I am so proud to be an Award Winner in a International Photo Competition, organized by the

http://www.wpja.com and BRIDES Magazine!!!

Check them out!!!










If you like amazing wedding photos, check the website with all the award winning images, really cool stuff!!

BRIDES & WPJA all the Award Winner Photos

I have the BEST JOB in the planet!!!!

As a recent bride and groom and a wedding photographers in the middle of the destination wedding action... we want to share some thoughts an ideas that can help other brides to have a dream wedding





And what’s a dream wedding??



Well, I am sure it may be a bit different thing from one couple to another, but every destination wedding couple is looking to have something amazing in a spectacular location







There are lots of elements to make a dream wedding come true., and planning it from the distance could be a little frustrating , specially if you haven’t been to the location and all you have is the internet.




Well, we live here! and we witness a lot of weddings, so we want to help, offering honest and real advice for other couples that are looking forward to make their wedding a unique moment in their life, taking advantage of the amazing place they have chosen to celebrate their union







So, let's start talking about the wedding ceremony..




THE WEDDING CEREMONY

There are countless ways around the world to join to people in love in marriage., and I’m of the opinion that each couple should be able to decide how they want to be joined together.., a wedding ceremony should be something very special and each ceremony should be unique to the couple’s background and love story..



It breaks my heart to see how the wedding industry sometimes looses perspective on the importance of the ceremony and many hotels operate as “wedding factories” , and they provide with the same “get married recipe and ceremony” to every couple.

It shouldn’t be that way!!!!








FOR EXAMPLE:

The LEGAL CEREMONY has become “the same thing for everybody” ., ministers of justice in charge of performing the ceremony literally use the same old speech several times everyday!!!... , they just read a paper, there are some ministers that are better than others and maybe spice it up with jokes..and special words for the couple, but many others just read the piece of paper, sometimes with a very bad english and the whole ceremony has zero meaning to real life or the real love story between bride and groom.




This ceremonies are very fast 15 mins maybe, they made you sign the papers, imprint your finger prints and you are all done., some brides add a “sand ceremony” at the end that makes it a little bit better, but there are usually restrictions of how much you can add to them.





The legal ceremony can be the least beautiful and is the hardest to plan as you have to be here at least 3 days prior wedding day to arrange the paperwork and blood tests.
Ceremony time will be set according to the availability of the minister of Justice, so you’ll get your 15 minutes when it’s available and sometimes probably at a very undesirable time of the day , under the harsh sun and with many hours between ceremony and reception.





Having the ceremony so early in the day comes with “uninvited guests”, people is hanging out at the beach, so you will have lots of curios in speedos bikins or even topless around the wedding ceremony site, and there is nothing the hotel can do to tell them to go away. (Unless you are in a private location)
For a photographer this could be amusing and we get some funny shoots, but some couples want to have a more private moment, and this is not possible.




I feel so sad!!!!!... Where is the consideration for the special unique moment for this couple???... Yes, the simple fact of being a bride looking gorgeous ,wearing a wedding gown and in front of price charming is special enough, but you can make it so much better!!!!




So, here are a few suggestions:

If you must to do the legal ceremony, and the only time available is not really “friendly” then just meet with the judge and sign the papers it could be at the hotel lobby, and then have your “Real ceremony” at the time you really want and how you want it.
(You don't need to be wearing the wedding dress, this couple actually signed their papers after their beautiful ceremony)



If you are lucky enough to get a good time for the ceremony, then do everything in your power to add your own touch to the ceremony, make it better, make it yours!!
After the minister of justice is done, go on and add your own touch, possible including participation of people you love.






Be creative and come up with your “own wedding ceremony ideas”, for example you could ask a very close family member or friend to conduct it, include a short story on how you are meant to be together etc… , include your and his parents, have them interchange something (anything!!) flowers candels, sand , something that mean something to the 2 of you?? … your imagination is the limit!!!..




You are getting married in Mexico, so how about including some local traditions as the lazo? Lazo: Bride and groom are wrap around with a “lazo” in a 8 form, this is the symbol for infinity and represents never ending love






OTHER LOCAL CEREMONIES AVAILABLE




MAYAN CEREMONY, Matt and I had a mayan Chaman performing our ceremony, and it was incredible, prior the ceremony we had some dancers, all our guests were in amazed, and the whole experience was really memorable for everybody.





Your are coming to the Mayan capital of the world! And this ancient culture is full of beautiful traditions that when incorporated to a wedding will make it unique for you.





The COSMIC CEREMONY is also popular here, it integrates family members and friends, it’s a very special blessing that connects the couple with the universe., very deep very meaningful





This is one of the most beautiful ceremonies I have ever witnessed, and it can be arranged easily here






Riviera Maya is a land of Cosmic Energy, we have some amazing locations., Matt and I have some new ideas to put together a new kind of wedding ceremony in a unique place in earth. We want our couples to have an incredible wedding experience, and Del Sol will offer some ideas soon!.. stay tuned..





In the meanwhile, don't settle for the ordinary!... make your wedding ceremony something memorable by making it "yours"

Please feel free to comment about your own experiences...

Yesterday was the day that Theresa & Frank choose to have their Trash the Dress session., Vincent shoot their wedding the day before, and I had some inspiration and decide to surprise them by tagging along with Vincent to create some art.

Trash the Dress sessions are so much fun, we are very lucky to have this amazing locations to shoot.

So, here are a few images from yesterday, we'll make a formal post with the wedding and more photos later, but I couldn't wait to share:




















Vincent shoot this photo below, I helped him with the light.. pretty cool!

















This last 2 photos are Vincent's.. more to come!





This session was done in the afternoon, we started at 5:00 and finish at 6:30ish.., so you can get an idea of the light

Del Sol Photographers - Riviera Maya- Trash the Dress

Matt and I are proud to introduce Diego as a Del Sol Associate Photographer.

He has been in the team for a year and a half, second shooting and assisting, getting hard core training and polishing his talents, we all were looking forward to the day he'll be ready to cover weddings and ttd's as the principal photographer.

Well, last week and he shoot his first assignments and he did an amazing job!..

Diego is available to shoot portraits, TTD's and weddings,offering great value, under Del Sol guaranteeing the best photography in the region


DIEGO'S PORTFOLIO, opens here






This is Jenna & Paul TTD Session., done in Playa del Carmen under the morning sun.

Here's a
Slideshow with more photos here!





























And this is Leslie & Eric's wedding at Riu Palace Cancun, last weekend

More photos in the Slideshow!, click here!!






















Our team is growing, as Matt likes to call it: "We are a Creative Core"... rocking out some amazing images, now available for more brides..

We love what we do!!!



Matt , Sol and Del Sol Associates - Riviera Maya Wedding Photographers

After a month of traveling and honeymooning, we are back to Playa del Carmen!!! (Matt's going back to Atlanta in a few days..)

There are a lot of new things coming up for Del Sol Clients & Friends, and we have a zillion projects going on, we worked pretty much all day long, but finally at the end of the day we took our bicycles and went for a ride to the beach




It's so great to be back home!..





This September 16 is Mexico Independence Day, so the streets are all decorated, Time for Fiesta!!!







Viva Mexico!!!! Almost 200 years of Independence!!! 1810-2008