Hey friends ✈️ Today, we’re embarking on a virtual journey to the breathtaking jungles of Tulum, Mexico, where love, a little bit of rain, and a whole lot of magic collide in the best way possible. This destination wedding was held at Rubi Tulum, a brand new all-inclusive resort boasting top tier jungle views, an in house restaurant, and an all around luxurious experience.

Picture this: an entire weekend with your closest friends and family all in one place – going on adventures, sightseeing, getting to experience out of this world food and drinks, and spending time with your favorite people in the whole world. On top of that, they get to witness you saying I DO to your best friend. On top of THAT, you bring your photographer (me) along to photograph all of it. Sounds pretty freaking perfect. If that sounds like your jam, get in touch and ask for all the details on my Weekender package. Buckle up for this one!

Our journey begins Friday, November 3rd of 2023. What better way to kick off a wedding weekend in Tulum than with a ATV ride to a cenote? Answer: there’s nothing better.

The bride and groom opted for a motor bike while other hopped onto four wheelers and the like. Just like that, they were off!

After a bumpy, slightly mud-filled ride, everybody landed safely at Vesica Cenote in Quintana Roo. This place was about as beautiful and lush as it gets. From the architecture, to the amazing tropical background it provided, and of course I can’t forget to mention the crystal blue water of the cenote itself.

It’s safe to say this adventure made a splash 😉 I am not responsible for the puns that you read here today. After a couple hours of sunbathing, stuffing our faces with elote, guacamole, and plantain chips, everyone headed back to Rubi to relax before the rehearsal dinner.

The Rehearsal Dinner

Oh, how I love rehearsal dinners. There is something so wonderful about them – the love and excitement that fills the room is unlike any other, except for maybe the wedding day. There’s nothing better than an intimate, candlelit dinner with the people that matter most to you. Good food, flowing drinks, laughter filled moments and misty-eyed speeches set the tone for an incredible day to come.

This little gallery alone gives me all the feels. What do you think about rehearsal dinner coverage? Is this something you would incorporate into your wedding weekend?

The Wedding Day

Remember at the beginning of this blog when I mentioned that there was a little bit of rain? I may have stretched the truth there – let me paint you a picture: I woke up at 7:00 am the morning of the wedding to the sound of pouring rain (mind you, I’m on the bottom floor). The owner of the resort, Rachel, said in the five years she’s lived in Tulum, she’d NEVER seen it rain for more than one day. We were on day three of on and off rain showers, and on this particular morning – it was coming down hard. Nevertheless, the show must go on! My main job for the day, other than taking photos, is to always stay positive and provide solutions to the challenges caused by unforeseen circumstances. IE: the weather.

I treated this like any other wedding, I started in the bridal suite.

The future Mrs. Atherton finished transferring her vows from her phone into her vow book, and then it was time for the part that a lot of wedding photographers love – DETAILS!!!! (I hope this isn’t just me)

Nick and Hana brought plenty of goodies for me to play around with. My favorite detail we got to incorporate into their flatlay was one of their passports and their The Wedding Post newspaper. How freakin’ adorable. They even included one of the photos from their engagement shoot we did together :’) I’m not crying you are!!!

If you’re looking for some flatlay inspo, I’ve got a WHOLE blog post dedicated to all things details!! You can check it out here.

At this point, we’d pushed the entire timeline back by about two hours, moving things around and playing everything by ear according to the weather. As Hana was putting her dress on, the sun began to poke out. Everyone immediately said “IT’S TIME FOR THE FIRST LOOK WE GOTTA GO!!!” Her bridesmaids helped her with her finishing touches, and she was off to see her future husband!!

This moment was so sweet and natural, her bridesmaids were peeking out the window to catch a glimpse of Nick before they saw each other for the first time.

First Look & Private Vows

We all came to an agreement that the sun came out just for them, because look at how absolutely stunning this first look was. THE COLORS??? THE FEELINGS??? I still am not over this day clearly.

Portrait Time

There is nothing I love more than a first look, and I’ll tell you why.

It gives you so much time.

Look at it this way: Hana + Nick did their first look instead of waiting until the walk down the aisle. Because of this, we were able to do their portraits as a couple, their wedding party photos, AND their family photos all before the ceremony. Because we got all the of the photos that were important to them before their ceremony, they were able to enjoy the rest of their wedding day after their ceremony without having to feel rushed right into the next thing. I love love love first looks and recommend them to ALL of my couples!!

The Ceremony

Even though the sun was hiding behind the clouds again, the rain held off. #weddingmagic

Hana + Nick planned a private cocktail right after their ceremony to enjoy their first moments alone together as husband and wife. (something I also highly recommend!!) This gave them a chance to decompress and truly be present with each other before the reception.

Cocktail Hour + Reception

Well, my friend – I won’t bombard you with the entire gallery here (despite how much I want you to see all of the fun and give you inspo for your wedding!) so if you’d like to see their full wedding gallery, click here!

Something I’ve learned as a wedding photographer is to stay positive. My job isn’t just about your photos – it’s about solving problems and finding solutions that work for everyone involved, especially my couples. With flexibility, open hearts, and open minds, anything is possible.

The only consistent thing about weddings is that they never go according to plan 100%. Things will change, timelines will change, and the weather is never in our control. That’s kind of the beauty of it all. Even after all the change of plans and moving the timeline around for this wedding, it still ended up being such a beautiful, magical day – not because the sun came out or the rain let up, but because the true center of the day was Nick and Hana’s commitment to each other. Rain or shine.

That’s where I’ll leave you, friend. If you’re curious about how my Weekender package works, or if you’re interested in learning about the other services I offer, I would absolutely love to hear from you! If not, I’ll see you in the next one.

xo, Casey 🖤