My Tulum Destination Wedding: When the Wedding Photographer Becomes the Bride
I can’t believe I’m finally sitting down to write about MY OWN destination wedding day! After being a wedding photographer for so many other couples, it was finally my turn to be on the other side of the camera. Austin and I celebrated our love at Ambre Epices Jungle Hotel & Spa in Tulum, Mexico, surrounded by our closest family and friends, and it was truly the most perfect day I could have ever imagined. When I originally started looking for wedding venues for our wedding, I found that the venues in the US that had all the details I was looking for could not compare to the wedding venue we chose in Tulum.
The One Where The Wedding Photographer Becomes the Bride
What no one tells you about being in the wedding industry is how being a wedding photographer planning your own wedding can be a big challenge! After capturing all of my couple’s weddings and sharing content that has a lot of eyes on it on TikTok and Instagram, there’s this weird pressure to create something over-the-top whenever it comes to your wedding day. I know my couples feel this pressure with social media. Still, its even more apparent when you’re in the industry, almost as if your audience has a certain expectation they want to see from your wedding. I’ve seen so many styles, venues, and personal touches that it would be easy to get overwhelmed by all the possibilities.
But here’s what I realized early in our planning process, I needed to block out all that noise and focus on what Austin and I truly wanted for our day. Not what would photograph the best or what would be the most impressive, but what would feel authentically us. Don’t get me wrong, I do loveeee an aesthetically pleasing design and took what my wedding photos would look like into account. But I still tried not to let my job influence what our wedding would look like.
I kept telling myself this is OUR day. Not a styled shoot, not a wedding that needs to impress industry peers, just a genuine celebration of our love story. And honestly? Making that decision was so freeing. It allowed us to create a weekend that perfectly reflected us as a couple rather than what might look the most impressive on social media. I am super lucky with the community that I’ve created that they went just as feral as I did when it came to my wedding photos and wedding content.
Our Welcome Party: The Perfect Start
Our wedding weekend kicked off with the most amazing welcome party on a boat from H2oh Sun Cruise! I wore this gorgeous dress from Eliya The Label paired with my dream Jimmy Choo shoes (if you splurge anywhere, wedding shoes are worth it!).
What I didn’t expect was the emotional surprise Austin had planned. He performed a song he secretly wrote for me on the boat with everyone watching. Y’all, I completely lost it! Everyone was crying, and it was such a special moment that I was not expecting. I am such a planner and like to know what is happening and what to expect, so I was stunned when Austin made this happen himself!
The Wedding Day: All About Intention
For our wedding day, I focused so much on the art and intention behind every element. The florals, the decor, and the colors were carefully considered to create the exact atmosphere we wanted. My bouquet was a cascading arrangement of mostly anthuriums in deep reds (I’m obsessed with unique florals that make a statement!). Our florist Dia Uno Floral literally worked magic, even placing greenery IN the pool, which created this dreamy, ethereal vibe that I’m still not over.
Having my mom as my matron of honor and my sisters as my only bridesmaids made the day extra special. There’s something so meaningful about keeping your bridal party small and filled with people who have known you your whole life. I did a first look with my dad, which was super emotional. Everyone was basically crying the entire day! As a wedding photographer, I always tell my couples that those raw emotional moments make for the most beautiful images, and experiencing that truth firsthand was so powerful.
Meaningful Moments That Made Our Destination Wedding Unique
Austin completely surprised me again during the ceremony when he made special vows to my family. After saying his vows to me, he turned to my family and read his vows to them. Of course, I bawled at the altar throughout the entire ceremony. This proves I married the right man. He knew how much including my family in our marriage would mean to me and made sure no one was left out. It’s true what they say about you’re not just marrying someone, but the whole family as well, so this special touch was the cherry on top of the perfect wedding ceremony.
Another special moment was my dance with my dad to “I Hope You Dance,” covered by Chris Stapleton. This song is special to my nana. It was my late grandpa’s favorite song. Incorporating these family connections throughout our day made everything feel more meaningful and connected to our roots.
The Party & The Pool Plunge!
We were ready to party after the ceremony and all the emotional moments! We had the most amazing mariachi band – Mariachi Tulum that brought such incredible energy to the reception. The mixture of live music, amazing food from Ambre Epices Tulum, and dancing under the stars was absolute perfection.
And the grand finale? Of course, we had to end the evening by jumping in the pool! If your reception space has a pool next to it and you aren’t planning on jumping, let this be the push you need to jump in, and don’t worry about your hair or makeup because it’s worth it. The second look dress from Dejzi had very Mexico islandy inspired perfect for an impromptu pool party. Looking back at those photos of us soaking wet but laughing uncontrollably perfectly captures how we wanted our wedding to feel: fun, carefree, and so us.
What I Learned as a Wedding Photographer Becoming a Bride
Being on the other side of the wedding experience taught me so much that I’ll carry with me to all my future couples. The biggest lesson? The perfect wedding isn’t about perfect details or flawless execution. It’s about creating moments that feel genuine and meaningful to you.
I also realized how much I value having a photographer who makes you feel comfortable. Danielle did such an amazing job capturing our day exactly as it felt to us. The top question I was asked when planning my wedding, “Who is going to be your photographer??” Hiring Danielle was a no brainer! Having wedding vendor friends be a part of this major moment was so special for me. As someone who’s usually behind the camera, being in front of it all day gave me a whole new appreciation for what my couples experience!
My advice to anyone planning their wedding (especially fellow wedding vendors) is don’t get caught up in what you think your wedding “should” be. Your wedding doesn’t have to be a portfolio piece or the most elaborate event you’ve ever created. It just needs to feel like you and your partner. The most meaningful weddings are the ones that tell your story, not the ones that follow trends or try to impress others.
Our intimate destination wedding in Tulum was exactly what we wanted, focused on love, family, and creating memories we’ll look back on forever. And at the end of the day, that’s what this is all about.
Planning Your Own Destination Wedding
Planning a destination wedding or looking for a destination wedding photographer who truly understands the emotional journey of your wedding day? Let’s chat! I’d love to bring everything I’ve learned as both a photographer and a bride to your special day. Click here to inquire today!
Wedding Vendors:
Welcome Party
Dress: @eliyathelabel | Shoes: @jimmychoo | Hair: @_bleach_chaos_ & @tilldeathhair | Makeup: @tellbeauty_ | Photo: @_daniellephotog | Video: @baileyreesevisuals | Boat: @h2ohsun
Wedding Day
\Hair: @_bleach_chaos_ & @tilldeathhair | Makeup: @tellbeauty_ | Photo: @_daniellephotog | Video: @baileyreesevisuals | Planner: @couconayevents | Content creator: @foreverafterinstantly | Invite suite & menus: @sunday.gelato | Name tags: @lydiamariedesign | Venue: @ambreepicestulum | Catering: @ambreepicestulum | DJ: @unoaudiovisualdjs | Alterations: @alteredforthealtar | Dress designer: @flourestudio | Necklace: @a.b.allie | Veil: @tonifedericiveils | Second dress: @dejzi | Bridal shop: @lovelybridedallas | Shoes: @prada | Cello & violin: @assaieventmusicians | Mariachi: @mariachitulum | Florist: @diaunofloral | Rentals: @msmrentals & @archiverentals | Cocktail napkins: @foryourparty | Cake: @lalipasteles
