Hacienda Tres Rios Wedding: Becky and John

Play del Carmen Mexico Wedding Photographer: Terra Dawn Photography

I LOVE my clients. No one can deny that. But there comes a client every now and then that I just…adore. I’ve clicked with the Tillerys. I’ve photographed them FIVE times in just the last year alone and they’ve become very dear friends of mine.

Where did it all start???

(Well…technically it all started with their dog Burton, but doesn’t EVERYTHING start with Burton???)

Not-technically, it all started when Becky and John went looking for a photographer to take with them on their FABULOUS wedding adventures in Playa del Carmen, Mexico.

Although there are some AMAZING photographers in Mexico, there are many reasons to look for a stateside photographer before heading off to your destination wedding.

1. You are able to work with them in advance on your engagement session (and puppy dog sessions), which lets you see how they work in person!
2. You won’t have to worry about a language barrier. (Spanish is a beautiful language…but unless you are planning your wedding years in advance, learning it’s intricacies is PROBABLY not on the to-do list.)
3. You can meet the photographer multiple times in advance and not worry about having a personality clash!
4. There is peace of mind knowing that, while you are waiting for your images…they are only a few hours away, not a few countries.

After months of talking, and Becky hinting to some of the AMAZING treats she had planned for her guests (and, incidentally, my camera….ahem), THE BUTT CRACK OF DAWN OF THE DAY WE WERE LEAVING CAME!!!!

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I left early in the morning to catch my flight to Miami and finally my flight to Mexico. After about 6 hours of travel (does anyone else notice that your feet swell when you sit on a plane for too long??), I TOUCHED DOWN!!! Lol. I picture myself doing the football touchdown dance at the main gate. I THINK that might get me detained at customs, though.

I’ve determined that after a long travel day, the best thing you POSSIBLY do is kick back with a Piña Colada, a ginormous buffet of seriously amazing seafood and the sand under your feet.

Oh!!! And fire dancers are nice.

Seriously!!!! THEY HAD FIRE DANCERS!!

I knew I had to get a good nights sleep (which is NOT difficult when you are being lulled to sleep by the sound of the ocean waves…), because the next morning (at around 5:30am) Becky, John and I were planning a little morning stroll…in the water…in a wedding dress…with my camera.

It went something like this…


Oh!!! I see your confusion. No, don’t worry. Becky purchased a cheaper dress online for this particular session. Her REAL lace, Priscilla of Boston gown wasn’t destroyed until AFTER the wedding.

The rest of the day was spent getting ready for the wedding day! Ahem…yeah. That’s it!! NO ONE laid around on beach beds or drank piña colada’s while floating in an inner tube in the pool.

We were all VERY busy.

The next day, though…the bride and groom had a really great rehearsal dinner planned with their guests at the little Frida Kahlo inspired restaurant. The orange walls in the picture at the top of the screen was the backdrop to this fun get-together.

After everyone party hardied (and ate hardy) it was time to get some shut eye for the amazing day ahead.

While I ran to Becky’s room, I had Rebecca (my fabulous second photographer for the week) head over to John’s room to see what trouble the guys were getting into.

John had these awesome Playa del Carmen cuff links to go with his sandy colored Calvin Klein wedding suite.

Slick, John. Supah slick.

These dudes seriously rocked out a quick session with Rebecca.

Slick dudes. Supah slick….again.

I met Becky at her hotel room (it was a long commute with TONS of traffic in the Hacienda Tres Rios Lobby…it took me a whole FIVE MINUTES to get there!!) at around 11 for hair and make up shots and the details that you KNOW I love to take.

Fernando Fuentes of Make-Up Pros did Becky’s hair and make-up for the day. He did an AMAZING job and his team was full of smiles and jokes all morning. (Not to mention, I love a man who knows good lighting…these shots are INSANE!!

A teary moment for everyone happened when her father came to see her all put together and ready for her first look session with John.

And then, came her teary “First Look Session” with John. (Yeah…I’d already cried like three times that morning…I was in a sad state.)

So what is a first look session?
A first look session is when the bride and groom decide to break with tradition and see each other BEFORE their walk down the isle.

WHAT?????
I KNOW!! But there are some AMAZING benefits to this.

1. Seeing your groom before your walk down the isle will relieve ENORMOUS amounts of stress.
2. The first look session is an intimate moment between you and your groom. No 100 pairs of eyes pointed in your direction. You can cry, laugh and kiss all in private (well…in private with a couple of photographers, that is).
3. Right after your initial first look session (where there is no posing and is VERY hands off from your personal paparazzi) you can go straight into a quick 30 minute portrait session. This means you will not have to do the session later when you are just ready to get down a partay with your bridal partay!! (Ok…bad joke. Embrace it.)

After some quick make-up touch ups, final kisses, and more make up touch ups…the guys headed to the ceremony location and Becky headed to her starting place to wait for her cue.

Her father (causing me to cry AGAIN) walked her down the beautiful beach isle towards the rocky outcrop in front of the resort.

Becky worked with the Hacienda Tres Rios to surprise her guests with the Mariachi band, Aguilas de Mexico, for her recessional and cocktail hour!

I seriously loved the one mariachi chick in the band. She kept playing towards my camera and I got some of the best shots EVER!!

Planner 1 Events planned the Wedding Reception and Welcome Party (yeah…you remember…FIRE DANCERS!!!).

The bride did the amazing stationary…menus, escort cards and all!! She’s kinda talented, yeah?

This is what happens when DJ Doremixx looks the other way. John tries to take over!!

Kidding aside, this DJ was OFF THE HOOK!!! I couldn’t recommend him more!! He played awesome music, was VERY accommodating for the couple and resort’s request….and HE HAD A FREAKIN’ LIGHT UP FLOOR!!! (I feel like this entire post is going to be in caps-lock.)

Becky bought these Señor and Señorita signs from The Back Porch Shoppe on Etsy.

Ahhh…so peaceful. Family and friends together for a calm afternoon of….

IDIOTICALLY INSANE DANCEFLOOR SHENANIGANS!!

The music playing at this time was…surprisingly (but not really) Shots by LMFAO. Oh yeah…it’s stuck in your head now, isn’t it. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAA……

Ah…..such CALM waters surrounded this late night soiree. BUT NOT FOR LONG!!

Oh, Tillery’s…how you can throw a bash. AND IN GOES THE BRIDE!!

Thank you SO MUCH, Tillery’s for making this trip wonderful for your guests AND your photographers! It’s a memory I’ll keep forever (primarily because I am going to hang a ton of these photos around my office…but also because you guys are SUPER amazing!!)

UPDATE: Check out this amazing wedding featured in “Destination Weddings and Honeymoons” on stands YESTERDAY!! (I’ve cleaned out the B&N in Fairfax, VA…so I wouldn’t bother checking there until they restock.)

Terra Dawn
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Resort/Catering/Cake: Hacienda Tres Rios
Invitations: Designed by the Bride
Hair and Make-Up: The Makeup Pros (Fernando Fuentes)
Wedding Reception and Welcome Party Planning: Planner 1 Events
Florist: Maya Diseno Floral
DJ/Lighting: DJ Doremixx
Linen/Chair Rental: Gamanteles
Wedding Gown: Vineyard by Priscilla of Boston
Bridesmaid Attire: Melissa Sweet
Groom/Groomsmen Attire: Calvin Klein
Bride’s Shoes: Kate Spade
Hair Flowers: Mikiye Creations on Etsy
Bride’s Sash: Untamed Petals on Etsy
Señor/Señora Signs: The Back Porch Shoppe on Etsy
Mariachi Band: Aguilas de Mexico
Planner: Allibe Lajud of Hacienda Tres Rios

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