonne each had a longtime friend to stand up with them. I thought it would be fun to photograph the bridal party in the “palatial” lobby of the Rui Palace Rivera Maya Resort.

Final prep…

The Riu Palcace gazebo ceremony…

After “the kiss” Forrest and Evonne jumped the broom, this was the first time one of my weddings had included this African American wedding tradition that marks the bride and groom starting their life together as man and wife.

Los mariachis….

The unexpected trash the dress session! How many couples go for a swim between the ceremony and reception?

The dinner was held in a private room, which had been decorated beautifully. Evonne used shells, candles and framed pictures of her and Forrest together as a couple to decorate the tables. My assistant and I felt so honored to see that she had even included our place cards and favors with personal notes to each of us.

OK, I won’t go into it all, I will just say that Evonne’s siblings had some VERY FUNNY surprises to welcome Forrest into their Asian family, I don’t think wedding photojournalists are supposed to laugh as they photograph, but I seriously could not help it!

Rui Palace Playacar, Mexico photography by Elizabeth Medina, Mexico destination wedding photojournalist.

Paul and Luzma were married in an outdoor ceremony at the Royal Resort’s gazebo. The Royal is located in the heart of Playa del Carmen and is a great location for a wedding. I had photographed at the Royal a few times before and it never ceases to amaze me how each couple’s different style makes each wedding unique, even in a familiar location. Paul and Luzma were one of the most enjoyable couples I have photographed, and their fiesta on the beach was an absolute blast. I hope a little bit of the romance and good times of their day shows in these photographs. Felicidades y muchas gracias Luzma y Paul!

A few shots as I arrived on the grounds of the Royal.

Luzma was such a beautiful bride.

A few photographs taken during the ceremony in the oceanfront wedding gazebo.

This image was a happy surprise, it was shot THROUGH one of the bubbles!

I just loved every one of these photographs of the bride and groom after the ceremony, I think they are all my favorite.

What trust…walking in slippery, slippery algae in a white wedding gown before the reception!

Some extra ice for the tropical drinks?

Las amigas…

A Maya Riviera sunset…

Paul and Luzma had a great Salsa band, the Balance Band. They are local to Playa and really know how to get the party dancing on the beach.

Maya Riviera wedding photojournalism by Mexico wedding photojournalist Elizabeth Medina. Located in Mérida, Yucatán, México Elizabeth is available for wedding photography in the Yucatan Penninsula, throughout Mexico and internationally.

I had been looking forward to photographing at the JW Marriott in CanCun, this was my first wedding there and I had seen pictures of the resort’s wedding gazebo, I was curious about how it would look in real life, and how it would photograph. The day was full of surprises. Things started out unbelievably hot and humid, and just about an hour before the ceremony we were hit by a huge tropical thunderstorm that had people running to take cover. The show went on though and Magda and Jaime were able to have the gazebo wedding they had planned, although we all got rained on a bit for good luck. The third surprise was that after the ceremony the weather cleared and we were able to have the photo session on the beach as planned. I was delighted with the images of the “novios” from that surprise session! Magda and Jaime were an absolutely wonderful couple to work with, I could not have enjoyed the day more.

Magdas’s first photographs in her wedding dress…

The JW Marriott gazebo, looked amazing decked out in Callah lilies.

The wedding vows…

All the guests wore white.

Relaxed portraits on the Cancun beach.

Wedding photojournalist Elizabeth Medina, wedding photography at JW Marriott, CanCun, Mexico. Elizabeth Medina is a destination wedding photographer located in Yucatan, Mexico and available for commission throughout Mexico and internationally.

Having written back adn forth with Gladys for a few months before the wedding I knew a little about her, for example that she was in a visual, creative, profession, and that she was hoping for colorful, artistic photographs of the wedding she was planning in Playa del Carmen. It was great fun seeing how she put her creativity to use in planning a very special wedding to be enjoyed with the guests that had traveled to Playa del Carmen. ¡Muchas felicidades a una pareja lindísima!

A few pre ceremony getting ready shots…

Gladys and Carlton decided to see each other before the ceremony which allowed me to photograph these very special moments when they met.

I thought the groomsmen looked like something out of a movie as they walked up.

The ring bearer was a little shy, but his colors weren’t!

I loved the bridesmaid’s colors!

A moment during the ocean front ceremony at the Royal Porto Real Resort’s gazebo.

One of my favorite parts of the event was when the wedding party walked down Playa del Carmen’s 5th Avenue (la Quinta), while being serenaded by a trio. I later found out that Carlton used to play football and Gladys runs marathons..they seemed to move very quickly, but of course I was running backwards and photographing with two cameras most of the time!

The reception was as the Yaxche restaurant. Yaxche is very cool because the open air banquet area it looks just like a Mayan ruin. I loved it that Gladys used one of my photographs from Guatemala for her save the date and place cards.

Kristi and Mark were married last Saturday in a lovely gazebo at the Royal Porto Real resort in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. It is very hard to edit down so many photographs to share just a few on the blog, I hope these few will give an idea of the beautiful details and atmosphere Kristi planned for her guests as well as how relaxed and fun the day was for everyone. Another great part of the day was working for the first time with videographer Paul Shrank of Playa Weddings, his videos are the best! Mark and Kristi, lots more photographs of all the fun are coming next week, thank you for the honor of photographing your destination wedding!

Kristi and Mark right after Kristi entered the wedding gazebo.

A few moments during the ceremony.

The sand ceremony, so perfect in this setting.

I love the bridesmaids’ expressions in the this photograph.

Photos on the beach after the ceremony, Kristi never stopped smiling!

The reception was right on the beach, I think these were my favorite centerpieces ever!

A few photographs of the bride and groom at sunset.

The evening lights at the Royal Porto Real, what a setting for a party.

Kristi and Mark during their first dance.

Mexico wedding photojournalism by Mexico wedding photojournalist Elizabeth Medina. Royal Porto Real wedding photography, Playa del Carmen, Mexico.

This wedding at the Iberostar Pariso in the Riviera was all about a couple in love having fun the tropics, we thoroughly enjoyed being a part of it all!