When Theresa and Chris originally contacted us well over a year ago about the possibility of photographing their wedding, they were uncertain where to have it ... Scottsdale or Napa.  Hummm, let's see, Scottsdale or Napa?? ... hard to say ... perhaps Napa??!!  Napa very quickly won out and they asked if we would travel ... travel to Napa ... no way :-)!  Of course we were right on it and super excited!  We would have to wait fourteen long months.  In the meantime we photographed the couple's engagement shoot and instantly fell in love with them, making us even more excited for the big day!

Time passed quickly as it always does these days and before we knew it, May 20th, 2011 was here and we were in Napa Valley, California.  The wedding was held on a perfect California day at V. Sattui Winery in St. Helena.  This is a long post because everything was just so stunning and there were so many beautiful details and everywhere we looked the light was simply amazing - it just seemed impossible to cut too many things out.  Thank you both for having us as your wedding photographers and treating us so well!!  You were amazing to work with and we very much enjoyed getting to know you!  We hope your move to Southern California has gone well and we know you are loving it there!  Best wishes always!

We love all weddings, but among some of our favorites are destination weddings and Indian weddings.  Destination weddings for obvious reasons - we love to travel and for us, change of scenery helps keep us fresh creatively - and Indian weddings because they are so alive with color, culture and custom.  So, when I received an email back in early February from Neha explaining her upcoming multi-day Indian / Nigerian destination wedding in Riviera Maya (Cancun), Mexico, I went crazy!  I was actually visiting my family in North Carolina at the time and remember running around the house to find my mom to tell her about it!  I wanted this wedding bad!!  The icing on the cake for me was the fact that Akintunde (Tunde), Neha's finace, is from Nigeria and she said the first day would incorporate Nigerian dress and customs.  Soon after that first email we were hired and I was elated!!

My Associate Photographer, Angie accompanied me to Cancun as my second photographer (Kevin was unable to go and I was so sad he couldn't) and as soon as we stepped off the plane we knew we were in for an exciting weekend!  Neha lives in Miami, Florida, Tunde in Austin, Texas - they will be moving to Atlanta soon - and their friends and family hail from all over the US, Nigeria, and India, and they all came to meet in this stunning setting called Mexico.  This wedding did not disappoint!  Every aspect of it, from the couple and their approximately 70 guests, to the spectacular and exotic local, to the colorful and animated ceremonies, was a sight to behold!

The first day was held at the Azul Sensatori Resort and was the Nigerian Introduction and Engagement Ceremony, followed by a reception and Mehndi Party.  The other thing I really love in this world is Africa and everything African.  Though I have never been to West Africa, I have been to East Africa several times and through those journeys I was fortunate to indulge in meeting the local people and experiencing and learning of their cultures and customs.  It may sound cliche, but Africa really does get into your blood ... it did for me and I simply fell in love.  It has been a while since I was able to return and being able to participate in and witness some of the Nigerian customs of a wedding were beautiful!  For much the same reasons I love Indian weddings, I loved the Nigerian ceremony.  The colors were stunning and the sense of family and custom were strong.

The Indian wedding ceremony and trash the dress session are in the following posts.  I would like to thank Neha and Tunde for choosing me as their wedding photographer, for giving me the opportunity to experience their incredibly beautiful wedding and for their gracious nature!  It was an experience I will always hold dear :-)!

To Angie, I want to say thank you for doing such an amazing job!  So many of her photos made these postings that I didn't distinguish who took what, but her work at this wedding was stellar!  I know she would like me to ay thank you to Neha and Tunde as well ... she LOVED your wedding - and the two of you :-)!

The second day of Neha and Tunde's destination wedding in Riviera Maya (Cancun), Mexico, hosted the Hindu Indian Ceremony.  This day was the longest and I felt it best to break the day into two postings, one for the getting ready and ceremony and the other for the formals and reception.  The ceremony was held on the rooftop deck of the Azul Sensatori Resort ... at noon.  Did I mention it was HOT!  It was very, very hot ... and humid (the killer), but with wet towels in hand, and on head as was the case with some (including me), umbrellas held for shade, and plenty, plenty, plenty of water, everyone thoroughly enjoyed the colorful and beautiful ceremony that united Neha and Tunde in marriage!  It was beautiful!

I want to include another thank you to our Associate Photographer and friend, Angie Gomez, for traveling with me to this amazing event and doing such an amazing job as my second photographer ... you slammed it out of the park Angie ... great work!!!

The second day of Neha and Tunde's wedding in Riviera Maya (Cancun), Mexico was very long, so we felt it best to break the posting in two parts - one for the getting ready and ceremony and the other for formals and the reception ... mostly reception.  As with the day before, this was a great reception - one giant party full of excitement and energy!  A photographer's dream!!  It rained a little, but no one minded in the extreme heat and humidity that lingered well into the night.

After all the hectic activities over the past two days, which left little time to do many posed photographs, we all headed out to relax, take a swim and do a trash the dress shoot!  We headed south of Playa del Carmen to the Yucatan's famed cenotes to take a refreshing dip (truth be told, the water was a tad chilly) and take some underwater shots in it's crystal clear waters.  I had been really excited about visiting the cenotes and they did not disappoint ... they were absolutely stunning!  From there we headed to the beach to finish up the session.  It was a lovely way to spend more time getting to know Neha and Tunde and to wrap up a spectacular destination wedding in Cancun, Mexico!  Thank you both so much for the experience ... it was true privilege!!!