Romantic Wedding in Antigua, Guatemala with photos by Caroline+Ben Photography

The Couple: Ying and Jorge

The Wedding: 11.26.12 - San Jose El Viejo Antigua, Guatemala

The Photographers: Caroline+Ben

Junebug: What three adjectives best describe your wedding?

Ying and Jorge: Classic, glamorous, romantic.

Junebug: What inspired your personal wedding style, and how did you incorporate your style and personalities into your big day?

Ying and Jorge: We wanted our wedding to be a classy and glamorous affair. We didn’t have a particular theme but we knew we wanted an intimate wedding with lots of personalized touches and local flavor with warm neutral colours. We only had 6 months to plan our wedding (from choosing the destination to the finished product!) but we spent countless hours and corresponded through countless emails with our wonderful planner to make sure we had every detail covered. We chose our wedding venues carefully. Capuchinas and San Jose el Viejo are magnificent ruins of 18th century convents/churches which are now tourist attractions frequently used to host weddings and other events. We had our ceremony in the back garden of the Capuchinas on the lush green lawn surrounded by flowers and trees with our ‘altar’ being a free standing stone wall. Escenica did a great job transforming our vision into reality - we had lots of fresh flowers, crystals, votive candles, and lanterns. Our reception dinner was at San Jose el Viejo. We used a lot of ‘antiques’ to decorate San Jose el Viejo to complement its natural beauty. We also added many personal touches such as pictures, personalized favor bags, handmade place card holders, groom & bride chair decorations, custom wine bottle labels and drink glass decorations. Our menus were in English and Spanish as some of the groom’s family only spoke Spanish. We also incorporated touches of Guatemala into our decorations, including coffee leaves (what Antigua is known for) and beans and colorful local candies. Our wedding was truly magical and everyone kept on telling us that it was the best wedding they’ve ever gone to. We could not have asked for a better day.

Junebug: Looking back, what are the moments, decisions or memories that you love the most about your wedding?

Ying and Jorge: We had a casual ‘rehearsal dinner’ at Sobremesa, a small restaurant with fantastic food and wine. We had the place to ourselves and it was lots of fun.

Although not originally in the plan, we ended up seeing each other and spent some time right before the ceremony together alone at the Capuchinas. One of the best decisions we made!

We really enjoyed our reception, it was intimate and really special to be able to spend time with our closest family and friends.

Our photo sessions through our various locations in Antigua was a great way for us to see the local attractions. We visited quite a few places which we would not have had time to visit, and they were so beautiful!

Junebug: What specifically drew you to Caroline+Ben Photography and their imagery?

Ying and Jorge: We searched online for destination photographers and came across Caroline+Ben. They really capture the moments and people’s emotions in a spontaneous and natural way. We also thought they would be great at capturing the colors and natural beauty of Antigua and Lake Atitlan (for day after pictures) had to offer.

Thank you for sharing Ying and Jorge, and Caroline+Ben! To find the perfect photographer for your own destination wedding, visit Junebug Wedding's Best Wedding Photographer Hotlist!

The Wedding Team:

Retro Inspired Engagement Session in Palm Springs with Photos by Callaway Gable

The Couple: Lana and Keith

The Photographers: Callaway Gable

Junebug: What specifically drew you to Callaway Gable and their imagery?

Keith: We were drawn to Callaway Gable's thematic style that is very dramatic. We have seen lots of engagement and wedding photos and Callaway's definitely stood out. Their portfolio is so diverse and we knew that they would do a fantastic job of bringing our vision to life.

When Lana called and spoke to Allie during the process of interviewing photographers, she learned that one of their daughter's name is Aberdeen, which is a name that Lana already picked out for our future daughter. Lana knew at that moment that Callaway Gable would be our photographers.

Junebug: Where did you choose to have your engagement photos taken, and why?

Keith and Lana: We chose to have our engagement session photos taken in Palm Springs for numerous reasons. We went on our first mini vacation to Palm Springs when we first started dating years ago. We took my vintage BMW out there for the weekend and had a great time. We continued to go back each year for the Indian Wells tennis tournament and last year, we rented a mid-century modern home for our stay. We love the mid-century modern era and wanted to incorporate that into our photos. We chose Palm Springs because there are lots of mid-century modern rental homes to choose from, which we did. We also wanted to have the desert background for our modern part of the shoot. We had this vision of the desert: with the sand and windmills in the background and Lana's dad's Porsche as well - it turned out even better than we expected.

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Thank you to Keith and Lana and Callaway Gable for sharing this fun shoot with us. We can't wait to see photos from the wedding!

Colorful Wedding in Thailand with Photos by Julian Wainwright Weddings

The Couple: Vivi and James

The Wedding: 3.14.12 - Sri Panwa, Phuket, Thailand

The Photographer: Julian Wainwright

Junebug: What three adjectives best describe your wedding?

Vivi and James: Joyful, Elegant, Personal.

Junebug: What inspired your personal wedding style, and how did you incorporate your style and personalities into your big day?

Vivi and James: Our lives are filled with adventure, beaches and everything fun and new. And we wanted our wedding to be an extension of that. When we decided to have a destination wedding, it wasn’t the ‘in’ thing to do but travel is in our hearts and it’s something we wanted to do to make our dreams come true.

Our colours were burnt orange and jungle green to match our tropical surroundings and to reflect our happiness. Flowers for the ceremony and centerpieces were kept minimal and elegant to only enhance the beauty of our venue. Guests received welcome bags that contained personalized magazines with hints and tips about the surrounding area and the schedule of festivities, emergency first aid packs that also included panadol for too much booze, indigestion tablets for too much food and mints to keep you kissable. The bags were hand delivered to every guest at their hotels as they checked in to make sure they knew we were so grateful they came to our wedding. We designed and handmade all the place cards, wedding fan programs, and "happy tears" tissue envelopes to keep it personal and reflect our tastes.

Junebug: Looking back, what are the moments, decisions or memories that you love the most about your wedding?

Vivi and James: Let me start with the fact that our wedding wasn’t just a day. It was a festivities-filled, week-long event. We had welcome drinks, bachelor and bachelorette parties, rehearsals and general holiday fun that ended with the big wedding event itself. So when we look back at our wedding, we don’t only remember our day, we remember the entire week of our wedding, and by far, having a destination wedding was the best decision we made (that, and deciding to marry each other!)

Favorite moments included hearing all the laughter during the week of our wedding, and observing separate groups of friends become friends themselves. It was seeing everyone we loved in the same place, sipping cocktails in the pool, relaxing and enjoying themselves; so that by the time the wedding came around, everyone knew each other and it really was a celebration.

When I first saw our wedding come together at the top of the world, the scene was breathtaking and it was exactly how I had pictured it. Then, saying my wedding vows out loud, I could barely get through them. To speak the words that don’t even come close to how much I love the man standing in front of me, it was a surreal moment. Our entire relationship flashed before my eyes, all the memories and the laughter we shared, how I managed to find the man of dreams and how I managed to get him to fall in love with me, made my heart swell with joy.

Junebug: What specifically drew you to Julian Wainwright Weddings and his imagery?

Vivi and James: We didn’t want our photographs to look like a friend had taken them. We wanted someone who would capture the beauty of our day and our moments, the color, the love, the joy. We wanted our photographer to capture them with an artistic eye and ‘see the light’ as the day unfolds.

We searched and searched and when we stumbled upon Julian’s photography, there was no other choice. Luckily he was available to be our photographer, though to be honest, we may have changed the date to suit his schedule. It was the depth in his photographs, the angles, and him really. He is so easy to work with and a genuinely nice guy, it makes organizing so much easier when you have a good rapport with the people involved in your wedding.

Vivi and James, thank you for sharing your magical wedding with us. What a treat! To see more from this Thailand wedding, visit Julian Wainwright Wedding's blog.

The Wedding Team:

Photographer: Julian Wainwright
Ceremony Venue: Sri Panwa, Baba Nest
Reception Venue: Sri Panwa, Baba Pool Club
Videographer/Film Maker: Creative Wedding Films
Officiant: Marek Koperski
Invitation Designer: Bride
Catering and Cake: Sri Panwa
Florist: Sri Panwa
Wedding Dress: Vera Wang
Bridesmaid’s apparel and accessories: Maid of Honor - Saba, Bridesmaids - Cue, Shoes - Peeptoe
Hair and make-up: Lisa Allen
DJ: Stevie Bray
Transportation: Golf buggies, supplied by Sri Panwa
Favors: Designed by Bride / Supplied by Sri Panwa
Rings: Tacori and Cerrone

Photographer Spotlight on Adam Alex Photography

Junebug: Can you tell us what being an artist/ photographer means to you?

Adam Alex: To me, being an artist/photographer is many things, but I believe there is one underlying factor that all artists possess and that is that we all have this natural intuition to want to communicate. As an artist, I am being commissioned to tell a couple's story through my version of their wedding day. I am always reminded that I am the lucky one, to be commissioned for my vision. Having creative freedom at a wedding is a blessing for both myself and my clients. The more my clients trust me, the more creatively I am able to tell their story.

With all of that in mind, I really follow my natural intuition to communicate through the medium of photography. For me, photography is about a visual language and visual communication. How you tell a story is the key to truth of it, and that holds the biggest value in anyone’s life. I have a philosophy that I stick to and it is called ‘fridge philosophy’. This is a philosophy that is based on the fact that most people stick their most valuable pictures to a fridge. It is not about the quality of the image or the print, but rather it is about the value that image has. It is not about how it is retouched or printed, it is on the fridge because it deserves to be viewed everyday by everyone passing by it. The fact we can print on fine art paper and have so many options for beautiful albums now is just a bonus, but as artists, we can focus on the value of an image. This is what attracts me to weddings.

Junebug: Please tell us about where you live, what you like to do when you aren't shooting, and what inspires you.

Adam: Currently I am based out of London UK. I love London. Sure, it’s not the Seychelles but it is beautiful and rich in its unique culture. I love London fashion, style and history; it is always an experience walking through London.

When I am not shooting, I am generally spending time with my family and my son who has just started to walk...exciting times. I love his age now, he is like a little sponge and I love being with him teaching him things. I also produce music and although I neglected this for a few years, I am back producing music now. Making music is easier now than ever before. My laptop on a long distance flight is all I need. Many songs have been produced with just my laptop, some airline peanuts and my headphones. Making time for me is so important to keeping me inspired. My family comes first in everything, they are my drive and my first priority, so spending time with them when I am in the UK is always a blessing.

Junebug: How did you start shooting destination photography? What do you love about destination weddings?

Adam: For me, a destination wedding is more than a wedding. I agree that I am blessed to shoot in amazing locations across the globe but this is just a bonus as the same ‘Fridge Philosophy’ applies no matter where you get married. I started to shoot destination weddings a few years back after being commissioned to shoot 3 in one year. I felt at home when shooting destination weddings because most couples who plan weddings away from home tend to focus more on detail of the experience, and as a story-teller, I want those clients. The attention to detail and experience really allows me to flow with my style of story telling.

I love that with destination weddings I can document a family over 3 or 4 days. I join the couple and their family on day 1 and after day 4, I leave as family. Pre-wedding trips with family members, wedding day celebrations on beaches in the Indian Ocean, followed by day after shoots and family gatherings tell a strong, broad story. They want the experience, the time with the family, the climate, the culture and the landscape, that’s their dream and I get to share that with them.

Junebug: As a destination photographer, what are your favorite locations and where are you looking forward to shooting next?

Adam: I genuinely love and appreciate most countries. The Mediterranean has a special place in my heart. The Greek islands are just stunning in their beauty and culture. Boat trips in the Mediterranean are amazing. I also love the city life of New York for example, it is equally beautiful in its own way. Some of the locations I have been blessed to work in and love to shoot in are the South of France, Athens, Mykonos, Ios, Santorini, Crete, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Zurich, Puerto Rico, Lebanon, USA and Holland. I am also looking forward to shooting in the Seychelles this year and South Africa, both will be epic and new to me.

Junebug: What should a couple know about hiring a photographer for a destination wedding?

Adam: Hiring a destination-wedding photographer in many ways is the same as hiring any wedding photographer. A client should invest into the man/woman behind the lens and not be sold into trends or packages. Their choice of photographer is as important as selecting the right tattoo artist to make you a tattoo. It is a permanent mark, it cannot be erased and there are different artists with different styles. If the photographer is familiar with the location that is always a good thing, but I think it is more important to find that connection with the photographer no matter where they are based and if that involves flying them in to the country, then that is the best thing to do.

Junebug: What things should couples know about getting married in a new country? Any complications that might arise or things to prepare for?

Every couple has a different reason for having a destination wedding. Some couples base it on a memory or emotional connection and some base the decision on the landscape beauty. So regardless of the reason, not all couples officially get married at the time of the event. Some get legally married before in their home country and then have a blessing after. Every wedding is different but I would investigate the legal requirements for marriage in your choice of country. I once documented a wedding in Barcelona for an Australian couple living in Australia and they had some issues with the legal elements of the wedding in Spain due to Spanish law. For example, the Spanish town hall could not give them confirmation on the wedding date until 6 months before their wedding date. This naturally frustrated the couple because they had to organize a destination wedding including logistics and guests from Australia to Spain in less than 6 months...but it was all abot getting married so every thing turned out perfect, needless to say.

Thanks, Adam! To see more of Adam Alex's gorgeous work, visit his website, blog and Junebug brochure.

Fall Wedding at Lyndhurst Castle with Photos by Daniel Moyer Photography

The Couple: Jess and Tony

The Wedding: 10.13.12 - Lyndhurst Castle, Tarrytown, NY

The Photographer: Daniel Moyer Photography

Junebug: What three adjectives best describe your wedding?

Jess and Tony: Crazy (in a good way), elegant, warm.

Junebug: What inspired your personal wedding style, and how did you incorporate your style and personalities into your big day?

Jess and Tony: My biggest inspiration was the fall season. I love the warm colors, rustic atmosphere, and of course the food! You could see the rustic fall theme carried through with the farm tables and honey favors we chose, as well as the pie bar. Sterling Affair did a great job with the food. It had local, seasonal elements which I’m really passionate about. The warm colors were incorporated in the floral arrangements and bridesmaid dresses. I wanted to stray from the cookie cutter look of most weddings, which is why I went with completely different bridesmaid dresses and Tony chose different ties for the guys. I also hated the stereotype that the bride makes her girls look bad, so I went with styles that looked the best on each girl.

Junebug: Looking back, what are the moments, decisions or memories that you love the most about your wedding?

Jess and Tony: I’m sorry but there are so many! The wedding day was really perfect so here are a few of my favorites. 1. I was thrilled with how the bridesmaid dresses turned out...everyone looked absolutely stunning. It took a lot of research but it was well worth it. 2. We had our hair and makeup done in my hotel room which made the entire morning a breeze and we had a total blast! 3. It was a last minute decision to get a videographer and I am so happy I did. I just got the video last week and it is the most amazing thing ever! It really showcases how happy and fun the whole day was. 4. It was Tony’s idea to have the cigar bar and it was totally genius; all the guys (and some girls haha) loved it! 5. The photobooth was awesome! The pictures are priceless. 6. But the best moment was probably the kiss at the church ;)

Junebug: What specifically drew you to Daniel Moyer Photography and his imagery?

Jess and Tony: I really wanted a photojournalistic style of photography. The most important thing for me was capturing the candid moments...not so much the portraits. I loved Dan’s easygoing personality and his passion for the job. I felt like he was more excited than I was! Often in wedding planning you feel like you’re being taken advantage of because people will pay anything to get their dream wedding...I didn’t feel that way with Dan at all. He was honest and genuine...it felt like we were friends all along.

A huge thank you to Jess and Tony for sharing their special day with us and bravo to Daniel Moyer for capturing it with warmth and emotion.

The Wedding Team:

Photographer: Daniel Moyer
Event Planner: JoAnn Gregoli, Elegant Occasions
Ceremony Venue: St. Anthony’s Parish (Butler, NJ)
Reception Venue: Lyndhurst Castle
Videographer/Film Maker: Joyful Video
Officiant: Fr. Kevin Daley
Invitation Designer: Faith Bender
Catering: Sterling Affair
Florist: Amaryllis Event Decor
Wedding Dress: Vera Wang
Bridal accessories: Shoes - TOMS Earrings - Etsy, Grandmother's Bracelet
Bridesmaid’s apparel: Purple - Jim Hjelm, Green - Vera Wang at David’s Bridal, Brown - Amsale, Cinnamon - Bill Levkoff, Champagne - BCBG, Gold - handmade by Bride’s mother
Groom and groomsmen apparel and accessories: Tuxedos from Tuxton Formal Wear, Ties - Mountain and Sackett
Hair and make-up: Ashimoto Essential Beauty
DJ and Photobooth: NJ's Best DJs
Live music: Marie Stack, M.A.S Music
Favors: Local NJ honey, Bob’s Buzzy Bees, assembled by the bridal party Rentals: Party Line Rentals

Glamorous Wedding in Paradise Valley, Arizona with Photos by Jennifer Bowen Photography

Victoria and Adam wanted their New Year's Eve wedding to look as glitzy and glamorous as Old Hollywood, and to feel as relaxed as a giant party among close friends. So with their shared love of fashion, the couple who calls Italy home, dressed to the nines and were married in Arizona - the place where their relationship first sparked. Jennifer Bowen shared the couple's vision for capturing all the style and panache designed by Jennifer Thye of Imoni Events, and created timeless photos of their gorgeous celebration at Sanctuary at Camelback Mountain Resort.

The Couple: Victoria and Adam

The Location: 12.31.12 - Sanctuary Camelback Mountain, Paradise Valley, AZ

Junebug: What were your most important goals in planning your wedding?

Victoria and Adam: We wanted to create a glitzy, black-tie wedding on New Year’s Eve with a vintage/old Hollywood feel. Since we both have an appreciation for fashion, we wanted our guests to get excited about dressing up for the event. We also wanted to create an atmosphere for celebrating. Before getting married, we were together for almost ten years, so we wanted our ceremony and reception to be a giant party that felt elegant, not stuffy.

Junebug: How would you describe your personal wedding style?

Victoria and Adam: Timeless. We wanted our wedding photos to be able to stand the test of time and always be in style.

Junebug: Where did you hold your wedding and reception, and why?

Victoria and Adam: Both our ceremony and reception were held at Sanctuary Camelback Mountain in Paradise Valley, Arizona. Although we lived in Italy at the time of our wedding, we decided to get married in Arizona, as we met here and this is where a large portion of our family and friends still live. The resort is built on Camelback mountain and produces breathtaking views of the surrounding mountainous desert. The whole feel of the property, including the site’s simple architecture, compliments the natural beauty of the region. Additionally, since we’re self-proclaimed foodies, we also chose this venue because of the resort’s renowned restaurant. We really wanted to avoid serving sub-par wedding food, so it was important for us to find a venue that could produce high-quality dishes, giving our guests an enjoyable dining experience.

Junebug: What three adjectives describe your wedding best?

Victoria and Adam: Classic, chic, and unforgettable.

Junebug: What were you looking for in a photographer?

Victoria and Adam: We wanted a photographer that could genuinely capture the overall feeling of the day. We really shied away from the overly sappy, contrived images that felt too cookie-cutter. We wanted someone who could produce more editorial and unique-looking images that reflected the actual event, along with our personalities.

Junebug: What specifically drew you to Jennifer Bowen Photography and her imagery?

Victoria and Adam: As soon as we saw Jennifer Bowen’s work, we knew she was the one! Her images were exactly what we were looking for: timeless, artistic, and elegant. She really knows how to photograph couples in varying spaces, making the most of their environments. Her photos captured our attention and were effortlessly beautiful!

Victoria and Adam: What did you enjoy most about working with your photographer?

Victoria and Adam: We were a little nervous at the beginning of the day, but Jennifer calmed our nerves instantly. She was so sweet, kind, and encouraging that we felt comfortable being ourselves around her, which helped to produce more natural-looking images. During the ceremony and reception, we completely forgot about her, which is the sign of a gifted photographer. She captured so many beautiful images unobtrusively that I’m still not quite sure how she did it! Her photos truly encompassed the magic of our wedding day, and we’re so grateful we can relive the experience for years to come!

The Photographer: Jennifer Bowen Photography

Junebug: How did you approach this particular wedding and what did you most want to capture during shooting?

Jennifer Bowen: When I met with the couple initially, they shared their vision for the wedding and that they wanted it to have a vintage, old-Hollywood type of vibe and glamour. Adam and Victoria, while Americans, currently live in Italy, and they both have such a great sense of style.

Adam chose a high-end Italian suit for his tuxedo, and Victoria’s wedding gown (that she showed me in the initial meeting) was so unique, and delicate and different than what most brides wear, so their individual styles were a source of inspiration to me. I wanted to capture that old-Hollywood vibe and feeling more than anything, but in my signature natural approach to photography.

We all hit it off immediately, and were all on the same page with what we wanted to capture for their wedding, so it was very inspiring creatively before and during the wedding.

Junebug: Were there any special photographic requests from the couple that made this wedding especially exciting creatively or personally?

Jennifer Bowen: They did ask me to take a photo of them that mimicked a photograph from Victoria’s grandparents’ wedding day, and I think it came out really cute. Normally it can be challenging to work from requests when you are not seeing the vision that they have, (or it can take you away from your “game”) but I did understand their vision and thought it was sweet that they wanted to capture that.

Junebug: What was the most fun part of this wedding for you to photograph?

Jennifer Bowen: Capturing the uniqueness of their style, coupled with their fantastic personalities and their easy way with one another, made the entire day a joy. With some couples you have to work harder to illicit the natural expressions that people make and the ease that couples can have with either other, or you have to “pose” them more because they are very uncomfortable in front of the camera, but Adam and Victoria both have such an easy way about them and were both comfortable with each other and in front of the camera, so there were lots of shots that I loved because I felt like I was really capturing who they are. The fact that her wedding gown and his suit, and many of their details, were unique and different than what I typically photograph was also a source of inspiration and fun. And the fact that it was a New Years Eve wedding, the midnight confetti drop and party atmosphere was really fun as well.

Junebug: How did the locations available to you affect the type of images you shot and how you shot them?

Jennifer Bowen: Sanctuary on Camelback is one of my favorite venues in our town. It is both modern and inspiring architectually in the main parts of the resort, and then up at the top of the resort, overlooking our famous “Camelback Mountain” with sweeping views of the towns of Paradise Valley and Scottsdale, you get a completely different look and feel, so it always allows me to capture a wider variety of images. It is the resort I have most often photographed weddings at here in town, and I never get bored there.

Junebug: Were there any special locations you were able to choose that made for really great images? (Great light, amazing backgrounds, interesting contrasts, etc)?

Jennifer Bowen: I love the Spa at the resort, and it has this really cool skinny window that allows for some cool shots. Plus the light in there is amazing. It worked perfectly with their style. In fact, there is a shot I took of them in there (the spa foyer) that I normally wouldn't have ever been inspired to take because it is rather formal looking and posed, but with their styles and the wedding vibe, I felt it worked perfectly and fit the theme. Then after I took it they told me that is one of the most common bridal photos in Italy (the man sitting, the woman standing), so it worked in that sense too.

Thank you Victoria and Adam, and Jennifer Bowen Photography!

To learn all about the incredible team of Wedding Professionals that contributed to this amazing day, be sure to visit Victoria and Adam's page in our Real Weddings Library.