Paraiso de la Bonita is a very charming boutique hotel near Puerto Morelos in Mexico’s Mayan Riviera. It is a favorite travel destination for Crystal and Kevin and of course absolutely perfect for this fantastic couple’s destination wedding. I loved the colors and the resort’s unique vibe, which seemed to be Mexican with a kind of chic twist. Gracias Crystal and Kevin for sharing your day!  Muchas felicidades!

I really love to look for little details that communicate a sense of the feeling of a place.

The first look….so glad Kevin and Crystal planned this and a pre wedding photo session, it really made the day go smoothly.

The ceremony site at the beach of the Paraiso de la Bonita, very secluded and beautiful.

The beautiful guest below is one of the few peopel I have ever seen take more photographs than I do! I am sure she got some great shots thoughout the day!

A few reception details…

What a wonderful day it was! Linda and John are high school sweethearts who traveled to Mexico to be married an intimate ceremony on a breathtaking beach in the Mayan Riviera. Having photographed a few weddings at the El Dorado Royale and other Karisma resorts, and knowing that Linda had planned her details very carefully I knew that it would be a beautiful event and it certainly was that! It was so much fun for Lauren and I to get to know and spend time with John and Linda, there couldn’t be a nicer couple and we felt like old friends by the time we finished up the trash the dress session the next morning! Linda and John, I hope you enjoy the photos as much as I have! Congratulations to the two of you!

Some detail photos from the getting ready portion of the day…don’t let these tranquil images fool you, Linda was a blur of perpetual motion the whole time!

A relaxed portrait of John before the ceremony.

Time for the beach ceremony…so beautiful!

One of the best details I have seen to date…Linda and John used stones inscribed with meaningful words like love, family, dream as paperweights for the ceremony programs. After the ceremony each guest threw their stone into the ocean with good wishes for the bride and groom’s new marriage.

So much love!

The reception was held at the Tucanes palapa, I wish I had 2% of this group’s dancing ability!

A few images from the TTD session the next morning…

Mayan Rivera photographer Elizabeth Medina, wedding photojournalism at the El Dorado Royale Resort, a Karisma resort in Mexico.

Ingrid and Casper are the ultimate international couple, from Mexico and Denmark they met in Barcelona, Spain and guests came from around the globe to join them as they were married in Yucatan on the grounds of the incomparable Hacienda Temozon Sur. It was a great day, a beatuful setting, con mucho amor and a fabulous couple.  Congratulations Ingrid and Casper, I hope to see you in Merida again soon!

I fell in love with Ingrid’s Teresa Helbig gown, it was the first I had seen from this Barcelona designer and so beautiful.

This little blond “mini mariachi” was a crowd pleaser! She would watch the mariachis and imitate their moves for a very appreciative audience.

It is such an amazing thing when I hear couples have fallen in love with their wedding location through the “pages” of this very blog! I could not be more overjoyed to spread the word about Mexico’s incomparable wedding destinations, especially when the location is the Hacienda Las Trancas outside of San Miguel de Allende, Mexico and I have the pleasure of photographing a fantastic couple like Juan and Jessica! Seriously, there is nothing like a destination wedding in Mexico, I see over and over how the magical atmosphere brings people together for unforgettable celebrations. Las Trancas is an authentic hacienda, perfect for groups who would like to experience the “real” Mexico and explore the countryside, the people and the wonderful local cuisine. (there is also a fantastic gym and a brand new spa area!).

We were able to do an engagement photo session with Juan and Jessica on the grounds of the hacienda the afternoon before the wedding, I loved the photos and the chance for Lindsey and I to spend some “quality time” with Jessica and Juan before the big day.

A few of Jessica’s “getting ready” details from the wedding day…

And an image from Juan’s getting ready time…

The wedding ceremony was held at a beautiful old church in the city of Dolores, hidalgo, Lindsey went ahead with the groom and his group and got this crossroads shot along the way…

After the ceremony we did a few bride and groom photos in Dolores before heading back to the hacienda, much to the interest of these future Hidalgo brides.

Jessica made a comment to me that I have heard several times from my brides, sometimes with a bit of trepidation…saying that she had noticed on this blog that all of the brides I photograph are so beautiful.  The truth is that I absolutely agree with that comment and having spent a very special day with them all I will add smart, kind, loving and joyful. Oh and of course possessed with impeccable taste in both grooms and wedding photographers! And Jessica…I have to say that you are a great example of all of the above!

A couple of my favorite bride and groom photos…

The reception set up…

Mexico wedding photojournalist photographer Elizabeth Medina, wedding photography at Hacienda Las Trancas, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.

I am not one to divide up my blog posts, but Natalia and Raul’s wedding will be an exception since it is vacation time here in Yucatan and I can’t wait until next week when it is all finished to share photos from this special wedding! Natalia and Raul were one of my favorite couples of all time before the wedding day even arrived! I was so happy that they planned a photo session prior to the wedding date. The wedding was a large one with many guests and this pre wedding photo session was a fantastic way to get to know each other better and to have plenty of time to really enjoy the photography without the hurry and nerves of the “big day¨.  I loved hearing Natalia say that she did not regret it, in fact it was the best thing they could have done! Here are just a few photos for now…stay tuned for many more images from the fabulous ¨big day¨in my next blog post coming next week!

The wedding was held at Natalia´s family´s beautiful old hacienda. This photograph of the bride surrounded by the beauty of the hacienda took my breath away even before I pressed the shutter of the camera.

Bride and groom….the first look was very moving, I am saving your tears for the slide show!

Natalia and Raul, just a few more for now, the rest to follow soon!

Hacienda wedding photography by elizabeth Medina in Merida, yucatan, Mexico.

What a joyful day! I actually tried my best not to photograph this wedding! Believing I could not guarantee to be back from Kate and Bill’s Puerto Vallarta wedding in time I told Robin I was unavailable and recommended a couple of very talented fellow photographers. Fortunately for me Robin was firm in her decision and not a person who lets logistics stand in the way. When she did some legwork and started finding ways to make it possible I turned out to be putty in her hands! I was almost afraid to see what she could convince me to do on the day of the wedding! Of course she and Heath are as nice a couple as I could ever imagine working with and the wedding was both a warm and happy tradition filled celebration and a feast for the eye. Thank you Robin and Heath for not taking no for an answer! I loved photographing the wedding!

Girls and guys before the wedding…

Robin and Heath chose to do a “first look” before the ceremony.

The ceremony site was just beautiful and meaningful as well.

I loved this one!

Lauren captured the next image, nice!

Robin

Destination wedding photographer Elizabeth Medina, wedding photojournalism in the Riviera Maya. www.elizabethmedina.com