El Dorado Royale Wedding | Riviera Maya, Mexico | Athena+Chase | Dallas Destination Wedding Photographer

I love destination weddings.  Not just because of the picturesque private beaches, gourmet inclusive meals, beach massages, and unlimited booze (although these do help!), but the raw emotions and the bonding between everyone I got to witness throughout the wedding.  I spent a good three days with Athena and Chase’s group at the adult only resort El Dorado Royale in Riviera Maya, Mexico, and it felt like I was hanging out with one big family the entire time.  The wedding day started out as a perfect sunny tropical day.  Chase and his groomsmen had a nice blend of tan and beige on, and they were ready for some fun photos!  I then ventured over to Athena’s room next to us at the El Dorado Casitas Royale, which was really far away, but luckily I flagged a golf cart and got a ride.  Athena had lots of beautiful details including an “Athena” hanger, and she tied their rings with a teal ribbon in a beautiful metal seashell.  I mentioned the day started out perfect and sunny, but right before the processional, we could feel the storm rolling in.  Notice how bent the bridesmaid’s parasol was!  It started pouring halfway through the wedding ceremony, so the ceremony was cut short.  Crazy enough, the rain stopped immediately after the recessional!  You just never know on a tropical beach, at least it made for some wedding portraits with dramatic skies!  After some heart touching toasts,  there was lots and lots of crazy dancing throughout the night.  The highlight though was definitely when everyone decided to throw Chase in the pool, followed by Athena and Chase jumping in, and then everyone jumping in!  I’m so blessed to be there and document this gorgeous and fun beach wedding.  Be on the lookout for Athena and Chase’s day after session in the ocean on the blog soon, it’s going to be just as amazing…and wet!