I remember scanning my junk email one day and seeing something about Paradisus Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic in one of the subject lines. I figured it was a financial scam of some sort so I quickly moved on. A few days later, I received a phone call asking if I’d had a chance to check my availability for the date mentioned in the email. Umm, what email? Cripes! The one that was sorted into my junk box. I’m SO happy Ben called to follow up. This was a wedding on referral from a couple whose wedding I had shot the previous summer, whose brother’s wedding I had shot the summer before the previous summer. Yes, another long chain of referrals.

As I thought about the DR and did some research online, I quickly discovered that my standard black dress shirt, charcoal wool dress pants and heavy black dress shoes would NOT work! I wasn’t too disappointed as I knew that meant another trip to Nordstrom was in my near future. I went to the guys at the men’s furnishings desk and said…I’m off to a beach wedding…set me up. I love walking in, getting fitted for dress slacks, finding a white dress shirt, a couple pairs of beachy footwear, and a tie to match. Ahh…I was all set and yes, my passport was current (and still is for any of you shopping for a wedding photographer abroad…hint hint).

The first day there, I roamed around a bit, checked the place out, got caught off guard as I realized the beaches were more…shall we say “liberated” than those in the States? And then it happened! I stumbled upon my former clients and got to finally meet Ben & Kristi over a beer on the deck. We then headed to a great dinner. They had invited about 20 of their closest friends and family, so to be one of a small number to take part in their trip was really a special thing for me.

The second day there, the guys headed out on the ocean for some fishing. All we caught were fumes from the boat though…and let’s just say “DEQ” is not in their vocabulary. hah Nonetheless, there’s nothing like heading out to sea on a nice sunny day and enjoying a few cold El Presidentes. That is, untill the sea sickness kicks in (fortunately, not for me).

That night we headed into the bay for nice evening cruise where we witnessed an incredible sunset! At one point I was talking to another friend of Ben and Kristi’s about wedding photography. They had Jessica Claire shoot their wedding, but didn’t mention her name figuring there’s no way I would know her. Far from the truth as it turns out! We had met each other at one of the first workshops I attended in LA. We had a good laugh over how small this world is.

That brings us to the wedding day…a very laid back day for sure. I still can’t get over how relaxed the whole group was. It’s experiences like this one, that when I think back on, I realize how lucky I am to get to see glimpes of who other people are and what their friends mean to them. Relationships are a powerful thing! You might think…”duh!”…but you have to remember I’m self employed and single, so although I still get out a fair amount, I fly solo quite a bit.

Okay, enough chatter for now…on to some photos!