Kim and Tim’w wedding was so much fun! They are one of those couples that just seems to be a perfect match, and are both down to earth and fun. I loved the color scheme of the wedding, the very unique ceremony location, the really fun and crazy bridesmaids and groomsmen and the special details, not to mention Tim and Kim’s surprise choreographed first dance. I think I will let pictures speak louder than words on this one! Kim and Tim, congratulations to both of you! I hope you enjoy the photographs!

I love to do bridal portraits when there is a few quiet minutes before the wedding starts. Kim looked awesome.

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The ceremony site at the Maroma was incredible! It had actually been raining as I drove to the wedding location, I was so glad it stopped and the wedding could go on as planned in this one of a kind location!

Two perspectives as Kim and her father walked down the “aisle”, the photograph on the left is mine and the one on the right is Lindsey’s.

A moment during the ceremony.

How fun is this? A really talented bridesmaid had made all the foot jewelry for Kim and the girls!

The wedding party, sometimes there are photographs that just make me smile, this is one of those!

Relaxed portraits of the bride and groom…

The bride and groom had a great entrance/first dance that took everyone by surprise!

Elizabeth Medina mexico wedding photographer, wedding photojournalism in the Rivera Maya, at the El Dorado Maroma.

Tanya and Darrell were so much fun to photograph! They (along with family and friends) came all the way from Canada for their beach wedding in the Maya Rivera. Tanya had created all kinds of unique and special details for the wedding, We thought the water bottles were so neat, the contents label said 100% RDA love, 100% friendship and 100% admiration. All through out the day I could tell that the label summed up Tanya and Darrell’s relationship perfectly!

I thought the beach at the Grand Sirenis was one of the most natural and pretty I have seen, Akumal has always been one of my favorite places in the Maya Riviera.

One of Tanyas many handmade details were the programs they were very special, I thought they would make a fun background for a shot of the rings.

Darrell and the groomsmen, pre ceremony.

Tanya prepares with help from her mother and sister.

Tany’s shoes, the hair feathers were worn at the reception, she also had a second dress for dancing.

I love doing bridal portraits, Tanya was really a joy to photograph.

In addition to bridesmaids and a man of honor Tanya had two jr. bridesmaids, they did a great job!

The ring bearer and flower girl during the ceremony on the beach..

There was no end of amazing backgrounds for pictures at the Grand Sirenis, Tanya and Darrell were a lot of fun to photograph because they were very happy and natural in front of the camera.

I was photographing Tanya and turned around to see Darrell’s happy faces as he admired his new bride.

One last photograph. Thank you Tanya and Darrell and congratulations to the two of you!

Wedding Photography by professional photographer Elizabeth Medina at the Grand Sirenis Resort in Akumal, Rivera Maya, Mexico.

I often get emails asking for recommendations of “alternative”, wedding locations. I guess Taninah would fit into that category very nicely. A private compound in the middle of the jungle between Playa del Carmen and Tulum in Mexico’s Maya Rivera, Taninah was the perfect site for Veronica and Nathan’s one of a kind destination wedding. The very lush, green surroundings made for the perfect contrast with the red and black color scheme that Veronica and Nathan chose. I have never really considered underground cenotes to be my “thing’…possibly because they are basically caves with water in them! Not to mention bats! Also there is nothing that I like more than using natural light in my photography and underground you don’t get much of that. But of course I am always up for a neat photo opportunity and was thrilled to be able to photograph Nathan and Veronica in Taninah’s amazingly beautiful cenote. The water could not have been clearer or more beautiful, I would have loved to jump in and I am sure that I was not the only one., since it was a bit warm down there to put it mildly. Veronica and Nathan, it was a special treat to photograph your unforgettable wedding! Felicidades y gracias por ser como son!

I love jungle vegetation, there is nothing like seeing green in every direction!

We went down into the cenote right after the wedding ceremony, how amazing to have an adventurous group!

Dinner was served in the garden.

Veronica and Nathan danced their fist dance as husband and wife accompanied by a mariachi band.

I am posting a little out of order, but I thought this was the greatest idea. Veronica and Nathan had this cool lounge furniture set up and they sat their with their guests….

To watch the fabulous prehispanic dance show. It was extremely well done, I really enjoyed it and I know the weddings guests did as well!

This was one of those fabulously international affairs. Mariana is of Argentine descent and had many family members make the trip from Argentina, Alex is from Switzerland and also had many people on hand for the event. It was pointed out that those two places are just about on opposite ends of the earth! They were also accompanied by a large group of friends from Mexico City! So as out of the way as Yucatan can seem to some it was really a common ground for this far flung group of family and friends and I think a special one since Mariana and Alex were able to incorporate so many regional details to really give the wedding the flavor of the Yucatan.

Mariana and Alex had both a civil wedding and a Mayan ceremony which were held on separate dates, both at the Hacienda Xcanatun in Merida, Yucatan. Xcanatun is an exceptionally beautiful hacienda, it has been restored spectacularly and the grounds are very lush and green. It was a very unique, once in a lifetime event and I was honored to be able to photograph it!

A few details for Xcanatun the night of the civil wedding (boda civil).
La boda civil.Los novios…

The grounds of the hacienda are so beautiful, it is like an oasis.

Xcanatun at twilight.

Mariana chose the perfect dress for the hacienda setting, it was just gorgeous and looked perfect on her.

Her shoes definitely made my all time favorite bridal shoe list!

I really thought that this photograph of Mariana before the ceremony captured a bit of her wedding day spirit.

The tables for the reception dinner were set up under the most amazing palm trees in the hacienda gardens, it was spectacular.

The Mayan ceremony was held in the garden of the hacienda at night.

An important part of the Mayan wedding ceremonies that I have witnessed is giving some type of offering back to the land, here the flower girl helped offer seeds and vegetables to the earth.

Another part of the ceremony is the “limpia” or ritual cleansing. The officiant was very thorough, not easy with such a tall groom!

A la fiesta!

The reception set up.

I was happy to have caught this moment! I love thinking that she will see this and the other photographs when she is all grown up and remember playing such an important role and how it felt.

Mariana assured me there would be no “first dance”, I guess it pays to be prepared for anything…

This detail shot is my fab assistant Lindsey’s!

Hacienda Xcanatun wedding photography by Merida, Yucatan, wedding photojournalist Elizabeth Medina.

Having photographed a wedding at the Hacienda Las Trancas some months ago, I knew a little bit of what I was getting into when Ken contacted me about photographing his wedding to Julie at the Hacienda Las Trancas outside of San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. Basically, the hacienda is a historic site that has been restored in a very loving way. It has a warm and intimate Mexican atmosphere that is simply perfect for a destination wedding. How considerate, photogenic and fun Ken and Julie and their families and friends would prove to be was a complete surprise and icing on the cake! I loved the color images but also thought the black and white photographs had a timeless beauty. Thank you, Ken and Julie! I hope your travels bring you to the Yucatán sometime soon!

Getting ready photographs. I love to do these because of the anticipation and range of emotions. Everyone is too busy with the preparations to worry at all about the camera. I think just about every bride wonders at the last moment if the dress is really going to zip or button up…such a relief when it does!

The happy groom prepares…

Wow.

The grounds of the hacienda are so unique, Ken and Julie and sitting by the door to the secret garden.

Some of the relatives/friends were teasing Ken and Julie as they posed.

Empieza la ceremonia…

The reception was held near the fountain, this area had been floored since I last visited the hacienda. If you look carefully you may be able to see the horses in their stables.

Two of the guests were professional salsa dancers, they gave a wonderful demonstration and class to the guests, it was amazing how quickly (most) everyone learned!

Wedding photojournalism in San Miguel de Allende Mexico by professional photographer Elizabeth Medina, specializing in wedding and destination wedding photography. Elizabeth Medina is based in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico and photographs weddings throughout Mexico.

I dont even know where to start! Rachel is American and met Luis who is Mexican while in college and came to live in Mexico. Where have I heard this story before? It sounds really familiar! Rachel and Luis were married at the very historic Casa Grande Hacienda in the town of Zempoala, near Pachuca, Hidalgo. The location had special meaning because the hacienda was built by Luis´ancestors and had remained in the family all through the Mexican revolution until present. The village church where the ceremony was held was very charming and traditional. I loved the fact that Luis was my first groom to wear spurs and a pistol, dressing in traditional charro style, which is so different from the traditional dress in Yucatan where I live, and of course you can see that Rachel was a very beautiful bride.

All in all it was a very unique and happy celebration, combining Mexican and American cultures so seamlessly that by the time the dancing started I really couldn´t tell who was who, everyone was having a great time on the dance floor. As a photographer it is always a treat for me to be able to travel to other regions and tell the story of a wedding with different customs and traditions, mil gracías Rachel y Luis, les deseo lo mejor en su matrimonio!

Some guests outside the chapel.

The chapel was very traditional and special.

The bride and groom were walking down this hallway with the bridal party and families, to take pictures in the garden. When I saw this spot I knew I had to photograph Rachel there and I made the whole group wait for a minute in the hallway. I loved it that someone behind me actually gasped when they saw Rachel bathed in light and framed by the doorway.

Rachel y las amigas.

The family portrait.

The hacienda´s formal ¨sala¨was very elegant and old fashioned, I loved this picture and the wallpaper.