Your Photographer’s Married! Our Wedding in Antiguo Casino de Puerto Rico
It's been four months since my wedding in Antiguo Casino de Puerto Rico, and I still can't believe it was mine. From start to finish, the day was so epic. Still, something even more exciting was how easy and beautiful the process was from the beginning and how everything came together wonderfully. Here, I share a bit of that process and, of course, the photos.
How to begin the Wedding Planning Process?
My goal with this blog is not just to tell my story and showcase the dream team that made it happen but also to help couples who are starting to plan their weddings. One of the biggest questions of newly engaged couples is, "How should we begin planning our wedding?"
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Vision and Wedding Design
After a long and solid relationship of two separate seasons, Jose Carlos proposed to me during our trip to Italy in 2022. That's where our wedding planning began. On the last day of that trip, at our favorite casual restaurant in Rome, we realized that we would return to Puerto Rico as a soon-to-be-married couple.
With several glasses of wine and a tiramisu that night, we began the most crucial wedding conversation: each person's dreams and visions. There, we decided we wanted a big wedding with all our loved ones, with good music, great cocktails, and black-tie attire. More importantly, we shared why we wanted this: to give our loved ones a taste of what we enjoy doing as a couple and the incredible wedding industry I work in daily.
An epic wedding: I want our loved ones to experience what I live Saturday after Saturday!
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Writing down the guest list
Upon arriving in Puerto Rico, one of the first tasks we did was to jot down all the names of potential guests in a preliminary list, which totaled approximately 120 people.
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Calculating an approximate budget
After meeting with fellow industry coordinators and discussing the venues and style of wedding we had in mind, we estimated that our wedding would have a minimum budget of approximately $50,000.
Understanding that every word we spoke sounded like “ka-ching, ka-ching!” and knowing that my wedding would inevitably bring together many of the world-class wedding industry professionals we have in Puerto Rico, we decided that the wedding should take place in two years, ideally at the beginning of 2024.
This way, we could save much money without skimping on our dream wedding and radically changing our lifestyle.
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Choosing the wedding date
Many couples choose their date, and sometimes, even the venue before doing a budget study and savings plan. This can be a fatal mistake because once you commit to a venue and a date, you are unspokenly committing to a budget, the list of suppliers you'll need to carry out the event, and how much time you have left for saving all the money.
In our case, we were guided by that budget. We calculated the monthly installments needed to save to reach the necessary amount. That calculation showed that we would need two years to save everything, and then some.
March 2024 was a real possibility, so we moved forward!
A Wedding Photographer and Getting Married? Who Will Photograph Your Wedding?
When we returned to Puerto Rico, a short but intense nightmare began: the question of who would take the photos of my wedding was the first thing that came out of everyone's mouth. Puerto Rico's wedding industry is blessed with so much talent, and during the fifteen years I've been a wedding photographer, I've created friendships and admiration for so many photographers I greatly admire.
The thought of choosing between my friends gave me a literal stomach ache everytime I thought of it.
One day, I told Jose Carlos, "I can't take it anymore, I need you to choose." And without thinking twice, he said: Maydeline Inés Photography, we love her and know she will be unique. Also, in that conversation, it became clear that Zuriel from Zura Film was the only person who could represent that day with his art. And after that conversation, I felt at peace.
My wedding day was Maydeline's birthday, but that didn't stop her from saying yes. She did, however, ask for reinforcements from none other than the incredible Cristina Hernández. It was a huge luxury to have two excellent photographers and friends, whom I cherish very much, to collaborate with me. The luckiest bride in the world!
I'm also so thankful that Maydeline, a studio-first photographer was so flexible and willing to let me choose a location out of her comfort zone for our engagement portraits. Since we were opting for an indoor wedding venue, I needed an outdoor location to represent my love for nature and the endless beauty Puerto Rico has to offer.
An Instant Click with Ana Agosto, Our Wedding Planner
One colossal privilege I have as a wedding photographer in Puerto Rico is having 500+ wedding experiences with different teams. Among so many talented suppliers I admire and respect, I made a shortlist of wedding planners for JC to interview.
We met with my dear Ana Agosto one afternoon after work. JC was feeling sleepy before we arrived, but his energy returned as soon as the meeting started. Ana interviewed us about our vision, dreams, family, and friendship relationships. She also asked me which of my colleagues were non-negotiables on my vendor team.
That meeting left JC convinced that she was the right person, and the decision was already made before we got to the car.
Throughout the process, I loved Ana's ability to keep us focused on the tasks at each stage. Occasionally, I would get ahead of myself, and she would remind me that it was time to focus on other matters. In every meeting or call, she would assign us two or three specific tasks so as not to overwhelm us with all the others that were still pending. And so, little by little, we shaped the entire event without even realizing it.
Even when my life became complicated in the middle of the planning stage due to family reasons, she was able to kindly follow up with us and even apply a little pressure so that tasks wouldn't pile up.
Amid the professional rush, travels, losses, and mourning, she knew how to give us support, wisdom, and the necessary space at every moment. I am eternally indebted to her for that.
Without a Date or Venue, I Bought My Bridal Dress at D'Royal Bride
Two years before the wedding, when we had yet to book a venue or set a date, we visited the bridal boutique to cheer up my Abuela. She already knew what Mom and I were unwilling to imagine: 2024 sounded very far away, and she wouldn't be present at my wedding.
We went to D'Royal Bride, which was just finishing its store expansion at the time. Andrea kindly accommodated us so that Abuela wouldn't have to climb stairs.The space needed to be ready to receive clients. Still, Andrea turned it into our VIP dressing room, and it became the place where one of my favorite memories with Abuela would occur.
My appointment was for a sample sale, and I had no intention of buying anything yet. Still, when the lovely owner Damaris saw me walk in, she pulled a dress from the new collections "to try it on."
My wedding dress was the first of eight I tried that day, but as soon as I put it on, Grandma said, "That's the one, let's go. Now."
I tried on the others just for the experience, but it was clear to us that my first one was the wedding dress.
And so it was that, although she passed away just three months before my wedding, Abuela accompanied me and embraced me entirely while I married her beloved JC.
With the pain of her loss, I also lost a lot of weight, and I was terrified that the dress wouldn't fit well. Still, my seamstress Paloma lovingly and patiently altered the dress to make it perfect.
Although it happened over a year before the actual event, this is my favorite photo of my wedding photo.
The Wedding of Our Dreams at the Antiguo Casino of Puerto Rico
Even before our engagement, I was convinced we would have our wedding at the Antiguo Casino of Puerto Rico. I had worked there a few times and was always dazzled by its beauty.
After taking JC to some of my favorite hotels and wedding venues as a photographer, our brilliant coordinator took us to our first official task: the site inspection at the Antiguo Casino de Puerto Rico. As I had anticipated, Jose Carlos fell in love at first sight. My husband has good taste.
Wedding Decoration at the Antiguo Casino: "I Want to Fill It with Color!"
Jose Carlos and I had a clear vision: "We want to fill the Antiguo Casino of Puerto Rico with color." When I started my planning, I had never seen vibrant-colored decorations at the Casino, and I had this idea that it should feel like we were in a museum garden.
After many years of knowing and caring for Anabel from Glow Events and the incredible experience we had with her at my best friend and maid of honor Angélica's wedding, there was no doubt that she was the right person for the task.
The Most Delicious Wedding Cake in Puerto Rico: En Punto Taller de Pastelería
I'll be sincere; there are many beautiful cakes, but like with people, what matters is what's inside. We were interested in a delicious wedding cake with flavors different from what people are used to. So, our coordinator introduced us to En Punto Taller de Pastelería.
This project, by a young married couple, a pastry chef and a sommelier, takes a unique approach to creating personalized flavors for each couple. The first part of the process is a palate quiz, and with your answers, they return a proposal with the four flavors they think you'll like the most.
After that, the most exciting part comes the tasting. Each flavor was more delicious than the last, but in the end, we chose the raspberry one, as we thought more people would love it.
Raspberry and Vanilla: Puerto Rican-style vanilla sponge cake soaked in berry liqueur filled with raspberry Swiss meringue buttercream covered with white chocolate ganache.
Whenever I open the freezer and see my anniversary cake at the bottom, I count the days to defrost it.
Wedding Invitations in Puerto Rico
After hiring all my suppliers, many months passed. After a long pause during which not much happened, an inspiring moment arrived: the invitations!
After a super pleasant process, my beloved friends Lili and Walde from Liliweds met for lunch to give me my invitations, the first physical element of my wedding design. Seeing our names on an invitation made me cry a lot: this is real!
Should I Print the Invitations or Send Them Digitally?
We asked ourselves this question a lot because I initially thought it was more practical and economical to send the invitations by email.
During the process, I realized that official invitation services charge for delivery, so I used one of my work tools (Mailchimp) to design an email with the digital version of the beautiful design Liliweds created for me.
However, after receiving the physical invitations for our closest family members and not-so-tech-savvy people, I regretted sending them only digitally and asked Liliweds for more physical invitations. They were wonderful and had a super elegant effect and texture.
Just like photography, the art of your invitations is better expressed in printed format.
While sending the invitations digitally, I discovered that only some people read their emails, and even those who did often forgot about the details written there, or would often lose the e-mail for recalling the details later.
This required several follow-up rounds to get them to RSVP because they needed the email. If you can, physical invitations are the best.
RSVP and Gift Registry on Your Wedding Website
One super neat thing was creating my wedding website, gift registry, and RSVPs through Zola.
Although the vendor registry doesn't really work for Puerto Rico weddings, after checking out different platforms, I loved Zola for the personalized website with all the wedding details, my gift registry, and the option for guests to RSVP, choose their meal selection, and specify their allergies.
When Ana Agosto's team contacted me to start the RSVP process, I had already completed it digitally. I had an Excel spreadsheet with all the information, making the reconfirmation process even more accessible.
A remarkable feature of Zola is that once everyone confirms, you can assign tables and seats. It was easy to send the seating chart to my decoration and stationery partners.
A Wine Tasting and Wedding Menu Design Experience with The House
One of the activities JC and I enjoy most as a couple is food and drink, especially learning about wines. Knowing this, our friend and one of the most influential people in the wine industry in Puerto Rico, Manon Petex, prepared a wine-tasting and pairing design experience for us at The House.
A week before our wine tasting, she asked for my menu for pairing purposes and prepared a tasting of 15 bottles of sparkling, red, and white wines.
This tasting immediately became my favorite task of the wedding planning process, alongside the cake tasting.
I loved that it was a very scientific process. Manon chose bottles that paired elegantly with our menu and had good value for bulk purchases. There were delicious recommendations among very affordable bottles.
We chose our home's favorite for the sparkling wine (Prosper Mafoux Cremant de Bourgogne), Sauvignon Blanc Touraine to pair with the chicken stuffed with mofongo, and Harlow Ridge Pinot Noir for the Beef Wellington.
We also bought all the liquors for our bar from The House.
Open Bar or Corkage Fee for the Wedding Day?
If your wedding venue allows it, choosing the corkage fee option is the biggest hack to save money on your food and drink bill and the best way to personalize your bar. When we calculated the cost per bottle, the markup was much higher than paying the corkage fee. Another benefit is personalizing the bar to our taste and having a selection of liquors that truly represent us and our guests.
I can't mention the benefits without noting the drawbacks: it's a bit of a headache to make an accurate estimate of how much alcohol will be consumed, in addition to coordinating transportation and delivery.
Fortunately, Manon helped us calculate the alcohol we would need for dinner and the bar for the number of hours we would have. Finally, The House To You made free delivery of our entire order to the Antiguo Casino the morning before the wedding. Highly recommended.
We still overestimated a bit on the alcohol, but the upside is that now we have our personal inventory for all wine nights, birthday, and BYOB invites of the year. Better that than to run out mid-wedding.
Wedding Week arrived: Rehearsal Cocktail and Welcome Party at Fine Wine Imports, Cataño
Two nights before our wedding (repeat with me: never the night before), we gathered at the cozy space of Fine Wine Imports in the industrial center of Cataño. With the help of my friend and bridesmaid Maria Laura, we chose a delicious wine menu to accompany the paella and fritters from Pa’l Hambre.
There, we gathered both families, the wedding party, the planning, the officiant, photo and video teams... and we truly felt super special and surrounded by love. We could talk a lot with our VIPs, which was good because the plan for the wedding was to dance. Our friends surprised us with an after-party at an exclusive club in Guaynabo, the Gato Bar. If you know, you know.
On our rehearsal, and surrounded by wine and love, we wondered if it wasn't just cooler and cheaper to just get married there in the first place.
Getting Ready and Wedding Night at Hotel Palacio Provincial, Old San Juan
The afternoon before the wedding, I rushed to Hotel Palacio Provincial, where I would prepare and spend the weekend.
Since its opening during the pandemic, I have been fascinated by Hotel Palacio Provincial's renovated colonial look. It's central and comfortable, and its rooms are very cozy for a hotel in Old San Juan. Additionally, it's a pet-friendly hotel, so our handsome Peque could be part of our day, just as he is part of our lives.
Many of my guests also booked rooms at the hotel, too. We were all delighted with the level of service and hospitality. I am eternally grateful for all the love and flexibility we received from the Palacio team. After taking everything to the rooms, we went down to the interior terrace, where there was live music, and we enjoyed a delicious meal while gathering energy for the next night.
For the girls, the wedding day started super early. In the bridesmaids' room, Monika Ríos and Abella Makeup were working on the bridesmaids. And in my room, with the arrival of my dear friend Caridad Vidro for my hair and makeup, as well as my mom's, mother-in-law's, and sister-in-law's.
That first part of the day was so beautiful: we talked, joked, and enjoyed the process. The hours flew by, but at the same time, I never felt rushed. I know that is the advantage of being a wedding photographer: I could be fully present, knowing how each moment would lead to the next. Suddenly, Maydeline and Zuriel arrived in the room: things got lively!
First Look at Hotel Palacio Provincial
The following two hours flew by, and before I knew it, I was dressed as a bride, walking towards my handsome JC for our first look and first round of photos. Beyond the images, the first look had several logistical reasons:
- With the first look, we could remove some photos from the list and reduce the load after the ceremony.
- We would have a set of photos outside the Casino, as I was not interested in going out to Old San Juan after being at the venue.
- We could all take the same transportation from the hotel to the venue, including the photo and video team.
Custom Suit for the Groom by La Tigre
I had no idea how JC would look at the wedding besides the obvious: handsome.
But if there's something I love, it's a good all-black look, and in his case, one made to measure by Loro Piana at Shop La Tigre.
After several visits, they made him a perfect custom suit with super fine materials, and he looked stunning. This process also allowed him to enjoy being a groom and having reasons to hang out with his entourage.
One thing I didn't expect, and that excited me a lot, was seeing that he wore a pocket boutonniere, one of 2023's floral trends for weddings, with the feathers of our baby birds in it.
As some of you may know, besides the dog, we are parents to five parrots who unfortunately couldn't be invited to the wedding.
The Moment Arrives: Wedding Ceremony in the Garden of the Antiguo Casino of Puerto Rico
As I left the hotel for my ceremony, I was surprised to discover that the rush of being the bride and the rush of being a photographer is totally different. As we walked around the block to meet the transportation, I realized everything that was happening behind the scenes so that I could simply grab the train of my dress and walk to my wedding.
I breathed deeply, thinking that I had the certainty (but no evidence) that everything was under control: someone had my vow booklet, the bouquet, the rings, my purse, my going-away dress, my phone, the poor dog, the tip money, the props for the hora loca...
At that precise moment, I realized the incalculable value of peace of mind for a bride on her wedding day. It was the peak moment of my gratitude for my fantastic team of suppliers. Even before it started, I had no doubt that the day would be a success thanks to them.
We arrived at the venue a little early and had our first look at the wedding hall. As a lover of natural light, one of my wishes was to see the decorations and enjoy some photos of the hall full of light. When we went up, we couldn't believe how beautiful, perfect, and simple everything looked—just as we wanted.
My emotions were already running high, so as soon as I started walking down the aisle for the ceremony and realized that all the heads in the seats were, this time, the faces of so many people I love, I couldn't stop smiling, I think for the rest of the night.
The Most Captivating Wedding Ceremony by Zevio from True to You Weddings
As a wedding photographer, I have witnessed over 500 ceremonies. When it came time for my wedding, I wanted something that didn't feel like a memorized script or a mere formality before the party. The wedding ceremony is the pinnacle moment of the wedding day.
When I was trying to find the wedding officiant, I remembered the ceremony filled with stories of my clients, Romie and Christian. I contacted their officiant, Zevio, from True to You Weddings, and we met via video call. Zevio impressed us with his organized process.
We met virtually for a ceremony workshop, and he attended our rehearsal, ensuring everything was coordinated with our wedding planner.
On the wedding day, Zevio exceeded our expectations by eloquently recounting our story.
He included elements that reflected our love and testimonies from our families and gave us space for the joviality and spontaneity that characterize us. For many of our guests, the ceremony was their favorite part of the day, and many even thought Zevio was a close friend.
Wedding Cocktail and Reception at the Antiguo Casino of Puerto Rico
After being declared married, we took our formal family and bridal party photos at the ceremony altar, then proceeded to our newlywed portraits and videos. The San Juan Collective and my dear Melisa Vo enlivened the cocktail with rich jazz.
Just in time, one of my favorite people arrived: Lorell from Cat N Dog Nanny PR. She came for her Pet Taxi and Pet Nanny service. She took our dog Pequeque home, who was already asleep during the ceremony. It wasn't dull; it's just that he's our nap king.
The cocktail hour flew by, and before we knew it, it was time for the formal entrance. With lots of energy, the dances, toasts, and dinner began. During dinner, I remember sitting and looking around, incredulous at so much joy and beauty and having all these special people in one space. There wasn't much time to think because suddenly someone told me the pleneros had arrived, and I ran to change my dress in record time.
Our friends from Yuvi Plena opened the reception and got us moving. And something that never happened but did at my wedding: we made all the vendors dance, making it clear that we wanted everyone to have a good time, no exceptions.
The next musical set was thanks to the charming Melisa Voz, who gave us a set of tropical and Latin dance music; how delightful!
The Wedding Rave and the Hora Loca
As a wedding photographer, I have often worked with Joel Big J. His work ethic, incredible personality, and contagious energy led me from respect to a great friendship. At weddings, I can always count on him to know how to animate even the dullest wedding. His talent, musical range, ability to read the crowd, and charismatic personality make him a gem.
When I got engaged, I had no doubt he would be responsible for sound and lighting at our wedding. We have a diverse music-loving guest list, and I knew he could make the perfect mix for our audience.
I added other musicians and entertainment aspects close to the date, and he worked seamlessly with these sets. We also challenged him the week of the wedding when one of my great friends, Ebetron, asked to play a surprise DJ set. Joel agreed to incorporate him into his set, making many people happy with his flexibility.
I knew Big J wouldn't disappoint me, but not even in my wildest dream was I prepared for the epic rave he turned our dance floor into. Months later, everyone talks about how they'll never get over our wedding night. Neither will I, honestly.
As if that weren't enough, during the hora loca, we handed out props like at the EDM festivals we love to attend. The last two surprises of the night appeared: the characters from Sak Entertainment and the fan faces of our pets, thanks to Mila Print Studio.
People were fighting to dance with their favorite chicken, and many of us still don't understand how the giant slinky made its moves. The dance floor was never empty, and one of the forbidden photos of the night is of a massive group of people still hyping up the party after the lights were turned on and the speakers were off.
I don't know how to end this blog because, seriously, I still can't find the words to thank everyone involved in making this day so epic—every waiter, valet attendant, and guest. I still can't believe the wedding was ours, and I am eternally grateful for all the love we received before, during, and after our big day.
Special thanks to Maydeline Ines Photography and Zura Film: having you as our photo and video team, but more importantly, having these two great friends guiding my hand in hand is something I don't take for granted for a moment.
Finally, thank you to my love, Jose Carlos. I know I pulled many pranks and surprises on you at the wedding, and there were many aspects of wedding planning that you didn't quite understand at the time.
If anything fills me with joy, it was seeing how you, your family, and your coworkers enjoyed every moment. How amazing it was to live this experience with you, and what a great team we are.
I feel like the luckiest woman to have you, and I am delighted to have given you the wedding day you deserved. Because you know you deserve it all!
xo,
Cami
Without further ado, the photos by Maydeline Inés Photography:
Suplidores de Boda para Este Evento
Antiguo casino de Puerto Rico
Full wedding planning Ana Agosto
Wedding photography Maydeline Ines Photography
Second shooter Cristina Hernandez
Wedding video & cinema Zura Film
Rehearsal cocktail venue Fine Wine Imports PR
Rehearsal cocktail catering Pa’l Hambre
Bridal gown D’Royal Bride
Bridal H&M Caridad Vidro
Bridal second look Celebra La Boutique
Bridal nails Kei Nailcare
Groom bespoke smoking (tuxedo) Shop La Tigre
Wedding night hotel Hotel Palacio Provincial
Wedding transportation Tony Tours
Wedding venue Antiguo Casino de Puerto Rico
Ceremony lemonade Jida Puf
Capitulaciones matrimoniales Lic. Ana M. Hernandez, Wonderland PR
Wedding ceremony officiant Zevio, True To You Weddings
Pet Taxi & Nanny Lorell, Cat N Dog Nanny PR
Wedding floral decor Glow Events
Stationery and Wedding Branding Liliweds
Wedding cake En Punto Taller de Pastelería
Wine & Spirits The House to You
Coffee Bar Koffee Cups
Cigar Station Don Rosario Cigars
Tarima All Stage, Inc
Wedding DJ, Sound, Lighting Joel Big J
Live Music Melisa Voz + San Juan Collective
Pleneros Yuvi Plena
Late night DJ set Ebetron
Entertainment Sak Entertainment
Printed Props Mila Print Studio
Bridesmaid H&M Monika Rios + Abella Makeup
Bridesmaid dresses Azazie
Maid of honor maternity dress Celebra La Boutique
Groomsmen tuxes Galeria de Novios en Caguas