Spending a weekend with Jeff & Cathryn for their Dreams Playa Mujeres Wedding was nothing short of a… dream. Jeff & Cathryn wanted a destination wedding so they could spend more than just a day with their closest friends lounging around the pool and playing endless hours of sand volleyball. Over half of the guest list consisted of competitive sand volleyball players, which brought with it a bunch of spectators. The game of volleyball brought all of these amazing people together and even connected Stacy to Cathryn, which is how we came to know these two amazing people.
On our first day with Jeff & Cathryn, we headed north to Isla Blanca to make some off-the-resort portraits. While only a few miles away, it takes a good 30 minutes to navigate the pot hole ridden dirt road. After reaching the locals hangout, we were treated with kindness and allowed to use some of the surrounding amenities for these two to have some fun.
We spent the second day in the pool, cameras held just inches above the water, with the rowdy crowd enjoying pool life. That afternoon, everyone migrated to the beach for some rounds of Ace.
Saturday was the wedding. Cathryn and her bridesmaids spent the morning in her room’s infinity pool as they prepped for the big day. They soon traded in their swimsuits for long gowns. The men decided to hit a few rounds of golf before heading back to the resort to figure out how to actually tie a bow tie. They learned quickly that it was no easy task. The day flew by and before we knew it, it was time for the ceremony.
Just as the sun had set to the west, it was time for Cathryn to make her way down the isle with her mother by her side. Even with their first look, Jeff couldn’t hold back his emotions. In fact, no one could hold back their emotions. We saw tears from almost every row of guests. One of our favorite moments from the ceremony was when everyone burst into laughter as Jeff & Cathryn exchanged imaginary rings. It didn’t matter. What mattered was everyone’s presence & love surrounding these two.
After it became official, we headed to the beach for dinner, dancing and some amazing speeches. Things got wild, but the party didn’t stop even after Journey made its last song appearance. We all migrated to the discoteca to finish off their long, but amazing wedding day.
Destination weddings are so different from your average Saturday wedding. The bond between a group of people, while strong to begin with, is even greater afterwards. Stacy and I are thankful for the opportunity to spend three full days with some of the most heartfelt people we have had the pleasure of meeting. Because of their Dreams Playa Mujeres Wedding, we have fallen in love with our job even more and hope to spend even more time with our couples in the future. Lastly, a huge shout out to Tamara Rico for her help and a few of the photos below.
Trent & Stacy Gillespie are a husband & wife photography team who specialize in artistically documenting weddings through beautiful and bold photographs. Located in Colorado, they're available for local & destination weddings.