How fun is this? Tiffany had first contacted long before the wedding when 2011 seemed SOOOO far in the future. It was fun to hear about all of the wedding plans and to look forward to this Pacific coast wedding for so many months. When the time finally came for Lauren and I to meet Tiffany and Scott the day before the wedding it seemed like we had known them forever! We explored the streets of San Jose del Cabo for some bride and groom photographs  and then joined the couple and their guests on a boat cruise for a view of the famous Arch. Coming soon… the beautiful wedding day and Tiffany and Scott’s day after TTD session.

Simply delightful. Not sure what else to say about Luis and Yoko and the experience of being the photographer for their destination wedding in Mexico. I met Luis and Yoko way back in 2008 when they stopped off in Merida on their way to Campeche to visit the Hacienda Uayamon for the first time. There were bumps along the way and the wedding needed to be postponed indefinitely. I wondered what would happen but Luis explained that only one thing was for sure, and that was that Yoko had said that I would be her photographer. Wow. Those who have been reading this blog for a while will probably have noticed that my photographer “self promotion” skills are not anywhere near up to par… I will never claim to be a rockstar and can’t even see the point of entering photo contests so I will probably never win any awards… so even though I can see the importance of self promotion it is just not my style to “talk up” my own work.  So I hope you will keep that in mind because I am totally bragging when I say that I am extremely proud that my work has somehow earned the trust that allows me to capture some of the magic of amazing couples like Yoko and Luis. Luis y Yoko, thank you so much for your confidence, and for being such a special couple.

This ring shot is a testimony to my fab assistant Lauren’s stubbornness, it was so hard to arrange this in a way that would allow focus of both rings but she persisted and got the shot even though I told her to give up!

This was a very intimate wedding and Luis and Yoko met before the ceremony for a first look and bride and groom photos.

The hacienda Uayamon chapel, so beautiful and natural. Luis and Yoko had an authentic Mayan ceremony… this is the only time I have been called out of the post wedding family portraits and asked by the shaman to return to the ceremony site for a ritual cleansing, apparently I had stepped inside the sacred circle so it was good to know that the Mayan priest had my back.

“Real” Mexican food is amazing, the port of Campeche is famous for its seafood. Ceviche and dark beer…yum.

Hacienda Uayamon wedding photographer.

Maybe it has to do with lunchtime being almost here, but I can’t help but thinking of Ky and Cody’s destination wedding in Mexico as just plain delicious. So much yummy color and texture and of course such a sweet, sweet couple! It is no secret by now that I am always delighted to have the Hacienda Uayamon as my photographic playground. What is a little hard for me to wrap my brain around is the idea that I have the privilege to be photographing amazing couples who have found, chosen and traveled long distances to such a remote location after falling in love with it through the photographs on this very blog. Ky and Cody, I appreciate so much all you did to make the hacienda wedding a reality, I loved spending the day with the two of you and your families, thank you so much for appreciating my vision and  letting me be part of your wedding.

Ky looked amazing…

The “first look” brought on a few tears.

We were able to do quite a bit of photography of the bride and groom around the grounds of the hacienda.

Gotta love all the color and how it “popped” against the backdrop of the rustic hacienda walls.

Cody spotted this little ‘tortulita” sitting quietly right above the spot where we were photographing.

Bride and groom taking a little break…

The ceremony was held in the ruins of the chapel, I think this site is simply magical.

The reception was set up in the hacienda grounds, and of course the use of color was again evident.

I love the next image of the intimate dinner served under the giant Ceiba tree, it really evokes to me of how it felt to be there.

Elizabeth Medina is Mexico´s premier wedding photographer. Specializing in destination weddings she covers events in Yucatan, Campeche, Mayan Riviera, Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, Los Cabos, San Miguel de Allende and throughout Mexico.

This was not your typical run of the mill wedding, for sure! Ever since Jaime contacted me WAY back when she started planning this Puerto Vallarta wedding I knew it would be a one of a kind day! When she settled on Las Caletas as her location I was especially sure! Las Caletas is a secluded jungle wedding spot that can only be reached by boat, and Jaime and Martin´s wedding there was a spectacular, once in a lifetime adventure! I wish I could pack the whole wedding onto the blog! Gracias Jaime and Martin for all your enthusiasm about my art and your good energy along the way and especially for being so in love and enjoying every minute of your wedding adventure in Mexico!

I accompanied Jaime and her bridesmaids on the a speed boat trip to Las Caletas…so very beautiful, this was such a fun start to the wedding day!

Once the girls arrived at Las Caletas the morning was spent relaxing on the island, with spa treatmentes, and floating in the jacuzzi. The bride and maid of honor even went for a wedding day swim in the ocean!

Meanwhile…the groom and the rest of the group had some time to enjoy Puerto Vallarta before heading to the wedding location by boat.  Lindsey did a great job documenting this part of the day, it was fun for me to see the photographs from her camera!

Finally it was time for Martin and Jaime to meet for a first look…plenty of tears all around!

Wedding site details, I love photographs that give a sense of place. Between Jaime´s planning and fabulous Las Caletas wedding coordinator Nicole there was plenty of eye candy!

Time for the ceremony…Martin as his bride arrived…

Jaime entered with both her father and grandfather, so special!

J

The rings were flown into the cermony by a parrot! You certainly don´t see that every day!

Let´s not forget the fire dancers!

The trash the dress session was at sunset the next afternoon…being based on the Gulf of Mexico and doing so much Cancun photography and Mayan Riviera photograpy I just I love photographing at sunset on the Pacific coast!

Puerto Vallarta wedding photographer Elziabeth Medina, Mexico wedding photojournalist.

When we met up with Mulu in the salon at the Dreams Resort in Cancun there was tension floating in the air along with the hairspray. Her relatives, including her father who was to walk her down the aisle had been scheduled to arrive the day before but instead had been stranded in a far off airport, unable to reach Cancun in time for the afternoon wedding ceremony. Fortunately the wedding story turned out happily, the resort graciously allowed for the ceremony time to be moved back and Mulu´s family arrived just in the nick of time for this once in a lifetime celebration.

I have to admit that I love all my clients. Something about spending their happiest day ever focusing on capturing all the joy they are experiencing seems to have that effect! Mulu and Sean were an extra extra special pair! After having such a fabulous time spending their wedding day and trash the dress session with this beautiful couple at Dreams resort in Cancun it makes me sad to think they live so far away! Mulu and Sean, thank you for all your kindness in sharing your day with us!

Mulu was such a beautiful bride as I am sure Sean would agree!

Bride and groom with the whole wedding party

This next one is just silly! Can´t have a destination wedding without speedo man, right?.

Mulu and Sean did a ¨first look¨ and some portraits before the wedding, such a great idea to have a private moment before the wedding day craziness begins.

The next two shots were taken when Mulu walked up the to the ocean front gazebo.

Sean´s wrote his own vows and they were very moving.

The beach reception…

The sunrise trash the dress session at, gulp, 6 am the moring after the wedding. It was actually dark when we started!

The Dreams Cancun lighthouse is one of the reasons Mulu and Sean chose the resort so it was fun to incorporate it into the trash the dress photos.

Cancun wedding photographer Elizabeth Medina, wedding photojournalism in Cancun Mexico-

If the Mexico destination weddings and couples I photograph were not so amazing and the energy of the wedding day so addictive, my dream would be to photograph for magazines like T+L (Travel and Leisure) or Conde Nast Traveller. Long before I started photographing weddings I would look at the images in those magazines and analyze how they were made. So when I get to photograph weddings that have that kind of cool travel vibe I could not be happier. Shaelyn and Tony were married at a private hacienda very close to Merida, Yucatan. This hacienda is quite unique in that it has kind of a funky, bohemian style and a lot of personality. The whole group seemed very relaxed and ready to enjoy the Yucatecan flavor of the wedding. All in all…a fun way to kick off 2009. Gracias, Shaelyn y Tony!

Hmm…a birdcage veil and a birdcage…couldn’t resist this one.

The ceremony was held on the front lawn, Lauren captured this photograph from the roof of the hacienda.

When in Yucatan you can’t miss trying panuchos, especially from fresh handmade tortillas.

Placecards!

When the bride and groom kissed they were surrounded for an instant by a sudden flash of fireflies! How cool is that!

The little dolls were made by a friend…so cute I had to borrow them for a photograph of the wedding rings.

The reception was held by the pool.

This photo session was so enjoyable! Jill Higgins is a professional photographer based in Georgia and would be in the Maya Rivera area photographing a wedding at the Fairmont Mayakoba. She wanted some photographs with her husband Brian, they have been married for 12 years but apparently had spent very little time on the “other side” of the lens and had few photographs of them as a couple. I was so happy the way things worked out to make the session a reality. As it turned out we would also be in the Playa del Carmen area for a wedding the next day, so timing was perfect. It is a little intimidating being commissioned by another photographer but it was great fun getting to meet Jill and Brian. Aside from being a great looking couple they are very sweet and laid back, we even had a chance to hang out and talk shop afterward!

T+L Magazine, which faithful readers of this blog may remember is one of my favorite publications, (along with Elle Decor, but that is totally off the subject of this post!) describes it as Maya goes Zen, I don’t know about that, but the way the mangrove swamps are integrated into the architecture is fantastic. Great place for a photo session with a great couple!

Elizabeth Medina specializes in wedding photojournalism. She photographs weddings in the Maya Riviera, Tulum, Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, San Miguel de Allende, Los Cabos and throughout Mexico.