Malikqua & Shain: Destination Wedding in Puerto Rico at the Wyndham Grand Rio Mar

Flat Lay

     My latest wedding as a destination wedding photographer in Puerto Rico was marked on my calendar longer than any other, a date I eagerly anticipated for months. Malikqua had reached out to me almost a year in advance to secure my services for her wedding at the Wyndham Grand Rio Mar. As soon as I heard about what the venue would be, I became excited immediately because it has a very special place in my heart. Not only is it one of the most aesthetically pleasing backgrounds for wedding photography in Puerto Rico, but it’s also the venue in which I shot my first wedding ever. As you can imagine, my eyes lit up when she told me she secured the Wyndham Grand Rio Mar as the place where her love story would unfold. 

     Malikqua happens to be a real estate agent and our conversation initially took place in her car. She must’ve been getting ready to show a house or something but I found it rather funny. I locked in August 10th on my calendar and blocked it off because I knew exactly the typo of shots I wanted to take as a professional photographer in Puerto Rico: elegant and true to color with a cinematic haze and glow around all of my people. Fortunately the weather was cooperative and we were able to have an exceptional wedding day at the Wyndham Grand Rio Mar. It was hot, as you can imagine summer to be in Puerto Rico, but we all got through the humidity with a smile on our faces.

It's all in the details...

     Arriving early, as is my customary practice, allowed me to fully immerse myself in the beauty of the venue and capture its essence before the whirlwind of the wedding day commenced. In Puerto Rico, the enchanting landscapes and vibrant colors serve as a perfect backdrop for the love stories I document. I took my time during the details and getting ready process, meticulously arranging the delicate elements that tell each couple’s unique narrative. The soft morning light poured through the windows, casting a magical glow upon the lobby where I captured the details, enhancing everything—from the shimmer of the wedding gown to the delicate items arranged with care. This tranquil time provided the perfect opportunity to connect with the arrangement, ensuring that every moment would be captured with the sophistication and artistry that defines my work.

     Upon my arrival at the stunning Wyndham Grand Rio Mar, I discovered the bride and her bridesmaids preparing enthusiastically in a windowless ballroom tucked away downstairs, creating an intriguing challenge for capturing that coveted natural light that enhances every photograph. As a luxury wedding photographer in Puerto Rico, my instinct immediately led me to carefully scout the venue for the best possible locations. Fortunately, I stumbled upon a vacant lobby adorned with large, sweeping windows, inviting warm streams of sunlight that beautifully illuminated my flat lay mat. This serendipitous find offered the perfect backdrop, allowing me to create breathtaking, cinematic imagery of the exquisite bridal details, ensuring that every moment and element was celebrated with the exceptional elegance it truly deserved.

The lovely bride. 

     After capturing the intricate details of the bride's exquisite details, my focus gracefully shifted to finding the perfect backdrop for her breathtaking portraiture. I discovered a long, elegantly designed corridor, serene and vacant, offering an ideal setting away from the delightful bustle of the ongoing celebration. The soft, golden light filtering through the windows created an ethereal ambiance that beautifully enhanced the elegance of the moment. This secluded spot, with its subtle charm and minimal foot traffic, promised to encapsulate the bride's beauty and graceful poise, ensuring that each shot would resonate profoundly with the sophistication and artistry we diligently strive for in our cinematic imagery.

     I remember setting up two flashes for her portrait: one as a key light and the other on the ground pointed upwards so that I could achieve a nice glow behind there and blend it with the natural light in the background coming in from the venue doors. I was actually really excited for these pics because, not only did she look radiant after Melina, the makeup artist, was done with her but because I knew that this lighting setup would make her look beautiful. I had her hold her gorgeous bouquet at a waist high level and smile as big as she ever has. Fortunately for me I was able to Photoshop the entire light stand I was using out seamlessly to give it that look that I was going for. I am elated with how these pics turned out, the one above being my favorite hands down.

Hits different in black and white...

     Shortly after these stunning and breathtaking portraits were captured, Malikqua gracefully made her way back to the opulent ballroom, her excitement palpable as she rejoined her beloved bridesmaids for those all-important final touch-ups. The atmosphere buzzed with palpable anticipation. Amidst the delightful flurry of beauty routines and shared smiles, Malikqua indulged in her guilty pleasure, meticulously setting up her phone to capture the carefree, joyful moments on TikTok. Each video became a fleeting snapshot of a day steeped in love, celebration, and magical moments, allowing her to share the enchantment and beauty of her wedding while creating lasting, cherished memories with her nearest and dearest friends and family.

     I seized the wonderful opportunity to document the joyous moments as her beautiful bridesmaids gathered, capturing their infectious laughter and palpable excitement as they prepared for the momentous day ahead. With careful attention to detail, I also focused on the spontaneous behind-the-scenes snapshots of TikTok viral dances that erupted, transforming the elegant bridal suite into a lively and unforgettable celebration. These candid images not only highlighted the deep camaraderie among the bridesmaids but also encapsulated the vibrant and exhilarating energy of the day, adding a playful yet sophisticated layer to the overall narrative of the luxurious wedding experience.

"All my single ladies..." no more!

     We were gradually inching closer to the much-anticipated ceremony, the atmosphere thick with a palpable sense of excitement and the soft rustle of leaves whispering in the gentle breeze. Carola, my exceptionally talented second photographer, was situated in the groom's room, making sure he and his groomsmen were not only comfortable but also prepared for the momentous occasion that lay ahead. Meanwhile, I made my way out to the expansive green pasture, where the vibrant surroundings promised to encapsulate the essence of their wedding ceremony beautifully and elegantly. The golden sunlight danced gracefully across the landscape, casting a warm glow that set the perfect stage for a day destined to become a cherished memory for everyone present.

     Unlike my initial experience shooting a wedding at the Wyndham Grand Rio Mar, this time we found ourselves on the opposite side of the venue, away from the area most commonly used for ceremonies. The heat and humidity were very noticeable at first, enveloping us in a warm embrace as we prepared for the day ahead. However, as the afternoon progressed, a refreshing breeze began to sweep through, offering a much-appreciated respite from the sweltering atmosphere. This unexpected change not only enhanced the comfort of the couple and their guests but also served to elevate the overall cinematic quality of my imagery, creating the perfect backdrop for unforgettable moments.

One of my favorite shots of the day.

     We couldn’t have asked for a better day to get married. The actual time slot when the ceremony took place was absolutely the perfect one. The sun shined at the right angle and the way we were positioned made for some of the most majestic images I’ve taken so far in 2024 as a wedding photographer in Puerto Rico. Marilyn, the often-seen officiant, put together yet another wonderful ceremony full of elegant sentences and eloquent speeches. I scurried around the grounds as I usually do in order to get the shots that I want. Once I’m done with the basic over-the-shoulders of both the bride and groom, I remember focusing my attention to the more creative photography for which I’m known. This one you see above was taken through one of the gaps from the archway. It came out wonderfully!

Someone get Shain a towel.

     Once the heartfelt ceremony concluded, we carved out a few precious moments for the couple to elegantly capture stunning portraits against the breathtaking backdrop of their unique love story. This intimate interlude allowed us to create the exquisite cinematic imagery we pride ourselves on, beautifully highlighting their joy, connection, and the profound emotions that filled the air. Following their portraits, we seamlessly transitioned into taking cherished family and friends portraits, as guests lingered in the warmth of the celebration, still gathered near the ceremony site, creating a vibrant atmosphere. As a wedding photographer in Puerto Rico, I wholeheartedly believe this thoughtful approach not only preserves the emotional essence of the day but also ensures that the significant relationships are honored before everyone steps inside to cool off and continue the festivities.

Start into my gaze.

More to come from this wedding…

Tamiaka & Willie Wedding at Caribe Hilton

Lounging…

     This is the wedding that almost didn’t happen, for a plethora of reasons. Firstly, Tamiaka & Willie were not meant to be my clients. It just so happens that a pair of colleagues were contacted by this couple but, because they were already booked that day, my fellow Puerto Rico wedding photographers reached out to me to see if I had availability. Fortunately, I looked at my calendar and saw an opening. Shortly thereafter I’m put in contact with Tamiaka and Willie so that we can get the ball rolling on a potential union. They were looking for a short, four-hour intimate wedding and those just so happen to be some of my favorites. We hit it off from the get-go and agreed we’d be a wonderful fit

     As the special day got closer, we decided it’d be best to keep in touch. I asked Tamiaka to provide me with a ‘shot list’: that is the group portraits of both family and friends that to her are ‘must-haves’ & make my life as a wedding photographer in Puerto Rico a lot easier. Whenever we get a shot list we basically do a roll call of the people on it so that we’re efficient yet effective with the couples’s time (specially when they only booked me for four hours). They weren’t working with a planner so I had my work cut out for me as far as a timeline was concerned. More responsibilities fall on the photographer’s shoulders when wedding planners aren’t hired because, for the most part, the documentation vendor is second-in-command; we got on the same page and dove head first.

“Put your hand in mine…”

     It was about 4 p.m. when I got to the Caribe Hilton on July 13th: wedding day. Tamiaka’s parents, Kevin and Frances, met me downstairs as the entire bridal was still getting ready in their hotel rooms. They were the nicest people coming in from Grand Rapids, Michigan; I told them that Eddie, my assistant for the day, and I would be in a few minutes to start documenting some of the behind-the-scenes process. The heat and humidity was already getting to us as we broke out in. sweat just by sitting down at the hotel lobby; this is something that you can expect when you’re getting married down here and a feeling I know all too well as a result of being a Puerto Rico destination wedding photographer.

     As we made our way up to Tamiaka’s room, I was greeted by one of her bridesmaids who was kind enough to let us into the busy room. Tamiaka herself was still in the bathroom getting ready so Eddie and I decided to start shooting pictures with her immediate entourage. She has a lovely dress, nice pair of shoes, a few bouquets for her main girls and a whole lot of charisma that pairs well with the pendant she had on her head. Miscellaneous shots of her bridal party were take and, as soon as she was fitting into her dress, Eddie and I decided to move onto the venue area to snap a few pictures of the scenic sights and sounds photographers in Puerto Rico love to see and hear shortly before the ceremony is about to start.

When I got to the ceremony venue, I saw a lot of empty chairs; I imagined the entourage just hadn’t made their way to the site but that wasn’t the biggest concern at the time. When I looked up, I saw I had no blue skies or white clouds but an overcast afternoon instead. In the grand scheme of things that’s not the worst thing in the world because an overcast day provides a natural softbox of light for photography (which is welcome when you don’t have one but that wasn’t the case here). I made some friends among the guests and took their pictures while I wanted the first order of business to kick off. That’s when I started seeing the immediate bridal party lining up to start making their way onto the ceremony grounds. As I thought we were just about to commence, I catch wind of another possible inconvenience: the DJ was late.

Not only is he not present but he’s also the master of ceremonies and supposed to kick things off with music specifically chosen by Tamiaka and Willie. The looks of concern start appearing in everyone’s faces including my own; Eddie and I start shrugging shoulders and each other wondering what the hold up is when, our of nowhere, we see a guy with an iPad in one hand and a loudspeaker in the other making the way to the backyard which is where my couple was going to tie the knot. As he fumbles through his hear and cable management, I come to the conclusion that he was the vendor on which we were waiting and I walk over to the couple to reassure them everything was going to be alright. Little did I know I was wrong…REALLY wrong.

Brother Willie.

It started pouring.

At first I thought we were going to be able to fight the sprinkles coming down but, in a matter of two to three minutes, the torrential downpour forced us to scurry inside and me to cover up my expensive equipment. Needless to say the wedding guests were not happy and don’t even get me started with Tamiaka. She was dumbfounded as to why the DJ kept them from proceeding; he later pleaded his case chalking things up to a miscommunication on his part. The more he spoke, the more irate Tamiaka became and it looked as if she had a bomb in her chest which could explode in any second. In order to mitigate that from possibly happening, I looked out the window and later told the bride and groom that the rain had subsided. This meant that, instead of taking the event indoors (which admittedly is not what Tamiaka wanted), we could give the outside ceremony another attempt. Lo and behold, we did and it was beautiful.

It was then that I was introduced to Ana, the officiant hired by the couple, and exchanged some quick pleasantries before the entourage was back in their positions. As we were about to start, Eddie hits the record button on his Sony A7SIII so that he can record some behind-the-scenes footage for me, a strategy that I’ve recently adopted in order to use that footage to market myself as a destination wedding Photographer in Puerto Rico. The heavy clouds dissipated and we were on our way. The ceremony went on as expected with Ana swinging the microphone towards the couple for their “I dos” and I was circling everyone present so that I could capture the wonderful and heartfelt moments that make a weddings in Puerto Rico truly memorable.

Tamiaka

Willie.

As soon as the ceremony wrapped up, Eddie and I quickly grabbed our flash gear and starting looking for areas for the ensuing bride and groom session. This is the perfect time for wedding photographers in Puerto Rico to showcase their skillset using creativity knowing they’re going to have time alone with the bride and groom. As the rest of the guests made their way to the reception hall for cocktail hour, I got to work on the couple using my Godox kit while maintaining as much ambient light as possible; truthfully, there wasn’t a lot of natural light to work with but I did my absolute best to balance it with the artificial one we were using.

Wholesome.

When we wrapped up the bride and groom session with Tamiaka & Willie, they went to join their guests at the cocktail hour balcony while Eddie took a breather and I got started on the reception details. While my clients unwind, I like to sneak into the reception hall when nobody is around so that I can, in an uninterruptedly fashion, paint the picture of what it was like to be there before the raucous crowd takes over. If there’s any peaceful and or stress-free moment during a wedding I’d say it’s definitely these instances where you find yourself in a mostly empty room (aside from the venue staff still working tirelessly to set everything up). You have nobody tapping you on the shoulder and you can whip out your best lenses to get that dreamy, out-of-focus background while isoating the couple’s’s knick-knacks.

W + T = Love

Table etiquette.

As with everyone, vendors are people and we eat too. Eddie and I sat down to grab some grub while the entire entourage was also enjoying their food. As a wedding photographer in Puerto Rico, I think this is the appropriate time to do so for two reasons: it levels the playing field and allows for the couple to understand that you have needs too and also due to the fact that whenever you try to capture the guests eating dinner, they hardly ever look great with food in their mouths. The staff in charge of the kitchen served Eddie and I a lovely eggplant parmesan dish that was rather small in size but quite large in taste. I wouldn’t say it was the most lavish meal I’ve ever had but Tamiaka and Willie definitely took my request seriously and for that I’m grateful.

Dancing towards forever…with you.

I stayed behind a few minutes after the cake cutting portion of the festivities because Tamiaka had confessed that they had scheduled it for roughly the same time that I was scheduled to leave. When these things happen I don’t mind staying behind a few more minutes if it’s either going to make a huge difference and/or put a smile on my couple’s face. As they took to the dance floor, I turned on my flash trigger and dialed in my settings which I had configured as soon as I arrived onto the reception area. As they spun around and professed eternal love, I did my thing circling them back and forth trying to find the perfect vantage point to encapsulate them within my frame but also have the burst of flash be present in the compostion. Can’t blame me: this is what you can expect when I’m hired as your wedding photographer in Puerto Rico.