Yelapa is a town without roads and you won’t find any cars — maybe a four-wheeler, but horses are more common. Jeff and I traveled there by boat, about a 30 minute ride from Puerto Vallarta. It’s a town where people are real, warm, and friendly. It’s a town that is built on the side of cliffs, overlooking the ocean. It’s a little secluded piece of paradise.

Kendra and Fernando planned two wedding ceremonies, each one that captured separate cultures and traditions of Mexico and the U.S. For the first wedding ceremony, which was in Spanish and took place in the town’s church, Kendra wore her mother’s wedding dress. I started out the day with Kendra and the ladies as they got ready.

Kendra was glowing all day long. I love that she wore her mother’s wedding dress — it was so pretty on her.

The balcony overlooking the ocean was a gorgeous setting for a few portraits in the morning light.

Kendra and Fernando walked through the town to the church with their families and met outside the church.

After the priest rang the wedding bells, the bride and groom with their families met outside the church entrance.

Kendra’s parents walked her down the aisle. The wedding ceremony was filled with tradition, and in Spanish, but luckily I’ve been to enough weddings to understand what’s happening.

As they exited the church, when Kendra was all smiles like brides are, a donkey came walking down the path. I think that made my whole day.

We took a trip to one of the waterfalls near the town (yes, I just said waterfalls!) for the bride and groom portraits. If anyone else ever wants to take a trip to Yelapa for a portrait shoot by the waterfalls, you know how to reach me. It was perfect — such a beautiful location for an already gorgeous couple.

After the waterfall portrait session, the bride and groom went their separate ways again to start all over! They wore different clothes and got ready separately for their second ceremony, one in English on the beach. I loved getting to photograph double of everything on the day — with all of the amazing locations, I was in photographer heaven.

Not a bad view, huh?

Taking portraits is such hard work with beautiful people and  a beautiful location…

Their beach ceremony was gorgeous, of course — it was so personal and had great symbolism of combining their two separate stories into one. One of my favorite parts was their unity ceremony, where they poured water into a jar. The water came from Kendra’s parents’ farm, the California coast (where they met), the river that Fernando grew up next to, and the ocean in Yelapa.

The location:

Portraits after the ceremony were perfect. We took some images right after, but then waited for sunset for photos on the beach. These two are so photogenic, so in love, and they both have the BEST smiles and laughs.

The beach portraits are some of my favorites! They were having so much fun, and I love that you can feel their joy!

I love this series of images.

Their reception was one of the best receptions I’ve been to. It was filled with more wedding traditions from both cultures, which was so fun to see. It took place right on the beach.

Yes. Fire. Dancer.

This was a surprise during the reception. The money you see pinned to Kendra and Fernando is similar to the dollar dance here in the U.S. — but instead of giving it to someone to hold, the tradition is to pin money directly onto the couple. How fun is that?

Lots of dancing and fun music happening — one of the most packed dance floors I’ve seen at a wedding!

Then, the dance floor got REALLY packed as the party moved outside for the bando, a Mexican tradition.

I loved this version of the bouquet toss. Who else wants to try it?

Family and friends can see all of the images online — just sign the online guestbook by clicking here and you’ll receive an e-mail when they are all ready to go!

Congratulations and much love to Kendra and Fernando as you start this next part of your incredible love story. Thank you for asking us to be a part of the celebration. Jeff and I  wish you so much happiness and lots of laughter. Enjoy every minute.

(For more information about taking a trip to Yelapa, Mexico, click here for Kendra and Fernando’s rental home website!)