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.

As fun as it is to photograph a gorgeous wedding like that of Jalé and Ken at La Reve near Playa del Carmen, I have to think it must also be one of the most amazing things in the world to be a guest at a destination wedding and spend a whole weekend in Paradise kicking back and celebrating the marriage of a wonderful couple. What a fantastic experience. I think everyone should have a destination wedding if at all possible and rejoice if they are invited to one and able to make the journey!

Jale and Ken made us feel like special guests at their Mexico wedding. I will confess that I have a slightly immature love of “out of town bags”,  those wonderful goodie filled bags that destination couples often prepare for their guests. Something about those little trial size tubes of sunscreen and personalized playing cards just appeals to my inner child!  Jale and Ken graciously surprised us by having one of their OT bags waiting for us, it was lovely and truly did make us feel like honored participants at this very special event. Thank you Jale and Ken, it was such an honor to document your wedding!

Before the welcome dinner we did a few casual photographs near the Quinta Avenida and I was happy to have a chance to get the know the bride and groom before all the action started.

The wedding was held at le Reve, a very intimate “boutique” hotel. The whole hotel was reserved for the wedding guests…wow!

A few details.

Bridal prep.

Just beautiful.

The gorgeous ceremony site.

A memorable moment between the bride and her father.

We were able to do photographs on the beach after the ceremony.

The cocktail hour.

Reception details.

The girl friends were so much fun!

First dance.

I guess I was’t the only one having fun with my camera!

Early teh next moring we met to trash the dress. I admire people who not only get up so early on the morning afte the wedding but look so good!

Trashing the dress!

Riviera Maya destination wedding photographer Elizabeth Medina is a wedding photojournalist who photographs destination weddings throughout Mexico.

Kevina nd Sara were a wonderful couple to work with. Kevin had been my point of contact during the planning stages so I knew he was very enthusiastic about having great wedding photographs. He and Sarah were so patient, they really collaborated to go the extra mile for their photographs, both on the wedding day and by waking up the morning after the wedding for a sunrise trash the dress session at 6 AM on the beach in Playa del Carmen. They had some great surprises for their guests on the wedding day. Every one seemed so happy for the bride and groom, and I have absolutely never seen a happier mother of the groom as Sarah was welcomed into the family! Here are some images form the weddign day and the fabulous trash the dress session the next morning…I think it was worth the 5 am alarm clock, which is saying a lot!

A couple of images from the trash the dress photo session…the name of this fishing boat was ¨corazón¨, or ¨heart¨in Spanish.

One thing about portrait photography is knowing how to connect with subject and knowing how to pace the session for the most variety and expressions possible. During the wedding day and the trash he dress session Sarah and Kevin were such good sports and we got all kinds of photographs of the two of them but I still felt like there was something a little below the surface yet and that it would make a special photograph. When I saw the image below in my camera´s viewfinder I think I actually said ¨That´s it!¨ Just what I had been after!

The rings…

Sarah´s beautiful dress.

A few shots from the ceremony in the Gazebo at the Royal in Playa del Carmen. Happy, happy bride…

The gazebo and sand ceremony…

This one is kind of a funny moment…Only at a resort wedding would you see something like this!

One of the surprises for the wedding guests was the mariachi group.

6 AM, time to trash the dress! Sunrise in the Maya Rivera happens over the ocean.

I loved the textures in this image.

Time to trash the dress (or wash the dress) in the ocean.

Elizabeth Medina, es fotógrafa profesional de bodas. Ofrece fotografia de bodas en Mexico, en la Riviera Maya, Cancun, Playa del Carmen, isla Mujeres, Cozumel, Tulum, Yucatan, Merida, Puerto Vallarta, San Miguel de Allende, Y Los Cabos. Se especializa en bodas de destino en haciendas y playas.

Erin and Justin were absolutely one of the nicest couples ever! I think that Erin must have a skill for choosing people to surround herself with…not only did she find her special “one and only” very early on (they have been together amazingly long for such a young couple!) They also have wonderful families and the most upbeat fun to be around bridesmaids of all time! What a pleasure to spend the day with such a beautiful coupleand in the company of a fun group like this, relaxed, having a good time and fully enjoying the gazebo wedding and beach reception at the fabulous Royal Resort in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. Erin, I love thinking that as a graphic designer you will find a million ways to enjoy your photographs, thank you to you both for choosing me as the photographer for your destination wedding in Mexico!

Thanks to Lindsey for spotting the girls on their way out…they were so excited for Erin!

I thought this was a fun shot!

The walk down Playa’s 5th Avenue on the way to the wedding….

Portraits of Erin right before the ceremony…

The Gazebo at the Royal overlooks the ocean. it was such a clear day you could see Cozumel perfectly.

The groom waiting at the altar for his bride.

Erin was fortunate enough to have two arms to walk in on!

These next two images have so much of Erin and Justin’s personality, they were having such a good time, even during the ceremony.

The bright and colorful bouquet.

The beach reception site right after sunset.

Let the party start…

First dance..

The Mother son and father daughter dance

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Elizabeth Medina is a creative wedding photographer based in Mexico. She photographs weddings at the Royal Porto Real in Playa del Carmen, in the Riviera Maya and throughout Mexico. She is a member of the Wedding Photojournalist Association, WPJA.

This wedding had so many fun elements! What a joy it is to tell the story of a day like this! A traditional Mexican Catholic mass, a mariachi serenaded stroll down the streets of Playa del Carmen, a dinner dance reception in the garden of the Royal Resort (one of my favorite locations), a romantic bride and groom photo session on the beach and of course a bride and groom who were obviously crazy about each other and happy to be celebrating in Mexico with a close group of family and friends! ¡Fue un dia inolvidable! Thank you so much Rocio and Eliazar, I loved photographing your happiness and love on your wedding day in Playa del Carmen!

A getting ready shot…when I see the bridesmaids pitching in to get the bride ready I always remember the saying “it takes a village”.

Details….

Is this little guy cute or what?

The Catholic church in Playa del Carmen where the wedding ceremony was held.

I always have an eye out for both the “big picture” and the small elements that quietly illustrate the day’s story.

Los novios, joined by the lazo en the Mexican tradition.

Los mariachis started playing when the bride and groom made their exit from the the church.

Everyone walked from the church to the reception at the Royal, a beach front resort. I think that is so much fun!

Arriving at the Royal…

The mariachis must have been a bit tired after that walk…but they never missed a beat! I wish I could remember what song they were playing here…I think it may have been “Somos novios”

Bride and groom pictures…what a great couple!

I confess, as much as I LOVE wedding photojournalism I am very proud of my skills as a portrait artist, and envisioning and creating expressive images like the next one makes me very happy.

First dance in the garden area of the Royal Resort.

I don’t know if this groom toss looks like fun to me or jsut plain scary…but Eliazar actually seemed to be enjoying it!

Great way to end a reception on a hot, hot, hot day!

Elizabeth Medina is a wedding photojournalist located in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico. She specializes in destination weddings and photographs weddings in the Riviera Maya, Cancun, Cozumel, Tulum, and Isla Mujeres, San Miguel de Allende, Puerto Vallarta, Los Cabos and throughout Mexico.

One thing that I really love about destination wedding photography in Mexico is that it gives me a chance to spend time with so many great people. Lysiane and Francisco had a wonderful turnout of family and friends for their gazebo wedding at the Royal in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. Photographing the ceremony really kept me on my toes, it was filled with emotional moments and I didn’t want to miss a single tear or laugh! After the midday ceremony there was a little break and my assistant Lauren and I shared sandwiches with two of the nicest “consuegras” (I guess the closest translation for that is co-mothers-in-law) we had ever met. We felt like we had made so many new friends by the time the night was over.

I have made a vow to add fewer images to my blog from each wedding, it takes quite a while to upload them and I don’t want to bore anyone who is kind enough to follow my blog…I think it will have to be gradual transition though, it is so hard to narrow down the images!

The beautful bride..

I don’t know what is going on but the shoes lately have been amazing! I cannot believe that Lysiane could walk in these!

Bride and groom with their mothers, the minute I pressed the shutter button I knew this one was a winner!

Lysiane and I seemed to be on the same page as far as the portrait session went…but Francisco had a few ideas of his own! I have no idea what he was up to but it got a laugh from the bride!

First dance in the ballroom at the Royal.

Wedding photojournalism by Mexico destination wedding photographer Eizabeth Medina in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. Elizabeth Medina is a menber of the WPJA, Wedding Photojournalism Association.