How fun it is to do a PHOTOBOOTH at your Destination Wedding!!

Jump on one of the hottest trends at wedding receptions and set up your own photo booth at your Destination Wedding. Buy a few props on a local market, find a neutral background and let your guests make a few wild memories for you...

{Photo courtesy of Dreams Riviera Cancun}

Congratulations Sara & Andrew!!!

Sara & Andrew hosted their Destination Wedding at Excellence Riviera Cancun in the Riviera Maya region of Mexico. 

It was a super easy event to organize largely in part because the Excellence is hands down one of the best hotel groups for Destination Weddings. We receive accolades from all of our Excellence clients and are always thrilled when a bride selects one of there hotels for her special day.

Sara & Andrew used the photographer recommended by the resort - Blue Lens Caribe - and I think they did an amazing job! Love, love, love their photos.

Congratulations!!!

Cheers,

Heather and Kenneth's Danish-American Wedding Celebration!

March 30th, 2012

Phoenix, Arizona

"Hvor godtfolk er kommer godtfolk til."

"Where good folk are, good folk will come."

I had the recent honor of being in one of my best friend's weddings to a true Danish Gentleman and man-of-the-world, Mr. Kenneth Steiness. It's a dream to see a dear friend embraced with so much love and to be cherished and loved as the goddess I have always known her to be! I was one of three bridesmaids (with Lisa Link Philips and Lizzie Story-Hieronymous) and had an absolute blast being a part of the celebrations throughout the week. I also had the opportunity to play my ukulele during the ceremony which was especially fun. I wasn't able to photograph the whole event b/c of my involvement in the wedding but their super cool photographers--Shauna and Mike--with Visionyard Photography--were able to capture the whole event and will have their photos up in about six weeks.

These are a few of the pics I took throughout the week amongst all of the celebrations that took place over five plus days! I wanted to share the delight of this event with those of you who were there or who know Kenneth and Heather and who appreciate the joy they've brought into all of our lives!

It was my first experience with a Danish wedding and hopefully not my last! Their wedding was the perfect example of how two incredible people can literally bring together so many different groups of friends and family from around the world. They had aunts, uncles and parents flying out from Europe and around the country...and by the end of the week I literally felt that I had been "adopted" into a whole new community of men and women both in and out of the country.

Enjoy the slideshow below!

And to my new friends and "family"~ I'm so looking forward to seeing so many of you again in the coming years whether it's in Santa Barbara, Arizona, Ohio, Denmark or Iceland!

much love and many thanks~

Rachel

Venue and Catering: "The Secret Garden," Phoenix, AZ

Awesome Make-Up: Kelly Wisniewski

Super Cool Photographers:

"The Vision Yard"

Shauna Stansell and Mike Kaal

Live Music:

The Ash String Quartet, Bills Barns and Band, and

The Static Dance Band!

Enjoy the slideshow!!!

If the music doesn't come on when you "play" the slideshow, then please try refreshing your page and clicking on "play" again~

Tips for selecting a Destination Wedding Location

{Wedding Gazebo at Couples San Souci Resort in Ocho Rios, Jamaica}

Deciding on the perfect location for your Destination Wedding is the most difficult step. If you look back at the beginning of this blog, I started writing to document my own Destination Wedding planning. I was quickly overwhelmed by all of the choices available... and I was only considering Jamaica! 

Here are a few tips I've gathered over the years...


1. Use a destination wedding travel agent. Of course this would be my number 1 - its my business! You can read all about what we offer here. A travel consultant who specializes in the region you are interested in, will work as your personal location scout, having visited the area numerous times, they know what lies beyond the glossy brochure photos. 


2. Do an Internet search for "Destination Wedding Photographers" - this is a great resource for seeing photos that are produced by someone other than the resort itself. Every Destination Wedding Photographer will have a portfolio of past weddings on their website. See which weddings appeal to you and then research that hotel for your own event. Here are some of the Destination Wedding Photographers I've enjoyed working with in the past:
Amanda Julca Photography
Humbled Eyes Photography
Sun Gold Photo
Heather Parker Photography
AJH Photography
Elizabeth Medina Photography
**Stay tuned, we will be compiling a full list of Destination Wedding Photographers for the Caribbean & Mexico, very soon.


3. Make a list of whats important to you and be ready to compromise. Oftentimes, clients come to us simply to help them decide what they should compromise. For example, there are very few small, affordable, all-inclusive hotels that we would recommend. Most small hotels only have 1-2 restaurants so dining off of the same 1-2 menus for your entire stay can become monotonous. Only the most exclusive and thus, more expensive, small all-inclusive hotels go to great lengths to rotate their menus. 


We'd love to help you get started with your planning process. Contact our Destination Wedding Travel Specialists today. 


Happy Planning! 

MOMENTS OF LOVE: WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY BY LONDIN PHOTOGRAPHY

I love this image by Londin Photography. What a beautiful moment to capture.

Dave and Yvonne's Wedding at Yosemite National Park

by r.s.thurston photography

Friday September 16, 2011

A Yosemite Wedding in October. One word, two syllables: STUNNING.

A few of the views in fact were almost TOO PERFECT...many people have commented that some of these photos actually look like they were greenscreened. Nope, just nature's perfection and two very happy people celebrating their marriage together with some of their closest friends and family.

If you haven't visited Yosemite or any of our mountain national parks in the fall, put it on your bucket list now. Shockingly blue skies, sweet mountain air, and aspen and cottonwood trees with leaves the color of brick gold. It's a truly beautiful place to celebrate the union of two amazing people.

I've known Yvonne for almost five years now and have never seen her so "right" with someone. It made me so happy to have the opportunity to sing in Dave and Yvonne's ceremony and to play my ukulele (first official public performance..woohoo!) and then take photos of their rehearsal, wedding, reception and celebration which lasted a couple of days. That's one of the greatest joys about away weddings...you get to milk the time with your friends and family and spread the celebration out into several days.

To all of Yvonne and Dave's friends and family: It was such a joy meeting so many more of you and celebrating this great event together in one of the country's most beautiful canyons~ I hope you enjoy these photos as much as I had editing them. It was a fantastic way to revisit such a fun weekend together!

Please share this link with your friends and family. I don't have all of the emails for the guests and would love to make sure everyone gets a chance to check out the pics.

*If you are interested in ordering any prints or canvas prints, Zenfolio (where the galleries are based) only uses professional, archival-quality paper and inks. Their printers are calibrated to match the colors that professional photographers like myself use.

Happy Holidays to you all and enjoy the slideshows!

Ceremony:

Rehearsal:

Reception and Weekend Celebration:

*Please feel free to leave comments at the end of this entry

Friday October 7th, 2011

Cory and Chris's Magical "Wedding on the Beach"

by r.s.thurston photography

Words cannot describe what an absolute blessing it was to photograph this wedding. From the very beginning of the morning, Chris and Cory were so relaxed, gracious, and fun. And the weather was absolutely divine....reminding me of a summer day on the Big Island of Hawaii. The magic continued throughout the day from their private time in a secluded cove along the beach to the ceremony under a crystal blue sky beneath a driftwood canopy to dancing at the reception and body surfing in the afternoon....and who doesn't love body surfing?!

Any wedding where half the bridal party ends up shedding their clothes for wetsuits and getting joyfully slammed in the surf is my kind of a party!

Chris and Cory are truly blessed with a beautiful group of friends and family. Editing these pics has only made me feel closer to so many of the guests I had the opportunity to photograph. I was sad to leave at the end of the afternoon and gave several friends and family hugs at the end on my way out.

Cory and Chris have been an inspiration to me that weddings--like love--can be relaxed, fun events and that during the best times in life--as one of their signs advertised--"If you're not barefoot, then you're overdressed!"

I'm looking forward to continuing my connection with Chris and Cory in the coming years and watching their relationship continue to flourish. I would love to approach every day of my life with the same joy that I saw Chris and Cory basking in on their wedding day!

I've put together the Five Following Fabulous! Slideshows from Chris and Cory's Wedding: ♥

1) Getting Ready/Chris and Cory's Love Pics

2) Group Pictures

3) Ceremony

4) Reception and Dinner

5) Bouquet, Garter Toss and Money Dance Reception

Please be patient and wait a few minutes for the slideshows to load. Also make sure when you click on "play" that the music is comes on (carefully and obsessively chosen by moi!). If it doesn't, then refresh your web page and click "play" again. Enjoy!

If you'd like to purchase prints or any other items from the following pictures then follow these steps:

1) Click on "gallery" in upper left hand corner of slideshow

2) Once in gallery, select photo you'd like to purchase

3) Roll cursor over upper lefthand corner of picture and select "buy." Choose prints or other products from there.

Voila!

Getting Ready/Cory and Chris's Photo Shoot Slideshow/Gallery:

Group Pictures Slideshow/Gallery:

Ceremony Slideshow/Gallery:

Reception and Body Surfing Slideshow/Gallery:

Money Dance, Bouquet and Garter Toss Slideshow/Gallery:

Thanks again~

Cheers,

r.s.thurston

A huge thank you to Cory and Chris's Vendors:

Catering and Rentals: DJ's California Catering, Contact: Doug. Website: http://www.djscatering.com/
Music: Coastal Events, Contact: James. Website: http://www.coastalevents.net/
Desserts: Gift of Kate Dunbar, owner of Petite Rêve Cafe and Chocolates. Website: http://petiterevecafe.com
Coordination, Day-Of: Debbie Echevarria. Email: debbieehey@gmail.com
Cory's sister Lauren made her bouquet and dress. Her website for her art is here: http://www.laurentannehillart.com/

Luke and Kelly's Wedding

Dos Pueblos Ranch, Gaviota Coast

pics by rsthurston photography

So I recently had the pleasure of playing for a wedding of some long-time King Bee fans...Kelly and Luke. It was probably one of the most gorgeous wedding venues I've seen in the many years of playing with King Bee. Both Kelly and Luke lended a sweetness to the celebration that was definitely unforgettable.

Even though I was "off the clock" as a photographer I couldn't help myself (for more details read below). As the sun goes down, the place turns into a wonderland like something from "Sleepy Hollow." The only lighting comes from hundreds of votive candles, giant chandeliers made from driftwood, and sparkling white lights....it's truly a magical place at night.

The whole event was a true team effort. Tricia Fountaine Design was in charge of decorating for the event.

The bride and groom (Kelly and Luke) contributed hand-made gorgeous centerpieces made of manzanita branches and wire-wrapped glass lanterns. By candlelight, we all dined on a divine filet mignon and salmon dinner served by Country Catering based in Goleta. Their official photographer was Emily Hart-Roberts (who will be posting official pics in the near future) and their event planning was spearheaded by Danielle Laudon.

The reception was an absolute blast and I wish I could have had someone photograph "King Bee" as well but I can only do one thing at a time. Just try to sing, play cowbell, and photograph at the same time and you'll see what I mean. ;)

I'm grateful to Luke and Kelly for having included us in on such a fantastic celebration

and show of love, creativity, and magic!

*Oh yes, and they had a vintage cupcake trailer....I mean, come on! Who doesn't LOVE CUPCAKES?! Cupcakes by "Enjoy Cupcakes" which is based in Los Olivos.

Enjoy the slideshow and feel free to leave your comments below~

St. Lucia Wedding Photographer Mikael Lamber

Mikael Lamber could very well be St. Lucia's top Destination Wedding Photographer. I follow his blog, which he updates frequently, and am constantly impressed with his artistic style, photo quality, and most importantly, his obvious knowledge of all of the island's best locations. 

{Remember, your destination wedding photos don't have to be ONLY on the beach.}

Of course, it doesn't hurt that the island of St. Lucia provides one of the most stunning backdrops for a Destination Wedding.

Follow Mikael's blog here. To inquire on rates and availability, go here.

More from Elizabeth Medina - Destination Wedding Photographer

Its been about a year since we were first introduced to Elizabeth Medina, one of Mexico's top Destination Wedding Photographers. Since then, we've referred her services to many of our clients. Her photojournalistic style and the way colors seem to come alive in her photos has made her popularity soar. 

Her photos are true pieces of art worthy of display. Here are a few of our current favorites from her blog:

Go here to contact Elizabeth Medina for your own wedding or event. 

Cheers,

A Riu Montego Bay Wedding - Jamaica

Get Married at Riu Montego Bay, Jamaica

The photography from this wedding is by Vijay Rakhra, a professional wedding photographer and videographer based in San Francisco. In the past 8 years, Mr. Rakhra has covered hundreds of weddings all over the world.

The Riu Montego Bay Resort & Spa is located only 20 minutes from the airport, making it a great choice for a Destination Wedding because guests typically only stay for the weekend and will appreciate being close to the airport.

Check out Mr. Rakhra's website and blog to see his full wedding portfolio. 

If you're interested in planning your Destination Wedding at Riu Montego Bay, contact us at info @ caribbeanjourney.com!

Enjoy,

Destination Wedding Photography Giveaway!

Want to win full wedding day photography coverage by Aida Krgin? You’ll get full rights to your high-res images and a private online gallery for easy viewing, sharing and ordering! The wedding must take place outside of the United States: the Caribbean or Europe. Nominated couples must have a wedding date selected in 2011, and photography should be a top priority! You can nominate yourself or anyone you want! The nominated couple can be deserving in any number of ways… Aida wants to hear your story!! Deserving is definitely NOT limited to financial need! It could be a couple doing good in the community, building their own businesses, or living out their own dreams in life!

To nominate yourself or a couple in love, please send Aida an email to aida@krginphoto.com with the subject line WEDDING GIVEAWAY and the following information:

Names

Wedding date*

Wedding location/venues

Contact info (email and cell)

A photo of the couple

A little history about the couple or any fun stories or what makes their wedding unique

And, of course, why they deserve to win the Krgin Photography Destination Wedding Giveaway!

*Please contact Aida before sending your full entry to ensure she is available for your date! Of course, the contest is subject to my availability! Contact Aida with any questions or for all the fine print.

Send your entries between now and February 28th. The top 3 entries, as determined by an esteemed panel of judges (aka, Aida's friends and husband) will be posted online, where the readers of Krgin Photography Blog, will have a chance to vote for the couple you want to win! It’s as simple as that!

Good Luck!

Cap Juluca's Luxury Weddings

Cap Juluca Beach Resort in Anguilla has won so many prestigious designations based on romance that it is an easy choice for a Destination Wedding. 

To name just a few...

"Wedding Destination of the Year" by the NBC Today Show.

Brides Magazine listed Cap Juluca as one of the "50 Sexiest Hotels."

The Travel Channel featured Cap Juluca as one of the "World's Sexiest Beaches"

If you are interested in a truly luxurious resort on one of the world's more amazing beaches, then Cap Juluca might be your perfect match. We'd be happy to help you research all of the wedding package options.

Check out my full review of Cap Juluca and more photos from my recent trip.

Check out Grazier Photographer and two of their recent weddings shot at Cap Juluca here and here.

Cheers,

Trash the Dress - South Coast, Antigua

Meet Vanessa Hall... don't you love her story and want to know more? I do! Maybe she'll pen a little memoir when she gets a few more adventures behind her. From October to June, you can likely find Vanessa on the island of Antigua offering up her talented views-through-a-lens on Destination Weddings and Trash the Dress sessions.

See more from this trash the dress session here. Keep Vanessa Hall in mind for your wedding photography needs in Antigua & the Caribbean!

Enjoy,

Meet Lana Renee - Destination Wedding Photographer

Lana began her study of wedding photography while a student at the University of California in San Diego. Having fallen in love with travel and exploring Mexico, South America and the Caribbean, Lana made the move to Chile.

Camera in hand, Lana explores local Chilean life yet still makes the trek to capture weddings in her talented photojournalistic style.

I admire Lana's free spirit and creativity and think she would be a wonderful choice for a destination wedding photographer. 

Check out Lana's website here and enjoy her blog too!

Cheers,