When I first began to study photography (and I do mean study- I am probably the only person who would have purchased every photography book available at Barnes and Nobles and practically memorized them before actually buying a camera and signing up for a class- I mean really, who does that?) I embarked on a mad love affair with color… only to fall head over heels with black and white contrast and shadow when I began to develop and print in the darkroom. In those non-digital times one had to choose ahead of time between “seeing” in black and white and in color, or as I eventually began to do carry two cameras- in my case usually with a roll of tri X or an Ilford BW film in one and color transparency film in the other. Nowadays things are so much more flexible since we don’t need to decide ahead of time whether the photographs will be developed in black and white or in color.

Alejandrina and Marcelo’s photographs reminded me of how awesome that artistic freedom really is. The couple had a very elegant and classic beauty and as Lauren and I photographed the two of them at Merida´s Casa Faller I knew I would love seeing many of their images in classic black and white. At the same time there were elements throughout the day (such as the beautiful details that BAKU EVENTS brought to life at the couple´s  Hacienda Hunxectaman dinner reception, that just begged be be portrayed in color! I guess that is what ´s called having the best of both worlds!

Ale y Marcelo, nos encantó acompañarlos en su maravilloso dia, les mandamos muchisimas felicidades abrazo fuerte de parte nuestra.

All photographs (c)2013 Elizabeth and Lauren Medina.

Susan and Luis’ wedding was held at the Hacienda Uayamón in Campeche, Mexico. The weather….lets just say cats and dogs falls far short of describing! Fortunately bride, groom and the guests who had traveled to the jungle of Campeche to be with them on their day all maintained good spirits and the show went on! Susan and Luis, this was one very memorable wedding! Muchas felicidades and we hope you enjoy the photographs! All photographs (c) 2012 Elizabeth and Lindsey Medina. Wedding Location: Hacienda Uayamón, Wedding Coordinations: Baku Events.

This was one unforgettable wedding! Canadians Alexis and Alain were married at the Hacienda Chichi Suarez in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico, this destination wedding had a marvelous turnout with a very cosmopolitan group of guests, it was so cool to hear many different languages being spoken at one wedding. I may be a little biased but with its uber charm and unique culture I am truly convinced that there could not be a more perfect wedding location than  Merida. Alexis and Alan’s wedding was almost certainly the most multifaceted we have photographed, making wonderful use of the different areas that this hacienda has to offer. This blog post of images captured on the activity filled wedding day will be followed up with a “part two” featuring festivities held on other days (and even another city!) as well as a very special day after ‘”trash the dress” session with this great couple! Alexis and Alain, thank you very much for your kindness and hospitality, I hope these photographs take you and your families back to this great day, more to follow very soon! This amazing event was coordinated by Baku Events All photographs Elizabeth and Lindsey Medina.

Bride and groom and their families and wedding parties gathered for photographs prior to the ceremony… it was a very warm day to put it mildly and their efforts were greatly appreciated.

I think Alexis and Alain’s “first look” could have been a blog post all by itself, it was fun to photograph them when they first saw each other as bride and groom!

Wedding party and family photographs taken before the ceremony…

Alexis receives a private blessing from her father and soon to be husband immediately before the ceremony.

OK, I will confess… despite being there and the many hours spent editing, seeing the photographs of Alexis’ beautiful ceremony entrance here on the blog just gave me a fresh set of goosebumps!

The haceienda “casa de maquinas” was a beautiful stage for a ballet performance during the post ceremony cocktail hour.

Reception entrance and dancing…

After the dinner reception guests moved to the pool area for an after party and fireworks to finish off the night.

As a wedding photographer I think I can tend to have one foot firmly planted in the future. Going over details with couples who have reserved dates for our upcoming weddings or chatting about availability with prospective brides and grooms means that at any given time my agenda is more likely to be flipped open to a date months away than the actual week in progress. Maybe this futuristic reality is one reason I look forward the chance to hit pause and thankfully reflect on the previous year’s weddings. Revisiting moments from our 2010 weddings (as I hope my amazing 2010 brides and grooms will continue to do for years and years with their own images!) brings back especially vivid memories, each chapter of 2010 was unique and special and each couple oh so very  inspirational!

Warning, this sideshow goes by quickly, but then of course so did 2010! All slide show images Elizabeth, Lindsey and Lauren Medina. Music by the very talented Tiger Darrow is featured with our gratitude. (Regular blog readers will remember Tiger from Ember and Jon Paul’s Mexico wedding). If you love Tiger’s song as much as I do be sure to check out Tiger’s new albums!

Elizabeth Medina is Mexico’s premier wedding photographer, photographing weddings in the Yucatan, Mayan Riviera, Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, Costa Careyes, San Miguel de Allende and Los Cabos.

Amazing, amazing, amazing… possibly the most overused adjective in the English language! One bad habit I would like to put behind me in the new year is the overuse of this superlative. Unfortunately I will have to start tomorrow because here is no way I can avoid saying AMAZING  just a few more times in describing Karah and John’s big day! Karah and John chose a destination wedding and  the Hacienda San Jose Cholul as the wedding venue. This location is truly special, it has a very intimate scale, authentic rustic charm, and of course the incomparable local Mayan culture. Located very near my home base of Merida, Yucatan, Mexico, this colorful venue has hosted some of my favorite weddings to date. The Hacienda San Jose somehow seems to attract the most amazing (oops) people and Karah and John and their whole group certainly were just that.

Karah and John’s choice of colors really complemented the location and the team from Baku Events did an amazing outstanding job with the wedding set up.

After finishing up with photos Karah and John joined their guests at the cocktail hour held near the pool, I loved being able to capture the quiet moment when they walked down the path to meet their friends and family.

One thing I love about this hacienda is the way the spaces visually separate. The walk from the pool area to the garden area area where dinner and dancing took place had a very dramatic and beautiful ambiance.

Fotografia de boda, Hacienda San Jose, Merida, Yucatan, Mexico.

Vern and Andrea are an awesome couple who traveled from New York to be married in two unique and  beautiful ceremonies at the very lovely Hacienda Petac near Merida, Yucatan which were coordinated beautifully by our friend Colleen Casey-Leonard. The details and ambiance of this wedding were really quite special. I really think that the Hacienda Petac is a perfect spot for an adventurous couple planning a destination wedding a little bit off the beaten path. We were excited to discover this location!

This wedding was photographed by Lindsey, I was fortunate to be able to go along and help out as her bag carrying assistant/second shooter. After all the years we have been shooting together it was great to have the tables turned at this wedding, having never actually had the opportunity to assist or second shoot before I found the experience very freeing.

I loved Lindsey’s image of Andrea as she walked through the hacienda to meet up with Vern prior to the ceremony. Wow!

Photographs of bride and groom around the hacienda prior to the ceremony…this hacienda is truly one of the most beautiful in Yucatan. It is very intimate and has an extremely peaceful atmosphere. Vern and Adrea were able to reserve the entire hacienda for their group, how amazing is that?

The next shot is mine, since I knew the bride and groom were in good hands I was able to have some fun photographing around the hacienda. Yucatan and its people are so special, it is wonderful to live is such a unique location.

The first ceremony was an authentic Mayan ceremony performed by a  Mayan Xaman. It was held under an enormous Ceiba tree at sunset, very fitting because that tree figures prominently in the local Mayan culture.

The second ceremony was held by candle light in the hacienda’s chapel and was very beautiful as well.

Lindsey Medina, destination wedding photographer, hacienda wedding photography in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico.

I hope to be forgiven for a blog post heavy in both wedding day detail photographs and superlatives. I met Zach and Lolita several months prior to the wedding when they came to Merida, Mexico for a site visit to their wedding venue, the Hacienda Xcanatun. I was delighted to be able to meet “my” bride and groom in person and very excited knowing their celebration would take place not only in Merida but at one of my very favorite destination wedding locations!

For those who might be unfamiliar, Yucatan’s haciendas are true hidden gems, as former plantations they are incredible historic sites, very unique to this part of the Peninsula and not found in the Mayan Riviera or Tulum, areas that have been developed recently. Xcanatun dates from the XVIII century and is now a wonderful boutique hotel, it is charming and intimate with an upscale feel, and was the perfect setting for this very lovely wedding. Zach and Lolita, Lindsey and I wish you all the very best! Felicidades a los dos!

Lolita on her way to meet her groom for a “first look” and bride and groom photgraphs on the grounds of Hacienda Xcanatun, these two are so great together!

The backdrop of the ceremony was the hacienda chapel, it was very peaceful and beautiful.

The dinner reception was held on the hacienda’s outdoor terrace. Zach and Lolita had music all throughout the evening, an orchestra accompanied the ceremony followed by a traditional Yucatecan trio (perfect for the location and ambience!) and finally after dinner a local salsa band had the guests on their feet!

Lindsey and I were able to “escape” the reception for a few minutes with Zach and Lolita for a few nigh time photos…

Wedding photographer based in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico, Elizabeth Medina photographs weddings in Yucatan, Puerto Vallarta, Los Cabos, Cancun, the Maya Riviera, Tulum, San Miguel de Allende and throughout Mexico, with a relaxed, natural and expressive style.

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.

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.

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.

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.