Riviera Maya Destination Beach Wedding in Cancun, Mexico

Where do I even start with this wedding post?! I suppose a disclosure is in order – IT’S A LONG ONE FOLKS, SO STRAP IN.

I first met Becky and Steven a while back when Becky was a bridesmaid in Kelly + Jake’s wedding. Funny thing, fate is, because if I’m 100% transparent – I wasn’t supposed to photograph Kelly + Jake’s big day. But the stars aligned and at the last minute they needed a photographer, and I was free! I feel like Becky and I hit it off from the start and eventually, she emailed me to ask about photographing her very own destination wedding in Cancun, Mexico!

After a kick ass engagement session with the two of them, we were all aboard for planning the big day when we got a few wrenches thrown in the mix. First off, I found out we were expecting another baby, with a January due date, which put me riiiight into my third trimester for this wedding. I kept telling people that as long as I made it back from Cancun with a child still in utero – my anxiety could be kept at ease! Spoiler alert – we had no issues whatsoever. 🙂 Aaaand then – COVID. I don’t even like bringing it up but it is the world we live in for now – so it did pose some questions, but these two were determined to not let it stop them and I wholeheartedly agreed! Then – a hurricane hit the coast of Cancun the week before we were scheduled to be there! It hit the resort pretty good but the team at the Cancun Generations Riviera Maya are incredible at overcoming such devastation because by the time we had arrived, you could hardly tell! Lastly and most unfortunately, Becky and her family had suffered the unimaginable loss of her stepmother, Terri, but even without meeting her I could tell she was with us all week! Someone had once told me that butterflies were loved ones coming to visit from beyond – and I’d never seen so many butterflies in one wedding day! The best moment was when one landed RIGHT on Becky’s bouquet after the ceremony, and it WOULD NOT leave! I really do believe that Terri was with her in that moment (and all week). 🖤

Overcoming all odds, we were here! The big day had just begun! Becky started prepping in the resort’s spa, and finished up details in their honeymoon suite. Steven hung with the guys in the family and got ready for the day – with a little help of course! The weather forecast for Cancun was NOT in our favor (rain and wind all day – GREAT) but we kept hoping it would pass. Overcast skies weren’t a terrible compromise so we headed out to do Becky’s first look with her dad. All was fine (albeit a bit windy but still – no rain) until THE MOMENT dad turned around… then the rain LET LOOSE. 🤦🏻‍♀️ We ran for cover and after a few minutes of regrouping – it was on with the day.

Fate once again was on our side though because once Steven turned around to see his bride not 15 minutes later – the rain began to lighten up, quit, and the sun started shining! True Caribbean fashion really! 😂 The rest of the day went so smoothly, and the intimate group of people there to support them no matter what. I’m OBSESSED with their photos on the beach and it was a special treat to head up to the rooftop of the resort to finish off photos as the sun went down.

I couldn’t have asked for a better day!

THE PROPOSAL

“When he finally proposed, we had been together 5 years, had dogs together, and had purchased a home together. To say that I was getting antsy would be an understatement! There had been moments that I thought it was going to happen and when it didn’t, I tried to stop getting my hopes up. For our 5 year anniversary, we were going to St. Louis for the weekend for a trip and to also see my ALL TIME FAVORITE Kelly Clarkson in concert (he had gotten me the tickets for Christmas). He continued to tell me that he wasn’t going to propose on a cliche holiday, so I didn’t think it would happen on the trip. The week before our anniversary was Valentine’s day and we went out to a fancy dinner and he gave me an over the top beautiful diamond heart necklace. I was floored, but also disappointed because he should have skipped the necklace and just got the ring! (We call this the diversion necklace now because that was his plan all along; to not have me expect anything!) So the next week we had plans to go to St Louis and we were going to go to the City Museum and the Zoo and of course the Kelly Clarkson Concert. Side note – while packing, I picked up a pair of tennis shoes and asked Steven if he was going to bring them. He snatched them out of my hand and said he would carry them to the car! I later found out the ring was inside the shoe!!” – Becky

Becky, Steven, was truly a celebration like no other, and Brandon and I couldn’t be more thankful that you allowed us to capture it from our perspectives. As I told you before – you’ve got friends for life in the two of us and I cannot wait to photograph you as you go through this journey called life. I hope you enjoy. 🖤