Finally! I just had to steal a little extra computer time to share photographs from Jada and Paul’s Playa del Carmen wedding. I apologize for the over abundance of images in this blog post but I guess it was unavoidable- I love looking back at the photographs that Lauren and I captured at this bright and happy wedding almost as much as I was smitten with this very delightful couple themselves. Jada and Paul, thank you so much for your kindness and for making shooting your wedding in Mexico such a pleasure!

Iberostar Grand Paraiso wedding photography (c) 2013 Elizabeth and Lauren Medina for Elizabeth Medina Photography. Elizabeth Medina Photography is Mexico’s premier destination wedding photography studio, photographing weddings in Playa del Carmen, Cancun, Tulum, Merida and throughout the Yucatan Peninsula and Mexico.

Happy Friday! Working a little overtime here to finally update the blog. I have been really excited to share the photographs from Melanie and David’s beautiful Jewish wedding at the Banyan Tree Mayakoba. This fast paced November wedding was one of the most enjoyable weddings I can remember with lots of action and totally fun people! The Banyan Tree Mayakoba is gorgeous… Melanie and David’s wedding chuppah was set up on a rooftop terrace and the reception’s surprise location was at MK Blue, an amazing relaxed beachside venue. One of my favorite parts of the wedding was when couple, serenaded by an energetic mariachi band, led their guests from the cocktail venue down a candle lit, tree lined wooden path past the beautiful reception area all the way to the dance floor where the mariachi switched over into Hava Nagila and the Hora broke out… truly an unforgettable party! Event coordination for this breathtaking Banyan Tree wedding was by Solen Bodas.

Lindsey and I took a few getting ready and bridal photos then first look and off to catch some beautiful light:

Sunset photos on the grounds of the Banyan Tree Mayakoba.

We had a few minutes before the guests arrived for some available  evening photos of the bride and groom, here are a few of many favorites:

Vamos a la fiesta!

MK Blue reception details.

Reception music from Balance the Band.

All images (c)2012 Elizabeth Medina Photography.

Banyan Tree Mayakoba Wedding photographer Elizabeth Medina Photography, photographing weddings in Playa del Carmen, the Riviera Maya and throughout Mexico.

Francesca and Tommy were married in a beautiful beach ceremony at the Grand Velas Riviera Maya Resort followed by an amazing dance party overlooking the ocean. I have been looking forward to having the chance to add these photos to the blog, the photographs of the bride and groom enjoying the day so fully just makes me smile. This location was new to Lindsey and I, it is a beautiful resort with the most beautiful landscaping, a perfect setting for this laid back but elegant celebration. Basically it was a fairy tale on the beach followed by an amazing party, ending up with everyone in the pool!

I love it when there is time for bridal portraits prior to the ceremony. These of Francesca before the ceremony were some of my favorites. She looked amazing in her incredible Pnina Tornai gown.

The groom prior to the ceremony…alone and with his mother.

Photographs of the wedding ceremony on the beach at the Grand Velas…

Oops, almost lost the veil!

Grand Velas Riviera Maya wedding. All photographs (C) 2012 Lindsey Medina and Elizabeth Medina.

Ember and Jon Paul tied the knot in a gazebo ceremony at the Royal Resort near Playa del Carmen’s Quinta Avenida. It was a great day and Lindsey and I were delighted to be their wedding photographers! Destination weddings can be so much fun for everyone, especially in the case of a thoughtful (and really fun!) couple like Ember and Jon who seem to want nothing more than to make sure that their friends and family are well taken care of and having an amazing time. Congratulations to you both, we wish you all the best!

The beautiful bride, a few pre-ceremony getting ready photographs.

I love to find out that my current brides get inspiration from brides whose weddings I have already photographed! Yes, Britni if you are still reading this blog, that shout out would be for you! And in this case the inspiration is especially fantastic… Toms Shoes are super special because for each pair purchased a new pair is given to a child in need. Ember’s comfy but sparkly Toms seemed like the perfect wedding shoe for this fast moving and very energetic bride!

Bridal portraits, I love it when there is time for these!

Jon Paul and some pre-ceremony photos with his entourage….

Ember and John Paul discovered a wonderful young singer named Tiger Darrow and were able to bring her to Mexico to provide the music for their wedding… she did a fantastic job and her performance added a special dimension to the wedding… certainly an artist to watch!

Jon Paul at the altar as Ember makes her entrance on her father’s arm…

The ceremony was held at the Royal’s gazebo overlooking the ocean.

A photo of the whole group, then a few bride and groom photos on the Playa del Carmen beach.

Time to party… the cocktail hour and dinner reception were held in the Royal’s ballroom, it was a great party.

After the reception the bride and groom where serenaded by a mariachi band as they lead their guests to continue the party on the Quinta Avenida….

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.