This was one of those fabulously international affairs. Mariana is of Argentine descent and had many family members make the trip from Argentina, Alex is from Switzerland and also had many people on hand for the event. It was pointed out that those two places are just about on opposite ends of the earth! They were also accompanied by a large group of friends from Mexico City! So as out of the way as Yucatan can seem to some it was really a common ground for this far flung group of family and friends and I think a special one since Mariana and Alex were able to incorporate so many regional details to really give the wedding the flavor of the Yucatan.

Mariana and Alex had both a civil wedding and a Mayan ceremony which were held on separate dates, both at the Hacienda Xcanatun in Merida, Yucatan. Xcanatun is an exceptionally beautiful hacienda, it has been restored spectacularly and the grounds are very lush and green. It was a very unique, once in a lifetime event and I was honored to be able to photograph it!

A few details for Xcanatun the night of the civil wedding (boda civil).
La boda civil.Los novios…

The grounds of the hacienda are so beautiful, it is like an oasis.

Xcanatun at twilight.

Mariana chose the perfect dress for the hacienda setting, it was just gorgeous and looked perfect on her.

Her shoes definitely made my all time favorite bridal shoe list!

I really thought that this photograph of Mariana before the ceremony captured a bit of her wedding day spirit.

The tables for the reception dinner were set up under the most amazing palm trees in the hacienda gardens, it was spectacular.

The Mayan ceremony was held in the garden of the hacienda at night.

An important part of the Mayan wedding ceremonies that I have witnessed is giving some type of offering back to the land, here the flower girl helped offer seeds and vegetables to the earth.

Another part of the ceremony is the “limpia” or ritual cleansing. The officiant was very thorough, not easy with such a tall groom!

A la fiesta!

The reception set up.

I was happy to have caught this moment! I love thinking that she will see this and the other photographs when she is all grown up and remember playing such an important role and how it felt.

Mariana assured me there would be no “first dance”, I guess it pays to be prepared for anything…

This detail shot is my fab assistant Lindsey’s!

Hacienda Xcanatun wedding photography by Merida, Yucatan, wedding photojournalist Elizabeth Medina.

Having photographed a wedding at the Hacienda Las Trancas some months ago, I knew a little bit of what I was getting into when Ken contacted me about photographing his wedding to Julie at the Hacienda Las Trancas outside of San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. Basically, the hacienda is a historic site that has been restored in a very loving way. It has a warm and intimate Mexican atmosphere that is simply perfect for a destination wedding. How considerate, photogenic and fun Ken and Julie and their families and friends would prove to be was a complete surprise and icing on the cake! I loved the color images but also thought the black and white photographs had a timeless beauty. Thank you, Ken and Julie! I hope your travels bring you to the Yucatán sometime soon!

Getting ready photographs. I love to do these because of the anticipation and range of emotions. Everyone is too busy with the preparations to worry at all about the camera. I think just about every bride wonders at the last moment if the dress is really going to zip or button up…such a relief when it does!

The happy groom prepares…

Wow.

The grounds of the hacienda are so unique, Ken and Julie and sitting by the door to the secret garden.

Some of the relatives/friends were teasing Ken and Julie as they posed.

Empieza la ceremonia…

The reception was held near the fountain, this area had been floored since I last visited the hacienda. If you look carefully you may be able to see the horses in their stables.

Two of the guests were professional salsa dancers, they gave a wonderful demonstration and class to the guests, it was amazing how quickly (most) everyone learned!

Wedding photojournalism in San Miguel de Allende Mexico by professional photographer Elizabeth Medina, specializing in wedding and destination wedding photography. Elizabeth Medina is based in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico and photographs weddings throughout Mexico.

I dont even know where to start! Rachel is American and met Luis who is Mexican while in college and came to live in Mexico. Where have I heard this story before? It sounds really familiar! Rachel and Luis were married at the very historic Casa Grande Hacienda in the town of Zempoala, near Pachuca, Hidalgo. The location had special meaning because the hacienda was built by Luis´ancestors and had remained in the family all through the Mexican revolution until present. The village church where the ceremony was held was very charming and traditional. I loved the fact that Luis was my first groom to wear spurs and a pistol, dressing in traditional charro style, which is so different from the traditional dress in Yucatan where I live, and of course you can see that Rachel was a very beautiful bride.

All in all it was a very unique and happy celebration, combining Mexican and American cultures so seamlessly that by the time the dancing started I really couldn´t tell who was who, everyone was having a great time on the dance floor. As a photographer it is always a treat for me to be able to travel to other regions and tell the story of a wedding with different customs and traditions, mil gracías Rachel y Luis, les deseo lo mejor en su matrimonio!

Some guests outside the chapel.

The chapel was very traditional and special.

The bride and groom were walking down this hallway with the bridal party and families, to take pictures in the garden. When I saw this spot I knew I had to photograph Rachel there and I made the whole group wait for a minute in the hallway. I loved it that someone behind me actually gasped when they saw Rachel bathed in light and framed by the doorway.

Rachel y las amigas.

The family portrait.

The hacienda´s formal ¨sala¨was very elegant and old fashioned, I loved this picture and the wallpaper.

Megan and Matt had a very intimate and beautiful beach wedding at the Paraiso Iberostar in the Maya Riviera. I loved the colors and details that were chosen, they harmonized perfectly with the setting. The ceremony was held just a few feet away from the ocean, it was the first beach ceremony I have photographed where there was no altar, podium, Chuppah or arch of any kind, nothing at all but the bride and groom, family and friends and sand, water and sky. It was simply perfect! I really do not think I have seen the water or sky more beautiful, and since I photogrpah so often in Cancun and the the Rivera Maya I think that is really saying something! The colors of the ocean and sky were glorious.

Thank you Megan and Matt for all your kindness, it was so wonderful to be treated as old friends throughout the day. We wish you both the best of everything! I am really looking forward to creating your wedding album to showcase and preserve the memories of the day. Here are a few of the photographs:

I coudn’t resist a beachy shot of the rings.

There is a tradition among destination wedding brides of preparing OOT (out of town) bags filled with little things to make their guests stay more comfortable. Instead of bags Megan used beach buckets in her theme color, pink. How cute is that? At the dinner reception there were little pink pails filled with M & Ms (which stands for Megan and Matt of course!)

Even the dress got to go outdoors for photos.

One last check on the mirror. As much as I love photographing veils I also really love the no veil look, especially with a hairstyle like Megan’s.

I think the only special request Megan made all day was a photograph of Matt tying his tie! Did I do OK?

Matt and Megan met in a really special garden area to take some pictures together before the ceremony.

While i was getting shots like the one above my assistant captured the one below, I loved it!

Bride and groom with maid of honor and best man.

Another amazing detail, little bags of flower petals tucked into the chair covers.

Here comes the bride…

Elizabeth Medina, Maya Rivera wedding photography. Artistic wedding photojournalism throughout the Yucatan penninsula and all of Mexico.Iberostar Paraiso Resort, Maya Rivera, Mexico.

I have been so fortunate to photograph in many different and wonderful locations throughout Mexico. The Royal in Playa del Carmen is a particularly great venue. I love going into a familiar location like the Royal and discovering a whole new couple’s story and coming away with a completely different set of images! Becky and Brian were an amazing couple to photograph, and very expressive, not to mention patient. I didn’t know what to think about Becky’s Spanish style dress when I saw it on the hanger…but once she had it on..wow! I loved it and the complete look she put together. The morning after the wedding we met at 6 am (yes! you read tht correctly 6 am the morning after the wedding!) for a trash the dress photo session on the beach. Becky was prepared for the occasion with a second wedding dress. In the Maya Rivera the sun rises over the ocean so we were able to get some wonderful color, making the early alarm clock well worth it! Thank you Brian and Becky I am so happy to know that these photographs will be part of you family history!

Becky and Brian did not see each other before the ceremony, I did a few window light portraits of each in the rooms where they were preparing for the ceremony.

Bright flowers, so nice for the beach wedding.

I love witnessing the range of emotions on the wedding day, Becky started out all smiles down the aisle and lost it when she looked at Brian!

Some past ceremony pictures…Here Becky and Brian and in the garden where the coctail hour was held.

The reception was held in the same location as the ceremony, right on the beach. Such a special atmosphere for the first dance together as husbanc and wife.

Becky and her sister having fun on the dance floor…

Sunrise and time to TTD!

Becky started out with her hair styled straight, that only lasted a few minutes because she got hit by a huge wave! I think the wet hari looks totally amazing and proof that it is not the hair makeup etc. taht makes brides look fabulous, the most important ingredient is happiness!

Having met Eno and Magdelana almost a year ago and having photographed previously at the Hacienda San Jose, (one of the fabulous group of haciendas in Yucatan, Mexico that are operated by Starwood resorts) I knew ahead of time that there would be some serious eye candy at this wedding. The day was beautiful and there was a great turnout of family and friends who traveled to this off the beaten track destination. I had not photographed a hacienda wedding in a while and it was so much fun to photograph this amazing couple and their warm and relaxed fiesta in Yucatan!

I loved the act that all three of the bridesmaids were sisters of the bride!

Lo mariachi´s made a dramatic entrance.

The fiesta was held on the lawn of the hacienda and started right at dusk.

This was one of the longest toasts ever and really funny!

The DJ came down with the group and really knew her stuff. I had no idea that DJ´s work could be so complex, it was very cool to watch her work.

Hacienda wedding photography in Mexico by Elizabeth Medina, wedding photojournalist. Hacienda San Jose, the haciendas, Merida, Yucatan, mexico.