Megan and Matt had a very intimate and beautiful beach wedding at the Paraiso Iberostar in the Maya Riviera. I loved the colors and details that were chosen, they harmonized perfectly with the setting. The ceremony was held just a few feet away from the ocean, it was the first beach ceremony I have photographed where there was no altar, podium, Chuppah or arch of any kind, nothing at all but the bride and groom, family and friends and sand, water and sky. It was simply perfect! I really do not think I have seen the water or sky more beautiful, and since I photogrpah so often in Cancun and the the Rivera Maya I think that is really saying something! The colors of the ocean and sky were glorious.

Thank you Megan and Matt for all your kindness, it was so wonderful to be treated as old friends throughout the day. We wish you both the best of everything! I am really looking forward to creating your wedding album to showcase and preserve the memories of the day. Here are a few of the photographs:

I coudn’t resist a beachy shot of the rings.

There is a tradition among destination wedding brides of preparing OOT (out of town) bags filled with little things to make their guests stay more comfortable. Instead of bags Megan used beach buckets in her theme color, pink. How cute is that? At the dinner reception there were little pink pails filled with M & Ms (which stands for Megan and Matt of course!)

Even the dress got to go outdoors for photos.

One last check on the mirror. As much as I love photographing veils I also really love the no veil look, especially with a hairstyle like Megan’s.

I think the only special request Megan made all day was a photograph of Matt tying his tie! Did I do OK?

Matt and Megan met in a really special garden area to take some pictures together before the ceremony.

While i was getting shots like the one above my assistant captured the one below, I loved it!

Bride and groom with maid of honor and best man.

Another amazing detail, little bags of flower petals tucked into the chair covers.

Here comes the bride…

Elizabeth Medina, Maya Rivera wedding photography. Artistic wedding photojournalism throughout the Yucatan penninsula and all of Mexico.Iberostar Paraiso Resort, Maya Rivera, Mexico.

I have been so fortunate to photograph in many different and wonderful locations throughout Mexico. The Royal in Playa del Carmen is a particularly great venue. I love going into a familiar location like the Royal and discovering a whole new couple’s story and coming away with a completely different set of images! Becky and Brian were an amazing couple to photograph, and very expressive, not to mention patient. I didn’t know what to think about Becky’s Spanish style dress when I saw it on the hanger…but once she had it on..wow! I loved it and the complete look she put together. The morning after the wedding we met at 6 am (yes! you read tht correctly 6 am the morning after the wedding!) for a trash the dress photo session on the beach. Becky was prepared for the occasion with a second wedding dress. In the Maya Rivera the sun rises over the ocean so we were able to get some wonderful color, making the early alarm clock well worth it! Thank you Brian and Becky I am so happy to know that these photographs will be part of you family history!

Becky and Brian did not see each other before the ceremony, I did a few window light portraits of each in the rooms where they were preparing for the ceremony.

Bright flowers, so nice for the beach wedding.

I love witnessing the range of emotions on the wedding day, Becky started out all smiles down the aisle and lost it when she looked at Brian!

Some past ceremony pictures…Here Becky and Brian and in the garden where the coctail hour was held.

The reception was held in the same location as the ceremony, right on the beach. Such a special atmosphere for the first dance together as husbanc and wife.

Becky and her sister having fun on the dance floor…

Sunrise and time to TTD!

Becky started out with her hair styled straight, that only lasted a few minutes because she got hit by a huge wave! I think the wet hari looks totally amazing and proof that it is not the hair makeup etc. taht makes brides look fabulous, the most important ingredient is happiness!

Having met Eno and Magdelana almost a year ago and having photographed previously at the Hacienda San Jose, (one of the fabulous group of haciendas in Yucatan, Mexico that are operated by Starwood resorts) I knew ahead of time that there would be some serious eye candy at this wedding. The day was beautiful and there was a great turnout of family and friends who traveled to this off the beaten track destination. I had not photographed a hacienda wedding in a while and it was so much fun to photograph this amazing couple and their warm and relaxed fiesta in Yucatan!

I loved the act that all three of the bridesmaids were sisters of the bride!

Lo mariachi´s made a dramatic entrance.

The fiesta was held on the lawn of the hacienda and started right at dusk.

This was one of the longest toasts ever and really funny!

The DJ came down with the group and really knew her stuff. I had no idea that DJ´s work could be so complex, it was very cool to watch her work.

Hacienda wedding photography in Mexico by Elizabeth Medina, wedding photojournalist. Hacienda San Jose, the haciendas, Merida, Yucatan, mexico.

Pretty much at every wedding I photograph someone notices me doing crazy things with my camera and comes up to me and tells me that I have the best job around. I have to agree! It is inspirational to be around so much happiness and beauty. Knowing that a couple as fabulous as Margaret and Eric had not only chosen me to record their once in a lifetime destination wedding at the Barceló Maya Palace in the Rivera Maya, but are enthusiastic about my work is an honor, but also as we say in Spanish a “compromiso”…a big responsibility that I don’t take the least bit lightly! My aim as I run around with the camera is to capture the beauty in the personal, unique moments that make up the day, and go beyond the superficial capturing in the images a sense of place and feeling. Feeling that we have been able to capture those memories really does make be love my job! Gracias, Margaret y Eric, me encantó fotografiar esta boda tan especial.

Elizabeth Medina, wedding photographer, Maya Rivera, Yucatan Penninsula. Wedding photography at the Barcelo hotel. Elizabeth Medina specializes in wedding photography throughout Mexico.

What can I say? I love my job and photographing a couple like Pau and Rich is a great reminder of why and how much I love it! Ever since Paulina came to my studio the first time accompanying her sister Daniela, (whose amazing wedding to Marcelo I photographed in November) I thought she was one of the most kind and upbeat people I had met in a while. I was so happy when she came back a few months later and told me she would also be getting married and would like me to photograph her wedding as well! It was so fun to see how each sister planned a wedding with special details that fit her own unique style. Paulina and Rich were married in an evening ceremony at Nuestra Señora de Libano and the Club Campestre was transformed by the wedding coordinators at BAKU. It was fun to just be around Pau and Rich’s joy, I hope the photographs will help them to never forget how happy they were on their wedding day.

A detail of the dress…

Los novios, I was very grateful to have captured these moments.

A few of the flower girls in a quiet moment.

A few moments during the Paulina and Rich’s wedding mass.

Sometimes there are certain photographs that really speak to me in ways I really can’t explain, I think this would be one of those.

Pau and Rich make their exit….

To perfectly timed fireworks!

The main ballroom of the Club Campestre is famous for being impossible to decorate because of its massive size, I don’t think I have ever seen it prettier.

Walking to center stage for their first dance as husband and wife.

Reception details…

one memorable detail was the incredible candy table with all kinds of favorite snacks…cacahuates, chilitos, paletas, chicles…

Paulina and her group of amigas and the party gets started…

Yucatan has some great wedding bands! Who could not have fun at a party like this one?

The guests had so much fun putting on crazy hats, ties and masks!Of course Pau and Rich had his and her crowns!

And of course if you are Mexican you will recognize…Rebelde and Timbiriche!

Wedding photojournalism by Merida, Yucatan, Mexico wedding photographer Elizabeth Medina.

It always amazes me how each wedding that I photograph is different from all the others, but that each has its own special magic! Lisa and Brian were married in a very unique and extremely beautiful destination wedding on a private beach in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. The event was planned by wedding coodinators Maria and Erica at Weddings in Playa. and I thought the timing (or the day itself) could not have been more perfect. The fiesta was held at the Casa del Agua restaurant on Playa del Carmen’s Quinta Avenida. Lisa and Brian, I felt so fortunate to have been chosen to photograph your unforgettable wedding in Mexico! Felicidades a los dos!

I had never seen a dress quite like Lisa’s dress from Pronovias in Spain, it was absolutely perfect for this wedding.

We did a few pictures at the Shangri La Caribe before leaving for the ceremony site, I loved this one of the groom.

These Mayan ruins were located very near the ceremony site. It was so much fun to photograph Lisa and Brian and their families in that setting.

Those conch shells really put out a lot of sound! The Mayan wedding ceremony was very heartfelt and lovely,

The walk to Casa del Agua, everyone yelling out congratulations to the novios…

The Casa del Agua, an amazing place for the fiesta.

Playa del Carmen wedding photography by wedding photojournalist Elizabeth Medina, Riviera Maya, Mexico.