Mexico Weddings

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Riviera Maya Wedding at Azul Sensatori

From the Bride… We fell in love with Esperanza the moment we arrived. From the ambiance, breathtaking ocean views, endless amenities and sense of privacy, Chad and I knew we had to have our destination wedding at Esperanza! With the love & support of our families, we started the planning process which included two site visits to the beautiful Los Cabo region. Any excuse to travel to Mexico, right?

My wedding vision all started with my dress! I purchased my Lazaro gown months before we traveled to Cabo San Lucas to scout for wedding venues. We got engaged in December 2011, and I said YES to the dress two months later in February. My dress was making its first debut off the runway at Lazaro’s trunk show at Kleinfeld bridal in NYC and I had to be there! I knew the dress was the ONE from the moment I saw it on the internet. I fell in love watching a video clip from Lazaro’s fall runway show. My dress embodied exactly how I wanted to feel on my wedding day; classic, sexy and chic! I also had the opportunity to meet my gown’s designer, Perez Lazaro, twice! At my first fitting, Lazaro helped me with the alternation of the belt so it was placed in the right location to give me some curves.

I thoroughly enjoyed the entire wedding planning process! I started my own amateur blog, adestinationwedding.com, shortly after we got engaged. From the numerous Pinterest wedding-themed boards, endless bridal magazines, web-searching for the best vendors Cabo had to offer, you could say I did my due diligence when it came to planning our wedding. I love all the little details that go into a wedding. I believe its the little details that truly capture the couple and their love for one another, and their guests. Some of my favorite details from our wedding was the personalized welcome totes and coozies, sparklers, chalkboard wedding program, my DIY bridal garter and having our favorite Esperanza margarita, Cabo Green, as our escort drink beverage!

Our wedding festivities in Cabo started with a Welcome Fiesta we hosted at the Hilton Los Cabo. Guests walked down to the beach to enjoy cocktails, hors d’ouevres & music. With the help of Lazy Gourmet & the Hilton, we set up the perfect space on the beach for guests to enjoy, including a lounge set, bean bags & a bonfire. The staff at the Hilton also greeted our guests with margaritas in our personalized wedding coozies. The rest of the weekend our guests enjoyed golfing at Pamilla, deep-sea fishing, rehearsal dinner at Hacienda Y Cantina, a sunset margarita cruise and bar-crawling.

We feel so special and loved that 67 of our closest family and friends traveled to Cabo San Lucas to witness Chad and I exchange our vows. Esperanza, and Cabo San Lucas will always have a huge part of my heart. We could not have chosen a more beautiful and romantic location to become husband and wife. Esperanza’s pool terrace overlooking the infinity pool and ocean will always be one of my favorite ceremony locations, not only because we got married there. It’s so peaceful and beautiful. I love feeling the breeze off the ocean as you stand there admiring all the beauty around you. After our ceremony, guests enjoyed a cocktail hour around the pool terrace. We surprised our guests with a mariachi band to start the celebration off in fun way! Our guests soon moved to the terraces of Esperanza’s restaurant, where they dined on the cliffs overlooking the ocean. The sun was sunsetting as we enjoyed dinner, had our first dance by Ed Sheeran “Kiss me”, and listened to speeches by my father, Maid of Honors & Best Man. The mirror runners & candles on our long tables sparkled as the night began to darken. We transitioned to our final location at Esperanza with a sparklers send-off! Chad and I ran through our guests to our final location for dancing, cigars + cocktails. Our last surprise for our guests was a cigar bar with hand-rolled vanilla cigars to enjoy overlooking yet another beautiful terrace. DJ Mijares played music all night long. We ended the night with “Love Somebody” by Maroon 5, and afterwards I took the microphone to thank everyone for traveling to our destination wedding. We had the time of our lives!

With the help of our amazing vendors in Cabo, we had our fairytale wedding (that’s what our guests are calling it!). I can not thank Amy Bennett Photography, Elements Mixed Media, Cabo Floral, Linen, Things & More, Suzanne Morel, DJ Mijares, Lazy Gourmet and Reverend Marco Arechiga enough for their professionalism & top-notch service. Some may think planning a destination wedding is difficult, but I disagree 100%. I had the most wonderful experience. Every couple should have the opportunity to work with such amazing people.

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Amsale

Amsale Bridesmaids Fall 2014

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Amsale Bridal Fall 2014

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Amsale Bridesmaids Fall 2015

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Lazaro

Spring 2016

Fall 2016

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For those of you currently spending your cold winter days dreaming of a sun-filled Mexican vaca (read: all of you), this darling day captured by M&J Photography is for you. An oceanside affair with those stunning crystal blue waters as an amazing backdrop, it’s a beautiful BHLDN gown meets bundles of vibrant colors meets all kinds of happy. See every last moment right here in the full gallery.

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Beach Weddings Destination Hotels + Resorts Weddings

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From the Bride… From the first moment Martin walked into the room, time stood still. My cousin introduced us, and from there our conversation began immediately as if we were old friends catching up. When we met, Martin was living in California and we began our long distance friendship through snail mail. Our love continued to grow deeper for one another through the years.

While Martin was living in California, I made a weekend trip to visit him in Laguna Beach. He surprised me by renting a Duffy boat in Newport harbor.When we got into the boat, he told me to go to the front where I found a small mailbox (we had written letters to each other, every day, for the past year!). By the time I finished reading the letter that was inside, he was down on his knee asking me to marry him. After I said yes, he asked me to look at the pier where a photographer was documenting the moment. Unforgettable!

Martin and I fell in love with the natural beauty of Mexico. The Riviera Maya worked for ease of travel for our family and guests. The fact that we were able to say our vows on the beach, in front of one of the largest coral reefs in the world, is something that has a spirit of grace and unity.

Planning the details of our wedding was a way to express who Martin and I are as a couple. I started with designing the save the date magnets, which led to envisioning and creating our wedding invitations.Throughout our journey we have used the scallop shell as our “wedding symbol”. Being a sign of a pilgrim and pilgrimage, it has many meanings within Christianity as well as in daily life. Martin had a scallop shell on his boutonniere that his grandfather had given to Martin’s grandmother on their wedding day.

The magazine, with digital and printed versions, was a way to let everyone know the events of the wedding week and to introduce all of the guests (and the photographers).

We placed custom mailboxes on all of the dinner tables, since we have a strong tradition of writing letters while apart. Each guest’s place card had space for them to give us advice and then place the card into the mailbox. We plan to open a mailbox each year and read the cards for the next several years on our anniversary.

I made my bouquet with silk flowers, then took the first gift Martin gave to me and a cross he always wears and hid them inthe bouquet. The lace wrapped around the flowers came from my mother’s wedding veil. The brooch holding the lace together was a gift from my grandma. The bridesmaids flowers were made by the resort, but I gave them color swatches of the dresses so the flowers would match the pastel tones they would be wearing.

My dress was by Catherine Deane for BHLDN, with some custom touches. The buttons on the back came from my mother’s and my grandmother’s wedding dresses. The sandals were Klub Nico, also from BHLDN. OPI’s “Teal the cows come home” not only acted as my “something blue on my toes” but it honored the “Schreiber” family name, since they are cattle farmers. The fingertip veil was custom designed by Carol Tuazon in Chicago, to create a “waterfall”. We used magnetic weights by Jill Watson of Save the Veil, so it wouldn’t blow away in the Riviera Maya breeze.

Martin’s suit came from Zara on Michigan Avenue in Chicago, IL, and his ocean-blue bow tie was from “1910”. His shoes were from Nordstrom, and his ‘something blue’ socks were by Paul Stuart. I sewed his initials along with our wedding day into the lining. Both of our rings also have the wedding day and the saying “All is Well” engraved into them– a saying that we have used throughout our wedding planning!

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Pink Cabo San Lucas Wedding

When you cross a sun-kissed Cabo affair with the happy, pink palette, you’re in for something really, really good. Think bright, peppy blooms and perfectly styled details all sweetly captured by miss Sara Richardson. It’s the perfect way to start your Friday, and you can find lots, lots more waiting right here!

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Mexico Wedding at Dreams Los Cabos Golf Suite & Spa Resort

From the Bride… Scott and I were introduced by my best friend from college when she was visiting me in Venice, CA. From the moment we met the sun and the beach have always played a big role in our lives as we spend our weekends riding bikes with friends, taking our dog on walks to watch the sunset, and planning our vacations around the best beaches in the world. It was no surprise that we took our first vacation as a couple to Cabo and have loved it ever since. When Scott proposed on a mountain (trying to change it up) in Costa Rica, we knew we had to get back to the beach for our wedding.

When we named our wedding website SunKissedLove, it was only a matter of time that we planned the theme of our wedding to match – a laid back beach wedding filled with sun and the love of our friends and family. The cobblestone streets of Cabo, the beautiful beaches and the something for everyone feel of Cabo was enough to convince us it was the place for us.

We did most of our planning via the internet, Pinterest and a weekend trip down to meet with vendors. We were referred to our awesome wedding planner, Amy Abbott through friends who had gotten married in Cabo and she showed us the Hacienda Cocina y Cantina, which we immediately fell in love with. Amy also found us our team of vendors including our amazing photographer Sara Richardson and our visonary florist Pina Hernandez. Its so important to have the right wedding planner who is patient and asks just the right questions to help you realize your vision.

Amy transformed the Hacienda into an amazing oasis, complete with white papel picados strung across the dance floor with a canopy of sparkling lights. The tables were adorned with mercury vases filled with peonies, flickering candles, and gold polka dotted napkins to wipe the crumbs of the homemade churros dipped in chocolate and carmel sauce. We created our own maracas favors, name tags, and custom burlap signs with the help of our bridal party and mothers in order to infuse some of our own style. The evening entertainment included a mariachi band at cocktails, followed by a cigar roller, camera booth and midnight popsicles for those needing a cool down from the all the dancing.

It was a magical evening that went off without a hitch and ended with us surrounded by the smiles of eighty of our closest friends and family enveloping us in a tunnel of sparklers!

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Oh what I wouldn’t give to live in this wedding for a day. The gorgeous sandy beaches, the beautiful grounds of Dreams Los Cabos Golf Suite & Spa Resort, the fabulous florals from Florenta Flower Design – every image captured by Mirelle Carmichael is a destination dream come true, and you can see every bit of this beautiful wedding right here in the full gallery.

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Beach Weddings

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Casual Whimsical

From the Bride…After the fairytale wedding proposal that involved a skydiving jump with “Will you marry me” spelled out on the ground as I was landing, I knew that Craig and I had to have a fabulous wedding to match that memorable moment. Being each from different coasts (Craig originating from Maryland, and I from California); we set out to find a location that would enable all of our closest friends and family to be a part of our special day. So instead of getting everyone to a central location in the U.S., we decided that a destination would be the perfect fit…a wedding and a vacation all in one! Randomly, we separately came up with the idea of a wedding in Mexico, and Cabo San Lucas seemed to fit all of our requirements with location, weather, and hotel options. We had previously stayed at a Dreams Resort in Punta Cana, and discovered they had a resort in Cabo. It was a match made in heaven! So plans went underway, and we enlisted the help of a local wedding planner in our current home state of North Carolina, Wil Kiser with Blue-17 Designs. Wil helped us to not only coordinate with the hotel, but he additionally worked on finding us the multiple vendors that made our day exceptional.

Our photographer, Mirelle Carmichael with Mirelle Carmichael Photography, was the first vendor that I knew that I HAD to have be part of our wedding. I had been following her work through her website for awhile, and I knew that there was no one else who I’d rather be there in Cabo with us, capturing the moments that we would treasure for a lifetime. Mirelle not only worked tirelessly throughout the wedding day ensuring that my long list of requested shots were fulfilled, she also did a mini-engagement shoot, as well as took photos of the rehearsal bonfire and dinner. Her professionalism and expertise with destination weddings made her an invaluable addition to our wedding. I show off the pictures to anyone who is willing to look on a regular basis!

Lola with Florenta Flower Design worked very closely with me from afar through multiple emails and telephone meetings. I had a definite vision of the type of shabby chic, yet elegant wedding that I wanted to have, and Lola worked relentlessly to ensure that I got exactly what I wanted. The flowers were absolutely gorgeous, the ceremony and reception décor were impeccable, and I was able to see my vision for this special day come together in such a magical way. Our DJ, Ricardo Patino, was in a word, awesome. I had compiled a list of must-have songs for the reception (who doesn’t NEED a little “Teach Me How to Dougie” at their wedding), and Ricardo was able to complement our chosen songs with other popular and current songs. The flow of the entire event was flawless, and all of our guests walked away that night with multiple songs stuck in their heads, and not wanting to leave.

The group of girls at Suzanne Morel that prepared our hair and makeup for us were absolutely remarkable. Being the picky person I am, I met up with Suzanne and her crew the day before the wedding for a run through as I wanted to ensure that the intricate hair style I was requesting could be completed. Suzanne put my mind at ease with a whip of her brush, and I left there feeling fabulous, and thrilled as to how I would look on my wedding day. The day of the wedding, every single one of my bridesmaids was pampered and felt like movie stars, with their hair pinned up just right, and exactly as requested in the pictures we provided.

And what wedding is complete without the ever popular photo booth? Dino Gomez Photography arrived at the wedding with one of the biggest photo booths we had ever seen, with an assortment of props. The large television screens that were a part of the package were awesome, as they allowed the guests to view the pictures that were being taken throughout the night.

While all of these vendors aided in making Craig and my wedding the best day of our life, Dreams Los Cabos is the definite front runner in our minds in regards to the success of our wedding week. We arrived to a beautiful landscape and a bounty of staff that were eager to aide us in whatever requests we had. Mariana, our wedding coordinator for the resort, worked endlessly to ensure that all of our plans were set in place, that our guests were enjoying their stay, and that our wedding was one to be talked about for decades to come. Our wedding was impeccable, and the staff at Dreams Los Cabos were the main ones to thank for that. Now all we have to do is plan a yearly reunion back to those magnificent beaches of Los Cabos!

Intimate Cabo San Lucas Wedding

There are long-distance relationships and then there is meeting the future love of your life right before you jet off to a deserted island to compete on Survivor. That’s long distance and then some, but after a long stay (and win!) as a castaway, this beautiful lady returned home to marry the man of her dreams in a stunning beach ceremony. Press play for every gorgeous moment captured by McKenzie Miller Films.

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Want even more lovely? Us, too. Check out these breathtaking images captured by Fondly Forever Photography… and stop right here in the full gallery for an entire day’s worth of swooning.

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Flora Farms Rehearsal Dinner

From McKenzie Miller Films… In March of this year, Kim and Bryan gathered with 30 of their closest friends and family for an intimate and fun weekend at the Westin in Cabo San Lucas. Kim was actually the winner of the last season of Survivor, and Brian and her began dating just before she left for nine weeks on a deserted island. During their ceremony, Kim and Bryan had each of their guests give a piece of advice or well wishes and Kim’s fellow castmate commented that she knew it was the real deal when filming wrapped and Bryan wasn’t afraid to kiss Kim after she hadn’t brushed her teeth for almost two months!

The weekend was magical from start to finish. On Friday night all of the guests set sail for a whale watching cruise and saw enormous humpback whales jumping insanely close to the boat. The wedding day was just as relaxed as Kim and Bryan are together. They started off playing a game of volleyball (which is how they first met) and swimming together with their friends. About an hour before ceremony time, they made their way to different rooms to get ready. After an intimate first look in the tiny cove where the ceremony would take place, their guests made their way down and circled around the two while they said their vows. The night ended with an intimate dinner on the beach.

It was a such unique and beautiful wedding. There weren’t a ton of details, flowers or accessories, but it was so completely perfect for the two of them and the best way for them to celebrate their union.

I was the cinematographer for the event and Jen of Fondly Forever Photography was the photographer. We have been best friends for 15 years (since we were freshmen in high school!) and although we work on different coasts (NYC and LA) it has always been our dream to work together! This was the first of what is hopefully many weddings of ours together.

Photography: Fondly Forever Photography | Cinematography: McKenzie Miller Films | Event Design: The Bride + The Bride's Sister + The Mother Of The Bride | Ceremony Location: Le Meridien | Reception Location: Hacienda Beach Club

There are rehearsal dinners, and then there is this amazing day captured by Alison White Photography, which can only be described as the most fun you’ve ever had, all wrapped up in some crazy gorgeous scenery. I’m talking a stunning Flora Farms setting hosting lawn games, face painting and all kinds of yummy cotton candy (my favorite). See every joy-filled moment right here in the full gallery.

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Destination Rustic Weddings

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Rosarito, Mexico Day After Session

From Alison White Photography… Most people who get married in Mexico choose a beachside location, and Heather and Matt were no exception. However, for the rehearsal dinner they moved inland and chose Flora Farm for a daytime picnic celebration. Flora Farm is an organic farm, grocery, restaurant, and bar, which also hosts unique and intimate private events.

Heather and Matt aptly named their picnic “Fun on the Farm” as they planned a myriad of activities to keep guests of all ages occupied and entertained. There were yard games such as bocce ball, potato sack races, horseshoes and croquet, as well as hula hooping, face painting and even a caricature artist.

They enjoyed several signature cocktails such as carrot margaritas and the farm julep, and the menu reflected a casual barbeque with local Mexican flair. For dessert, the guests chose from homemade peanut brittle, kettle corn, cupcakes, caramel apples and frozen paletas – a Mexican popsicle.

Heather and Matt created a wonderful event that allowed their friends and family to relax and enjoy a different feeling in Mexico. It was a wonderful precursor to their wedding, which was held on the beach the following evening.

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Amy Abbott Events

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If it were up to me, I’d have a photographer follow me around every beautiful day in my life (the bad hair days, she could skip). So the idea of a love sesh in Mexico after the big day, is one I’m completely on board with. Ashley Kelemen Photography followed the loveliest of loves around the small village of Rosarito (which, by the way, is gorgeous) and the result is super stunning!

Lillian & Mardy had their wedding in Malibu, close to family and friends, but really wanted to celebrate in Mexico, where they fell in love. Mardy’s family has a home in the small village of Rosarito, surrounded by cobblestone streets and beautiful views. Lillian asked Sweet Marie Designs to make some special florals for color and romance. We spent the afternoon there as a delayed day-after session, exploring the town and reliving special moments. Mardy is an avid surfer, so we made sure to tie in his love of the ocean before wrapping up with the most beautiful sunset.

Photography: Ashley Keleman | Floral Design: Olive Willow Designs

Cabo San Lucas Destination Wedding

Instead of the big ballroom wedding with a giant guest list, this couple decided to have a super fun, relaxed, yet ridiculously beautiful Cabo San Lucas beach wedding, and oh my word, is it a treat. Sara Richardson Photography captured bright oranges and vibrant plums, papel picados waving in the wind, stunning flowers from Florenta… basically the ideal beach wedding. Pass the margarita!

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Photojournalistic Wedding Photography

From the stunning bride… It was a beautiful evening, clear skies with a nice cool breeze, blue water lapping on the sandy beach and picturesque Lands End in the background. It was a perfect backdrop for our wedding in Cabo San Lucas.

After getting engaged, Chris and I decided we would like to have a destination wedding on a beach. We come from large families and wanted to have a small, intimate wedding with our immediate family and close friends. After a couple of months of searching various beach locations, a friend recommended Cabo San Lucas. The beauty of the area was amazing and we loved how much Cabo San Lucas had to offer in restaurants, entertainment, and attractions. We had found our perfect location.

Initially we tried to pick our own venue for the wedding, but found that coordinating all the details from a thousand miles away wasn’t going to work. We were fortunate to connect with Vari Avila, a wedding planner at Allure Event. Vari recommended Hacienda Cocina y Cantina for both the ceremony and reception dinner. We liked the idea that we could get married and dine on a beach away from the crowds of the hotels. We also loved that the Hacienda’s décor reminded us of traditional Mexico and there were great views of Lands End. We were really excited that the restaurant was known to serve fantastic Mexican food.

We met with Vari the day we arrived. She greeted us with hugs and lots of enthusiasm and we knew right away that she would do anything to make our wedding day perfect. Vari and her team did an amazing job of making our dreams become a reality. The décor was beyond what we could have even imagined. The bright purple and orange floral arrangements and papel picados added a great splash of color.

The ceremony took place at sunset and gave it a warm and intimate feel. One of my favorite moments was at the end of the ceremony when our guests shook their personalized maracas for our first kiss. It was a fun, unique add-on to the ceremony. For the reception dinner, our guests enjoyed a delicious three-course meal, and instead of a wedding cake we decided to have a desert bar, which was a huge hit. The final highlight of the evening was dancing the night away under the stars.

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Maggie Sottero

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We’ve had a long time love affair with the work of Twin Lens. They are the masters of wedding photography from a photojournalistic approach, and today they’re here to share just what makes them tick. Read on for our special Q&A with Kitty and Craig, and you can find more of their fabulous work in the full gallery right here. Just make sure to really take the time to devour each image on it’s own as they just might take your breath away.

SMP: Tell us a bit about yourselves and how you got your start in wedding photography.

TL: Craig and I both come to wedding photography via newspaper photojournalism. We met while working in the newsroom at the Santa Fe New Mexican. Our resulting wedding photography has everything to do with telling the story of the wedding day through photographs.

We’ve been married for 13 years now and have an amazing little girl named Maya. We created Twin Lens 8 years ago, knowing that the newspaper Craig was working for would be closing. We decided that instead of chasing the next journalism job, we’d take a leap of faith and try to do what we love while working for ourselves.

SMP: Can you tell us a bit about your process with each couple before the big day? Specifically this lovely couple!

TL: We have been INCREDIBLY fortunate that our approach and imagery have attracted a particular type of couple. People who book our services are folks who are very comfortable and confident in who they are and who want an honest, beautiful and truly unique record of their wedding day. Lopa and Vijay definitely fell into this category. They wanted us to tell the story of their wedding weekend not only by documenting the very involved traditions of their Hindu ceremonies, but also by capturing the moments between them, their families and friends without posing or orchestrating.

Lopa and Vijay had chosen to bring their favorite people in the world to the Rosewood Mayakoba for their wedding weekend. Mayakoba is a phenomenal tropical venue in the Riviera Maya. They told us they wanted their wedding images to remind them of the people and the place, and how it all felt. They wanted to be able to relive the weekend through the images. Here are Lopa’s words upon seeing her wedding photographs:

“… I want to let you know I’ve been going through the pictures you sent us… often. They are so beautiful, and I cannot begin to describe how absolutely amazing they are, but I will try… you not only met my hopes and dreams, you far exceeded anything I could imagine. You have not only given us stunning images and beautiful memories, but an honest and at the same time fairytale story that I can relive and share with my family (perhaps children one day!). This is a priceless gift, and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.“

SMP: Your photos tell beautiful stories and evoke such emotion. What is your approach to achieving this while standing out from other photographers?

TL: This is where our journalism backgrounds come into play. We never know exactly what the picture is going to be until it unfolds in front of us, so we’ve learned to anticipate the moment and to compose on the fly. We try very hard to be unobtrusive and to wait for the decisive moment, light or composition to come together. We love that our couples accept us as part of the event, that we are able to be in the midst of everything, documenting without interfering with the flow of what’s happening.

Our hope is that our images show what is truly real and unique about a couple and their wedding day. We don’t try to fit each wedding into a “formula”. We like to roll along with the day and see what’s visual and storytelling. We look for the big moments and small details and weave them together into a one-of-a-kind photo essay which narrates the day.

SMP: What type of equipment do you use that give your photos such a distinct look?

TL: We fell in love with photography during the days of film and darkrooms, and so that’s become a huge part of our approach at Twin Lens. We combine the latest digital technology with the old school principles and look of film. The combination of these two sensibilities is what creates our look. We find that the digital cameras are best for capturing fleeting moments, while the twin lens reflex cameras allow us to slow down and be more artistic in certain situations.

We also bring along a couple of Holga cameras to each wedding. The Holga is a specialty film camera which creates images with an ethereal, old-time feel. The Holga has a plastic lens which creates a beautiful vignette around the edge of the image… very nostalgic feeling. The Holga “look” is the visual predecessor to what is now Instagram… think square and artsy. (except we can make giant, gorgeous prints for the wall from our negatives!) These are often our favorite images from a wedding day and seem to reinforce that sense of memory that you want wedding images to embody.

SMP: What is your favorite shot from this wedding and why?

TL: There are so many shots that I love from this wedding, and each one plays its own role in telling the story. The photo that makes me laugh every time I look at it is the black-and-white frame of Vijay while he’s getting ready for the wedding ceremony. He had a room full of relatives attempting to help him get dressed, each one offering a different opinion as to how he should wear each item of clothing. He had no experience with any of this, and was baffled himself. At one point, he just became overwhelmed by all the input, and this photo is a window into that fun, crazy pre-ceremony hour.

I also really love the image of Lopa & Vijay on the beach. They had just changed out of their traditional outfits, into their swanky reception clothes. The sun was going down and they were taking a moment together before heading to the reception to see their friends. Just a sweet, quiet portrait of the two of them being young and beautiful and in love.

From Kitty and Craig of Twin Lens… We want to take a moment to give credit to the ridiculously talented wedding planner for this event, Kimberly Richmond, of Runaway Bride Destination Weddings. While the venue and colorful Hindu rituals were visual in and of themselves, Kimberly built on all of it, and designed one of the most flawless and visual events we’ve ever had the pleasure of photographing.

San Miguel de Allende Wedding

This wedding is my everything. From the first shot of the Bride’s perfect shoes, to the couples’ last dance – every image captured by Evan Hunt Photo left me in complete and utter awe. It’s the definition of my dream destination wedding, and if you missed any bit of it in our latest SMP Fashion & Beauty Magazine, have no fear, you can see every perfect moment right here.

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Mexican Hacienda Wedding Inspiration from Life Wonders Photography

From Evan Hunt Photo…Zana & Rich met in the Navy and fell in love while traveling the world together. Rich flew Drones in Afghanistan for a year while she awaited his return and shortly after they tied the knot in San Miguel de Allende amongst family and friends.

Their love is one of strength and authenticity. A love that oceans cannot separate.

San Miguel de Allende is known for it’s colorful culture and architecture and is located in the eastern part of the state of Guanajuato. Shortly after being declared the first municipality declared independent of Spanish rule after the Mexican War of Independence, the city was on the verge of becoming a ghost town if it weren’t for local artists who moved in and began cultural and artistic institutions, which the town is still known for today.

The oldest part of the town is the square, established in 1555 and housing one of the most incredible landmarks in all of Mexico, the Parish Church of San Miguel.

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BHLDN

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Allure

Allure Bridals Fall 2014

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Truth: I’ve never been to Mexico. I know it sounds crazy (especially since I live in the Southwest), but it’s totally true. It’s a trip I plan on taking and one that moved FAR up my vaca list the moment I laid my eyes on this pretty little shoot from Life Wonders Photography. A shoot that can only be described as mesmerizing with gorgeous blooms from Magnolia Floreria Disenos Florales, a whole lot of beautiful gowns from Rebecca Marx and a seriously stunning Hacienda Temozon Sur setting. See it all here.

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Los Cabos Wedding Sara Richardson Photography

From Life Wonders Photography… The inspiration for this styled photo shoot was drawn from amazing surroundings of haciendas scattered across Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico where the old world rustic, European romance meets modern luxuries. Once I moved to Mexico, two years ago, I was simply enamored with the haciendas and started out on a mission to visit them one by one. A mission that is yet to be accomplished.

Once the idea for this wedding photo shoot sprouted in my head I found Rebecca Marx who was more than happy to participate and showcase a few of her amazing bridal dresses.

Next, we contacted some of the best wedding vendors in Merida and brought them in together for this shoot. The flowers designed by Juan Pablo Camara Abreu of Magnolia Floreria Disenos Florales were splendid in very subtle shades of white, cream, pink and green.

The rustic furniture was provided by Fernando Antunano Olvera of Minimal Muebles Lounge and it fit the classic look of the hacienda.The glamorous dresses together with Spanish veil from Rebecca Marx were complemented by lovely accessories from Gertrudis Abdala Accesorios Novias. The make up and hair style provided by Yasser Rego.

The models were a real life bride, Pili Pina, and a real life couple (yet to be married but so in love) Maritza Heredia Torre and Adrian Gonzales, bring in true emotion to the event.

We even added videography by Real Life in Merida in order to provide full wedding experience to the future brides.

Lastly, the photo shoot took place in a very exclusive location, Hacienda Temozon Sur, a place that lends itself to glamour, beauty and style.

There are weddings that make you happy and then there are weddings that make you happy, and I’ve found that Mexico seems to produce a lot of the latter type. From the blooms courtesy of Florenta Flower Design to the lovely Los Cabos beach to the couple whose personality is woven through the entire day, Sara Richardson Photography has given us the gift of happy, and the gallery is smiles galore.

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San Jose Del Cabo Wedding from Sara Richardson Photography

From the beautiful bride… Out with friends on Cinco de Mayo, I was looking forward to a night out with friends and welcoming summer. Little did I know that when I turned around at one point I would meet the future love of my life. Two-and-a-half hours of conversation later I knew I had met someone special, and as we got to know each other more over the next year we just fell more and more in love, knowing we wanted to spend the rest of our lives together.

On May 24th of the next year we went to dinner at our favorite Mexican restaurant, Kwamina had just surprised me with a surprise weekend away to Los Angeles and we needed were having our favorite meal before heading home to pack. When we got home, we started packing, and all of the sudden I heard our song come on, Good Life by One Republic. I put a pair of jeans away, and when I turned around there he was, down on one knee with a jewelry box in his hand. He started saying beautiful and romantic words, and I burst into tears of joy, and started kissing his face all over, and of course said “YES!!!!”

After a lovely and romantic weekend celebrating our engagement in Santa Monica, we returned home and started thinking about the wedding, and trying to think, what fits us, how do we make it a great vacation for our family and friends, who are spread all over the world, to meet? The questions were where and when?

After lots and lots of ideas about different places and times, we started seeing two themes in our relationship: May and Mexico, and with those guiding ideas we decided on May 18th in Cabo San Lucas. After a quick visit to Cabo, where we met our wedding planner, Vari Avila, and found an amazing location, Casa La Laguna, we were set to start planning our 10 day destination wedding!

We had so many stories within our wedding, and couldn’t imagine another way to celebrate our love for each other. From a three course of music, to lighting wish lanterns on the beach, it was an unforgettable day. Having friends and family travel from so many countries was a blessing we were overwhelmed by, and made our day that much more special.

If this wedding doesn’t make you want to swap plans and say I do amongst the sand, I don’t know what will. It’s a destination “I do” with pretty woven into EVERY detail, all thanks to crazy talented vendors like Florenta Flower Design, Martha Lomeli, and Sara Richardson. Oh, and we’re JUST getting started. There’s lots more to see and swoon in the full gallery right here.

From the Bride… Water has always played a significant part in Paul and my relationship; from our first dates of hiking near beautiful streams in Portland, Oregon to the pristine beaches of our Thailand proposal, we knew we wanted to get married near the water with our closest family and friends. After searching for a few months, we landed on a destination wedding in the small, quaint town of San Jose Del Cabo at the Cabo Surf Hotel. As Paul is an avid surfer, we realized this location was ideal for the small, intimate wedding we envisioned with enough activities to please all of our active family and friends who would be flying in from all over. We were so blessed to have Pauls 91 year old grandpa fly in from Florida, as well as some of Cats relatives from Prague, Czech Republic. With so many of our family and friends in attendance, we truly felt as if our wedding was a true representation of our combined lives together.

Planning a wedding from afar was easier than I imagined. At first, the idea seemed daunting but as we progressed, Paul and I learned to really trust our vendors and allow them to work from the experience they’ve gained over the years. Priorities are key and we chose to focus on only a few elements that were most important to us and executed these particular details with focus and follow up. Also, we had a lot of help from my mom, who hand-made so many of the details you see in these images. We are so blessed and appreciative to have these incredible images to remind of us of our magical first day as man and wife.

From the Groom… It’s a blessing to have a wedding in a beautiful place and its even better with a beautiful bride, great family and love all around me. The idea of a destination wedding allows for those special moments between events. Looking back at our wedding, these are some of my favorite times. Sitting on a board rising and falling with the waves, laughing at the pool, sunsets on the rocks when its only a memory, I couldn’t ask for better visions.

At the end of the day, we wanted our wedding to focus on the connection of people. Our bond with each other along with our closeness with family set the tone for an incredible few days of waves, sun and genuine connection a few of the best days of my life.

Sayulita, Mexico Wedding from Matt Edge photography

Friday’s seem like the perfect day to get lost in a destination wedding weekend. It’s a little break from work to peer inside the makings of a beach affair in Sayulita. Photographed by Matt Edge with planning by Luz Ochoa with Sayulita Weddings, this is a celebration that marries the vibrancy of Mexico with a toes in the sand celebration and it lasted a whole week. Now that is how you do a destination wedding. Check out the gallery for even more.

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From the Bride… Both Cory and I wanted a wedding that wasn’t just one night. A wedding in which people showed up only to leave hours later without forming a connection with our venue or the other guests wasn’t an option. We strived to provide an environment where the build up to the ceremony was palpable. A situation where our wedding would be the perfect send off to the perfect week. With an amazing combination of culture, fun, and beautiful surroundings the town of Sayulita made this all possible.

Marring each other with the view of the ocean behind us, our best friend officiating, and our closest friends and family surrounding us was always our dream. Everything had a personal touch that represented the two of us. The flowers on the table represented the Tucson desert and the colors of Pasadena. The music from the first dance to the dance playlist was all hand picked and meaningful. Even the late night taco man was a dream fulfilled. In the end it was simple, we threw the party that each of us wanted to go to.

Engagement at Floras Farm in San Jose Del Cabo from Ana & Jerome

Engagement sessions are wonderful in their own right, but engagement sessions in Los Cabos? Well that takes them to whole new level of magical. Between the light, the gorgeous couple, and the stunning scenery – these images from Ana & Jerome are downright dreamy. See them all here.

This engagement session was shot January 3, 2013 at Floras Farm in San Jose Del Cabo, Mexico. It was Brianna & Cory’s first trip to Los Cabos to meet vendors and scout locations for their upcoming wedding on January 3, 2014 at Sunset Da Mona Lisa. We (Ana & Jerome) had the idea to shoot at this unique location and were totally happy with the result!

Photography: Ana & Jerome Photography | Location: Flora Farms

Oaxaca, Mexico Wedding from Orange Turtle Photography

When you work at SMP, there’s never a dull moment. Exhibit A: this crazy gorgeous Mexico wedding that’s layers upon layers of wedding fantasy brought to life. With two stunning gowns that’ll Rock. Your. World. plus all the pretty snapped up by Orange Turtle Photography, this day is officially one to love. Ready, set…swoon!

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Backyard Estate Weddings Religious Institution

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Mexican Beach Wedding from Adrienne Gunde Photography

From Orange Turtle Photography… The wedding took place at the historical downtown of Oaxaca, Mexico. The bride, Stefie, grew up in Oaxaca and met the love of her life in Colorado. For their wedding, Stefie decided to get married in her gorgeous hometown. Their wedding took place at the historical church Santo Domingo de Juzman. The church is decorated with elaborate golden architectural details which would literally took your breath away. Immediately after the wedding, they were greeted by the traditional Oaxacan wedding parade completed with two huge puppets, fireworks and dancers! It was amazing!

They hosted their rehearsal dinner at the restaurant just across the street from the church on the rooftop. The lights from the street, the clear night sky and the historical surrounding make it pure magic. I’ve included a few images from their rehearsal dinner.

The wedding reception took place at a private estate (well, backyard!) that belongs to her aunt and uncle. It has a lush tropical garden where they set up a huge tent that seated over 400 guests. It was absolutely amazing! The guests partied until 3am in the morning, where a mariachi band escorted the exit of bridal party!!

The day after the wedding, we did a mini day-after session outside of another historic church of Cuilapan de Guerrero, which from far away, looks like a castle!

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Carolina Herrera

Spring 2015

Spring 2016

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Yeah… it’s a good day. A Mexican beach, yellow flowers, lots of love kind of day. Adrienne Gunde Photography is behind the images you’re about to fall for and we should all thank her for not just capturing a phenomenally beautiful (fun, stunning, happy…) day, but for doing it so swimingly.

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Sayulita, Mexico Wedding at Palapa Brisa del Mar from Derk’s Works

From the dashing groom… We decided to have an intimate destination wedding! My friend (best man #1, Jeff) got married in Riviera Maya 6 years ago, which is where we originally got the idea. We did additional research and did a site survey last August, and really fell in love with the resort.

Once we arrived at Azul Fives, Karisma Hotels would then use their onsite wedding coordinators and the local distributor, Lomas Travel, for the physical set up of the venue, flower arrangements, music, hair and make up, food and beverage, and also airport/hotel transfers for guests.

It was Rose’s creativity and imagination to include the wooden poles and sheers, and the paper lanters for the reception. Normally, Karisma Hotels and Lomas Travel will provide a bare bones reception set up, but they are open to suggestions and customization, and will do a great job in making sure their clients’ ideas come to fruition. We decided to bring the decorations ourselves, to be more cost effective. We brought the paper lanterns, chalkboards, name cards, and easels and packed them in our luggage! We also brought over the giveaways, which were the French macarons. The macarons had to be frozen to make sure they made it over.

Our special day went very smoothly. All vendors were organized, professional, and on time. There were few hitches along the way, but the Karisma and Lomas Travel vendors quickly resolved them. Our photographers, Adrienne Gunde (and Alice Hu as the second shooter) were excellent. Their style is very non invasive and we (and our guests) felt very comfortable around the camera. Overall, we had a very good experience with all the vendors’ services. It was a great day for us and our guests can say the same. We received nothing but compliments the day after on how memorable the day was!

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Adrienne Gunde Photography

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Everything about this sweet Sayulita wedding just feels right. Sun, fun, and seaside views to take your breath away — in other words, all the makings for a perfect destination “I do.” Derk’s Works captured every moment, and you won’t want to miss a single one! Find it all here.

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Sayulita, Mexico Wedding from Jillian Mitchell

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Outdoor Weddings

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Casual

From the Bride… The feeling David and I were going for was vintage and intimate. We wanted unique touches throughout the weekend but most of all we wanted out guests to feel special and appreciated. We threw in a great welcome party with free flowing margaritas to really introduce our guests to the amazing town of Sayulita. We finished the weekend off with an amazing firework show over the bay as Mr and Mrs with an amazing group of supporters around us.

I know that Yazmin had all of the table linens custom made, along with the custom orchid draped arbor we were married under, and all decor she sought out from all over Mexico just for our wedding. She custom made the napkins, menu card and table numbers with custom paper to match the custom linens. She swagged white linen around the edge of the palapa which added so much. Also we had a great lounge area with Edison lights strung across for ambience. We asked the guests to write well wishes on paper hearts we cut out and have used to make a piece of art in our home.

One of my favorite things was my garter – my aunt made it out of the silk and satin from my late paternal grandmother and great-grandmother’s vintage hand gloves. On the inside she embroidered in blue, K + D and our wedding date, 3.24.12 — I also carried my great grandmother’s pearl hand bag from 1939. David wore his late maternal grandmother’s bracelet.

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Monique Lhuillier

Monique Lhuillier Bridal Fall 2015

Monique Lhuillier Bridesmaids Fall 2015

Spring 2016

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It takes a certain kind of couple to pull off a destination wedding. But a destination wedding like this requires ALL hands on deck. And with the help of their ultra crafty crew (like the Bride’s brother and step-dad who rushed to the rescue with a hand-picked bouquet!) this style-savvy duo aced the day big time. See every little detail snapped up by Jillian Mitchell plus their gorgeous day-after session right over here.

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Destination Wedding in San Jose Del Cabo Mexico from Alison White Photography

From the Bride… We wanted our wedding weekend to be as personal as possible. We love to throw parties and said we wanted it to be like an ultimate dinner party. We tried to incorporate as many personal touches as we could. We had a director friend shoot & edit our funny save the date video, friends designed & letterpressed our invites, my mom hand- dyed each of the napkin ties & sewed pillows and table runners. I made the jewelry my bridesmaids and I wore. My brother and step-dad rushed to the rescue to create a stunning (and gigantic) bouquet picked from the Sayulita hillsides when my bridal bouquet had gone limp. (The flowers at the reception site were beyond gorgeous, thanks to our florist, Flor Mimo)

Music, Food & Photos were the most important things to us. My brother composed & played a beautiful song for us to walk down the aisle to. We had a mariachi band surprise our guests as we celebrated our first kiss. We had an incredible band, Los Tikkilyches, who not only learned our first dance song, but learned 3 additional songs & had our friends dancing all night long. Don Pedro’s food was to die for. Jillian Mitchell has given us a lifetime of memories and we can’t ever thank her enough for the gorgeous photos she took.

We were so grateful to be able to spend so much time with our loved ones to celebrate our love for one another. We are completely smitten with Sayulita & the fantastic people who helped make it all come together.

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Nicole Miller

Spring 2015

Fall 2014

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SPRING 2016

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I always feel a bit spoiled when pouring over Destination weddings. Spending hours on end drooling over details in some of the most fabulous places on eart does feel a wee bit indulgent. But luckily for all of us, that’s exactly what SMP Destination is all about. Bringing you weddings like this one from Amy Abbott Events shot by Alison White that feels so incredibly decadent you can’t believe there isn’t a catch. It’s just pure gorgeous, and there is even more to devour right here.

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Beach Weddings

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