it has been such a treat this fall to photograph beautiful local weddings like this Kika and Chino’s at the Hacienda Chichi Suarez here in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico. Kika is a graphic designer and almost as excited about the photographs as I was. She and Chino were willing to go the extra mile for their photos and we met at the hacienda in the afternoon for a “first look” and portrait session before the civil ceremony and Catholic mass took place later in the evening. The bride and groom were both so happy all during the day, and I love how that happiness could not help but show in the photographs!

Hacienda wedding photography in Yucatan, Mexico by Mexico wedding photographer Elizabeth Medina.

Ana Paulina and Gabriel will be familiar to those who have been reading the blog for a while. In August we had the pleasure of photographing Ana Paulina and Gabriel with celebrating with their family and friends their civil wedding at the beach in Uaymitun, Yucatan. Ana Paulina and Gabriel are a fantastic couple and obviously know how to throw a party so we were really looking forward to the ¨main event¨!  The Catholic mass was held at the Nuestra Señora de Libano church in Mérida, Yucatán and the amazing reception was held at a ¨casa de campo¨ in the small town of Cholul on the outskirts of Mérida. Please be sure to scroll down for a glimpse of the jaw dropping reception. It was all a bit too amazing to put into words so I will let a few of the wedding photographs do the talking!

Things ran a little bit late and the novios saw each other for the first time shortly before the sunset. We hurried a bit chasing the last light but it was worth it, I was really happy with the photographs of this beautiful couple.

The next shot is not going to win any awards…but I wanted to post it because I thought that it was such a neat detail…rather than giving her bridesmaids bouquets Ana Paulina gave them thease really neat flower bracelets.

Cholul… the ceremony site was simply breathtaking.

As a surprise for the bride and groom a video was played during their first dance of the two of them dancing together and Ana Paulina´s quinceañera! They were so cute! It was a real crowd pleaser.

Elizabeth Medina is a wedding photographer in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico. She photographs weddings thoughout Mexico.

What a fun session this was! Michelle and Brian are a very sweet couple from Canada. They were married a year ago and traveled to Mexico’s Mayan Riviera to celebrate their anniversary. As much as we LOVE non wedding day portrait sessions (being used to the craziness of the wedding day it is very rare and inspiring for us to have the luxury of unhurried time alone with the couple). Because of our full schedule of weddings we are usually only able to reserve the day after, honeymoon or anniversary sessions along with complete wedding coverage but due to some persistence and planning on Michelle and Brian’s  part fortunately we were able to make it work. It was a treat to photograph such a charming couple in such a peaceful and very romantic setting. Michelle and Brian, I hope on those cold winter days in Canada the photographs bring back warm memories of your time in Mexico!

TTD Trash the dress photo session in Mexico. Elizabeth Medina specializes in wedding photojournalism and wedding photography. She photographs weddings throughout Mexico, in locations including Playa de Carmen, Yucatan and the Riviera Maya.

Adrienne and Evan were married at Milamores,  a secluded beach front property near Tulum, Mexico, which according to legend was originally built by famous drug king pin Pablo Escobar. Mil Amores is now living a whole new life as an “eco chic” boutique hotel and was a peaceful and private wedding location for Adrienne and Evan. Despite the weekend beginning with some weather “issues” due to pesky Hurricane Ida, the wedding day was unforgettable and the beach amazingly calm and beautiful for the oceanfront ceremony. Adrienne and Evan are a very loving couple and had planned so many thoughtful surprises for their guests it was really fun to see (and photograph!) each charming detail and how everyone had such a good time all through the evening’s celebration.

The bride and groom before the ceremony… muy guapos los dos!

Tulum’s wedding coordinator Gwen Grossett of Destination Weddings Tulum was on hand to make the wedding and reception all come together and run smoothly. Below, Adrienne walking through the jungle on the way to the ceremony.

The reception was moved indoors due to the uncertain weather, so while things may have been a little different than planned the ambiance was simply amazing.

Tulum wedding photography by Mexico destination wedding photographer Elizabeth Medina at Milamores, Tulum, Mexico.

If ‘wedding’ and ‘rain’ are two words that really don’t belong in the same sentence then I think ‘Mexico beach wedding’ and ‘hurricane’ don’t even belong in the same dictionary! Donna and Patrick’s wedding had an unexpected guest in the form of Hurricane Ida as it passed by Playa del Camen, Mexico on its way through the Atlantic. Despite some wind and rain the wedding went off as planned in the gazebo. Destination weddings are so much fun and such relaxed affairs, I had the distinct impression at times that the guests were to busy enjoying themselves to even notice the weather! Despite the very unusual weather  it was a very beautiful wedding and such a treat to be able to document it all and I was thrilled to be able to photograph Donna and Patrick on the beach the next morning.

It stopped raining just long enough for Patrick and Donna’s “first look” before the ceremony. Lindsey photographed the moment from a balcony.

The bride and groom photos were moved indoors due to the weather, Donna and Patrick are such a beautiful couple and such troopers!

The first dance…

The next morning we were able to hit the beach for a morning after session. It was so peaceful and quiet, the only other people out were a few surfers taking advantage of the rare occurance of surfable waves in Playa del Carmen.

Wedding photojournalist Elizabeth Medina, wedding photography at the Royal in Playa del Carmen, Mexico.

Monica and Francisco held their destination wedding at one of my very favorite locations. The Hacienda Temozon is a just a spectacular and unique wedding venue. Dating from 1655 this authentic Yucatecan hacienda is full of history and local flavor. For those not familiar with the area, Yucatan has its own cuisine and culture, the Mayan langueage is still spoken here and Yucatan is home to wonders like the pyramids of Chichen Itza….sorry for rambling, but I can’t help but be thankful to live in an area with so much spririt!

I also could not feel more honored or proud to be entrusted to photograph events such as Monica and Francisco’s Mexico wedding or happier to have had Lauren as my assistant photographer throughout the day. Monica y Francisco, les deseo todo lo mejor y espero verlos en Merida para festejar el aniversario!

Elizabeth Medina wedding photojouralism Yucatan Mexico. Elizabeth Medina specializes in destination wedding photography and photographs events in Yucatan, the Mayan Riviera and throughout Mexico.