M+H | Pueblo Bonito, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico Wedding

ATTENTION COUPLES: As of 2023, Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach has stopped allowing outside photographers. You must choose a photographer designated through their resort. I have called the venue for their comment, and they confirmed this. If you have already booked your wedding here, you may call them and confirm that their policies have not changed since I called. They will require you to pick a resort-designated photographer, which I highly recommend staying away from if you want high-quality photos that fit a certain style. Choosing a photographer is a very personal experience that requires a lot of communication and getting to know each other, and having a small resort designated list to choose from is not a gamble I recommend taking for one of the most important days of your life. I have had a few couples change venues because of this change, and because photos are so important to them. There are plenty of beautiful resorts and venues in Mexico that DO allow outside photographers so you can achieve exactly the vision you want. I am also bilingual so can speak English and Spanish and communicate with your other vendors!

Madi and Hayden’s destination wedding at Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach Golf & Spa Resort in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico finally came true! I say finally because these two had to reschedule not once, not twice, but three times due to the unpredictable events of 2020. They were so patient waiting for their dream day to happen, so when April 30, 2021 finally came around, their celebration was well deserved! I originally met Madi and Hayden at their engagement session at Lookout Mountain when I first moved to Colorado. Then we did another engagement session, round 2, in 2020 for their updated save the dates. I was reminded of how much I just love hanging out with these two so when they asked me to travel to Mexico and photograph their wedding, it was obviously a YES. They have been together since high school (which is really impressive) and all of those years spent together led up to this day!

Their wedding day was such a perfect and sentimental reflection of the culmination of their 10 (!) years together. Their family and friends all flew into Cabo to stay at Pueblo Bonito Resort before their special day. The resort made it easy by being all-inclusive so guests didn’t even have to leave the grounds to get food and drinks! Pueblo Bonito also had an on-site wedding planner and created the most stunning floral arch for the ceremony, as well as set up gorgeous tablescapes for the reception (based on Madi and Hayden’s vision board, of course). Although they did bring their own rad neon “The Wages” sign in their suitcase. They had a welcome bonfire the night before the wedding where everyone gathered to shower them in love before their big day.

Madi wrote Hayden a sweet note before the wedding and I appreciated his emotion as I caught him shedding a tear while he read it (to be honest I think every wedding photographer secretly loves tears and when people can be vulnerable). His reaction as she walked down the aisle was equally as touching. They shared their vows with the beach in the background and their favorite people watching from the audience. After the ceremony, lots of hugs were exchanged and a champagne toast happened, naturally. Guests filled their guest book with polaroid photos, and the theme of the reception was “pics or it didn’t happen!”

When I tell you this group can party, I’m not kidding. Everyone was tearing up the dance floor, which I LOVE for photos because there are so many hilarious moments to look back on. They finished up the dance party with a big group hug. The party itself didn’t stop at the reception though, because the resort’s bars hosted the after-party late into the night. As Madi said, if you are thinking of doing a destination wedding, DO IT. It is such an unforgettable experience + bonus vacation not only for the couple but for the guests as well. This was one of those weddings where I felt so ridiculously lucky to get to be a wedding photographer and capture love as big and beautiful as Madi and Hayden’s! I hope you enjoy these highlights from their day as much as I do.