When Camille and Wayne first approached me about shooting their outdoor wedding at the Dorado Beach Ritz-Carlton Reserve, I knew it would be a unique and beautiful assignment. Little did we know that the weather would have a curve ball on our plans!

As the wedding day arrived, a storm rolled in and threatened to rain on our parade. But the lovebirds were determined to have their dream wedding outside, rain or shine. And in the end, the rain only added to the magic and beauty of the day.

In this blog post, I will share my favorite moments from their stunning outdoor wedding at the Dorado Beach Ritz-Carlton Reserve and show how they embraced the elements to create a truly unforgettable event.

Rainy wedding day: how to plan for and embrace the unexpected

During hurricane season, the weather forecasts are never good news. You can expect regular rains on a weekly, if not daily, basis.

On our photography timeline phone call before the wedding, Camille mentioned her anxiety about the weather: it looked like it would rain all week. I told her to hope for the best, but prepare for the worst. 

I might've jinxed myself saying that it couldn't possibly be worse than Hurricane Fiona, which had happened several weeks before. 

They did prepare by renting the sturdiest tent I've ever seen. Not only did it came in handy for the rain buckets but also for the heavy winds that we received later that night. 

Outdoor Wedding at the Surf Lawn of Dorado Beach, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve

On the wedding day, I arrived to the wedding venue a bit early to get acquainted with the rainy-day wedding plans. Most clients opt for an indoor backup plan in case of rain, but Camille and Wayne were set on an outdoor, tented event at the Surf Lawn. 

When I walked out to the Surf Lawn, my jaw dropped at the gorgeous, convertible layout the wedding team had envisioned for the couple. Being a microwedding, we'd be able to fit the whole event under the tent.

At one end of the tent there was a gorgeous floral chuppah and wooden tiffany chairs for the ceremony. The chairs would be removed after the ceremony to open the lawn for dancing. At the other side, there was a bar station, a lounge area, and tables for guests. 

The wooden furniture setup was embelished by locally-sourced botanics and florals. It all happened under the timeless look of stringlights.

Candid First Look and Wedding Ceremony at Dorado Beach

Rain never really stopped during Camille and Wayne's wedding day. Because of this, we couldn't walk out to the beach for outdoor pictures, but since they wanted a candid approach for most of the wedding day, this wouldn't be a problem. We did, however, start the coverage with a first look session at the terrace of their villa.

After seeing each other for the first time, they held each other in a long embrace and helped each other calm down the weather-related anxieties. I could see the nerves morphing into sheer happiness: it would all be beautiful and emotional nonetheless.

After declared married, we did a newlywed and group portraits, and then they joined their guests on a windy, stormy night. The water started seeping through the lawn, so they went barefoot. The spray made our hairs freezy, but that didn't put a damper on our happiness and energy.

Despite the storm raging outside, Camille and Wayne's love and joy kept everyone warm and happy under the wedding tent.

It was as if we were in our own little bubble, protected by the love and energy of the couple and their guests.

The wedding vendors were also amazing, working tirelessly to ensure everything went smoothly and beautifully despite the weather conditions.

They set up the tent, decorated the space, and coordinated the various events and activities with incredible skill and professionalism. Thanks to their hard work and dedication, the wedding was a stunning and memorable success, and Camille and Wayne were able to have the beautiful outdoor wedding they had always dreamed of.

It was truly a pleasure to be a part of your unforgettable wedding, and I hope you have many happy and wonderful years together.

xo,

Cami