“You can see why the bride is so pretty.”
That was Lauren’s dad Steve, talking to me while watching Lauren’s mom twirl around on the dance floor at the reception. I smiled, kept on shooting, then looked back at him a few minutes later and he was STILL staring at her, with a dreamy smile on his face. And I thought, that’s what it’s all about really. Weddings. Marriage. The hope that in 30 years you too will have someone who still looks at you that way.
Lauren and Brad have already been together seven years, and both their families have extremely tight bonds of love and friendship, so it’s a safe bet they are on the right track. We spent four days in paradise with Lauren, Brad, and their wonderful family and friends at the stunning luxury destination venue Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve. We were treated like part of the gang from the very beginning, and quickly fell in love with this quirky, fun, glamorous group of people.
Lauren, with the help of her fun, sophisticated Puerto Rico wedding coordinator Maria Lugo, planned a three-day wedding spectacular complete with welcome drinks in coconuts, fire dancers, a ceremony overlooking the beach, fireworks at the reception, and midnight snacks and cigars on the lawn. The next afternoon, we squeezed in some more portraits of Lauren and Brad at Castillo de San Cristóbal in Old San Juan, and in the ocean back at the Ritz.
We left Puerto Rico thinking, now THAT’S how you do a destination wedding. Love, family, friendship and a few good doses of fire.