2022 is shaping up to be one of the most incredible years of my career. After (to my surprise) winning one of Rangefinder Magazine’s 20 Rising Stars Awards I found myself connecting with people and couples from all over the world. One of those amazing pairs I managed to connect with was K & A based out of the Los Angeles area they decided to do something a bit different and took their wedding down south to the east coast of Mexico and hosted their wedding in Merida, one of their favourite spots in all of North America.
It’s hard to decide where to even begin with this incredible experience there was a such a perfect blend of genuine beauty and attention to detail that enhanced the ambiance and atmosphere at every moment of the day. It goes without saying that Merida is one of the coolest and most underrated cities in Mexico, being a bit of a city girl myself I appreciated being engulfed in such a modern city that was still rooted in authentic Mexican culture. This is a side of Mexico that everyone needs to experience and I’m already planning my next trip back. The venue was a perfect blend of modern and historical beauty, so it seemed like that absolute peak location for the bride and groom, along with the friends and family, to immerse themselves in the organic beauty that was surrounding us.
The venue was unlike any place I’ve ever seen for a wedding, a true photographer’s paradise with the colour and minimal architecture synonymous with places like California. The bride and groom made the most of the large estate, utilizing what felt like every inch of the well manicured and plant-rich grounds to provide a once-in-a-lifetime for their friends and family. The groom and his circle spent the first part of the day lounging poolside with a few ice cold Mexican lagers to help fight off the 36+ degree weather (that’s nearly 100F for my American friends reading this ;-) ) and the bride and her crew spent their time getting ready inside the beautiful modern home nestled away in a private part of the Hacienda.
Speaking of the bride, I have to mention how much thought she put into even the most minutiae details, elements like having hand painted details on the pedals of the orchids on her bouquet brought things to another level and equally elevated the visual aesthetic along with the emotional experience of the wedding. Her look was fun, effortless and absolutely on point for a dreamy Mexican Villa wedding.
The ceremony took place behind the modern home, with floral sculptures on white plinths as a ceremony backdrop, K & A’s friends and family gathered round in an intimate circle to observe an emotional exchange of vows. Although the ceremony had it’s fair share of tears it also had elements of pure joy like when the couple cheered after doing the deed and hilarity when a grown man tossed flower pedals from a fanny pack as Seal’s “Kiss from a Rose” echoed in the distance. After two years of fluctuating plans and frustration, it was obvious that everyone involved made the most of the experience. If you don’t believe me you can just check out the images of the bride and groom dancing in the rain as a severe thunderstorm rolled through during the cocktail hour, seeing a group of people with such a care-free attitude reminded me of a scene out of an outdoor music festival, it was awesome and set the tone for what was to come.
The dinner was hosted at a harvest style dinner table that was meticulously detailed and laid out beautifully, sitting below hand painted lanterns that hung above everyone as almost immersive pieces of art, the reception was as intimate as you can imagine with added romantic feel thanks to the candlelit ambiance. The rest of the night was taken up to 11, with a light-up dance floor and a few disco balls, the bride and groom hit the dance floor and got the party started, surprising everyone with a firework show and kept it going until the very last shuttle bus rounded up the last few partygoers back to their hotels.
It goes without saying that this was one of the most unforgettable experiences I’ve had as a wedding photographer. Both Brian and I got to experience a dream wedding thanks to K &A’s trust in the work we create. I couldn’t of asked for a more inspiring combination of elements to set off my creative spirit; from the Hacienda, to K & A (and their friends / family) to the city of Merida and the country of Mexico itself there was endless inspiration at the root of what we created and this is definitely one of the days I wish I could relive over again.
