Kati and Tyler were such a sweet couple to work with: they're laid-back, warm, incredibly kind, and finally, family-oriented. All of these elements of their personality came together on their 4th of July Destination Wedding in Puerto Rico. And also, fireworks!

A Small and Casual Wedding Day - Destination Wedding in Puerto Rico

Kati and Tyler's was a rather small, intimate wedding. They only had their VIPs: immediate family members and close friends, many of whom had particular roles on the wedding day. For example, Kati's dad officiated the ceremony. And the couple's blended family was their wedding party. All of this made their Destination Wedding in Puerto Rico very memorable, but also have a much more casual feeling. 

As with most wedding days, I started documenting Kati and Tyler's getting ready, which also consisted of mom and dad sharing intimate moments with their kids as they prepared for the big celebration. I loved their day because of that! To give a bit more structure and maintain that effortless, non-traditional vibe, we planned on doing all the portraits before the ceremony. 

When Kati and Tyler were ready, we did a first look session. You could see a bit of anxiety creeping into Tyler's face. Still, the instant his eyes met Kati's, emotional fireworks happened. We did a beautiful wedding portrait session around our favorite spots of Hacienda Siesta Alegre. When we were pleased with the bride and groom photos, we called the kids and had happy family portraits as well. 

Decor Photography Before the Ceremony

Something that happens in open-layout venues such as Hacienda Siesta Alegre is that this openness encourages guests to roam around. To avoid missing my chance for uninterrupted, perfect decor photos without any photobombs or purses on the chairs, I try to capture them before the ceremony, as guests arrive. Kati and Tyler chose a botanic theme, lots of foliage, and white floral accents.

On their wedding ceremony, Kati and Tyler incorporated their kids into the rituals. It was quite beautiful and romantic and carried on their intimate vibe all the way through the end of the night. Before I left, we gathered everyone for a "sparklers picture", but Kati and Tyler had a surprise for everyone with a fireworks show.

Celebrating the Fourth of July in Puerto Rico

Although we get the federal holiday, Puerto Rican locals don't really observe the Fourth of July as a celebration like mainland US-Americans do. If you're in town for the 4th of July, your best chances for fireworks and Independence-day parties are in cities with a high density of tourists or ex-pats. Some examples would be Condado, Aguadilla, or Rincon.

I hope you enjoy this dreamy set as much as I enjoyed capturing it! Happy 4th of July to all my friends and clients across the pond!

xo,

Cami