If you read my last blog post, I mentioned how completely flattering it was to photograph a fellow wedding vendor’s wedding. It truly is one of the best compliments I can receive. Well, the hits just keep on coming! For my latest wedding, a destination wedding in Cancun, I was truly flattered to have been asked by another wonderful wedding photographer to fly down and photograph their ceremony. Well, we’ll call it a wedding but it technically was more of an elopement, but who’s keeping track.
I met Chris a few years ago at a photography convention in Nashville, TN. We talked occasionally after the convention was over and, funnily enough, he was back in Raleigh one afternoon so we sat down, with his wonderful Fiance’ CJ, and talked about the wedding business. Well, *I* thought we were talking about the wedding business, he was talking about hiring me. LOL.. ok, so I certainly have my moments but we got it all sorted out and, in the end, started planning for their destination wedding in Cancun.
I had never been to Mexico prior to this, so I was really excited as I flew into the Cancun airport. Chris had arranged for a car service to drive me from the Airport to the Secret Capri Riviera Cancun, where they were staying and having their wedding ceremony on the beach. The first night, we just kind of hung out, talked shop, had an amazing dinner and planned out the next day. The resort had a TON of amenities included including Hobie Cats that you can take out into the Gulf of Mexico. So here is where I give my disclaimer… I do love original shots and capturing those, sometimes, that the desire to do that will override the common sense gene that was screaming against the idea. So, yes, I hopped on the Hobie Cat with my camera and went out into the Gulf for a pre-wedding sail with the happy couple.
After we got back onto dry land, with a dry camera, Chris & CJ went back to their rooms and started getting ready for the wedding ceremony. As he is a wedding photographer himself, of course part of the getting ready process was setting up his own camera to capture video of the ceremony. CJ, on the other hand, was busy in the resorts day spa getting her hair and makeup done. The day went on as expected with the pre-wedding preparations on both sides, CJ getting dressed, Chris waiting patiently on the beach for the ceremony to begin. What made this all the more special, for me at least, is I was one of two people in attendance at their ceremony. This destination wedding had truly the perfect setting for such an intimate affair – on the beach at sunset with just myself and another guest witnessing the ceremony.
After the ceremony,. champagne toast and cake cutting (which was an awesome cheesecake), we headed out onto the beach and around the resort for couples portraits. The whole facility was spectacular and had no shortage of beautiful locations for portraits. As it was such a small affair, the wedding reception consisted of dinner on the beach for the 3 of us. I know i’m saying this alot but I really was truly flattered to have been invited to join them that evening. We were served dinner while sitting on pillows in a curtain enclosed hut right on the water. The curtains were lit with gelled lights and it was, in a word, a spectacular setting at night with the resort lights on one side and the roar of the ocean on the other.
After dinner was over, we headed back into the resort to get one final set of shots. On the top floor of the resort, there was, what I can best describe, as the “hall of lights”. This was an open room at the end of a hallway that had at least 150 different lights hanging from the 20 foot ceiling. Each light was unique and had glass or metal shades. This is the first time I had seen anything like it and with the lights hanging so low, we had to weave in and out during the photos so we didn’t crash into them. It was the perfect way to end Chris & CJ’s wedding day.
I want to sincerely thank Chris & CJ personally for having me down in Cancun to not only photograph their wedding, but to witness their ceremony and enjoy such a wonderful moment in their lives. As always, here are a few choice photos from Chris & CJ’s destination wedding in Cancun.
Yes, that is me… :)
