Category Archives: Destination Wedding

Antigua Destination Wedding

Antigua Destination Wedding:  Elizabeth and Case

What a way to start off the 2016 wedding season!  I was beyond thrilled to be back in Antigua, especially with my compadre Daniel Diaz, to shoot a wedding for a very special couple who commissioned us a year in advance even before they had confirmed a venue.  We spent a week getting to know them while accompanying them through their wedding journey in Guatemala.  First off, we spent two days in beautiful Lake Atitlan followed by a hike up Mount Pacaya which is one of several active volcanoes near Antigua (last major eruption in May 2010) .  The hike up Pacaya was a piece of cake for this fearless couple who are no strangers to mountain climbing and other extreme activities – they each climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro and Elizabeth climbed Mt. Everest basecamp!

Spending a week with our couple pushed our photographic and artistic skills to the limit – we employed every possible composition and technique we could from vantage points up high on rickety jungle bridges and on tall columns in the ruins to getting real low on razor sharp volcanic pumice, and even submerged for some underwater portraits.  We did it all, thanks to our couple who were so brave and who were so willing to give it their all!

Elizabeth and Case are both doctors who recently graduated from medical school.  Case will be specializing in orthopædic surgery and Elizabeth will be specializing in obstetrics and gynecology. Prior to their first year of medical school, they met each other on the bus to orientation where Elizabeth’s beauty and escapades about traveling the world captivated Case.  It took some persistence, a number of corny jokes, and a desire to travel for Elizabeth to fall just as hard for Case. Fast forward, they now both have adventured side by side through medical school and around the world – Case proposed to Elizabeth while scuba diving in Indonesia.

To share their passions for adventure and culture with their closest friends and family, Elizabeth and Case wanted to host a destination wedding. They chose Antigua, Guatemala as it provided the perfect blend of history, culture, mountains, and adventures.  The ceremony was held at the beautiful Convento de las Capuchinas followed by the reception at the stunning San Jose el Viejo.  While at Lake Atitlan, we stayed at picturesque Hotel Atitlan in Panajachel and in Antigua, we stayed at the wonderful Porta Hotel Antigua.

Congratulations you two – I’m envious of all the adventures that both of you will have together!  To quote a famous author:

“You’re off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting,
So… get on your way!”

From “All the Places You Will Go” -Dr. Seuss

Slideshow

Individual Photos

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Underwater portrait Porta Hotel AntiguaFootnote:  Photo by Dave Paek

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos Lake Atitlan Atitlan HotelFootnote:  Photo by Daniel Diaz

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos Lake Atitlan Atitlan HotelFootnote:  Photo by Daniel Diaz

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos Lake Atitlan Atitlan HotelFootnote:  Photo by Dave Paek

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos Lake Atitlan Atitlan HotelFootnote:  Photo by Dave Paek

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos Lake Atitlan Atitlan HotelFootnote:  Photo by Dave Paek

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos Lake Atitlan Atitlan HotelFootnote:  Photo by Daniel Diaz

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos Lake Atitlan Atitlan HotelFootnote:  Photo by Dave Paek

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos Lake Atitlan Atitlan HotelFootnote:  Photo by Dave Paek

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos Lake Atitlan Atitlan HotelFootnote:  Photo by Daniel Diaz

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos Lake Atitlan Atitlan HotelFootnote:  Photo by Daniel Diaz

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos Lake Atitlan Atitlan HotelFootnote:  Photo by Dave Paek

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos Lake Atitlan Atitlan HotelFootnote:  Photo by Dave Paek

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos Lake Atitlan Atitlan HotelFootnote:  Photo by Daniel Diaz

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos Lake Atitlan Atitlan Nature ReserveFootnote:  Photo by Daniel Diaz

Best Destination Wedding Photographer Antigua - Lake Atitlan Nature ReserveFootnote:  Photo by Dave Paek

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos Lake Atitlan Atitlan Nature ReserveFootnote:  Photo by Dave Paek

Best Antigua Destination Wedding PhotosFootnote:  Photo by Daniel Diaz

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos Lake Atitlan Atitlan Nature ReserveFootnote:  Photo by Dave Paek

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos Lake Atitlan Atitlan Nature ReserveFootnote:  Photo by Dave Paek

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos Lake Atitlan Atitlan Nature ReserveFootnote:  Photo by Dave Paek

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos Underwater Portrait Porta Hotel AntiguaFootnote:  Photo by Dave Paek

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos Underwater Portrait Porta Hotel AntiguaFootnote:  Photo by Dave Paek

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos Underwater Portrait Porta Hotel AntiguaFootnote:  Photo by Dave Paek

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos Underwater Portrait Porta Hotel AntiguaFootnote:  Photo by Dave Paek

Best Antigua Wedding Photo

Footnote:  Photo by Dave Paek

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos Underwater Portrait Porta Hotel AntiguaFootnote:  Photo by Dave Paek

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos Ruins Santa ClaraFootnote:  Photo by Dave Paek

Best Antigua Destination Wedding PhotosFootnote:  Photo by Dave Paek

Best Antigua Destination Wedding PhotosFootnote:  Photo by Dave Paek

Best Antigua Destination Wedding PhotosFootnote:  Photo by Dave Paek

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos Ruins Santa ClaraFootnote:  Photo by Daniel Diaz

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos Ruins Santa ClaraFootnote:  Photo by Daniel Diaz

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos Ruins Santa ClaraFootnote:  Photo by Dave Paek

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos La RecoleccionFootnote:  Photo by Dave Paek

Best Antigua Destination Wedding PhotosFootnote:  Photo by Dave Paek

Best Antigua Destination Wedding PhotosFootnote:  Photo by Daniel Diaz

Best Antigua Destination Wedding PhotosFootnote:  Photo by Dave Paek

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos Mount Pacaya VolcanoFootnote:  Photo by Dave Paek

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos Mount Pacaya VolcanoFootnote:  Photo by Dave Paek

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos Mount Pacaya VolcanoFootnote:  Photo by Daniel Diaz

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos Mount Pacaya VolcanoFootnote:  Photo by Dave Paek

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos Mount Pacaya VolcanoFootnote:  Photo by Dave Paek

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos Mount Pacaya VolcanoFootnote:  Photo by Dave Paek

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos Mount Pacaya VolcanoFootnote:  Photo by Dave Paek

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos Mount Pacaya VolcanoFootnote:  Photo by Daniel Diaz

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos Mount Pacaya VolcanoFootnote:  Photo by Dave Paek

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos Mount Pacaya VolcanoFootnote:  Photo by Dave Paek

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos Mount Pacaya VolcanoFootnote:  Photo by Dave Paek

Best Antigua Destination Wedding PhotosFootnote:  Photo by Dave Paek

Best Antigua Destination Wedding PhotosFootnote:  Photo by Dave Paek

Best Antigua Destination Wedding PhotosFootnote:  Photo by Dave Paek

Best Antigua Destination Wedding PhotosFootnote:  Photo by Dave PaekBest Destination Wedding Photographer - Antigua Guatemala

Footnote:  Photo by Dave Paek

Best Destination Wedding Photos - R Dalton Coffee Plantation Guatemala

Footnote:  Photo by Dave Paek

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos Casa RosalFootnote:  Photo by Dave Paek

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos Casa RosalFootnote:  Photo by Dave Paek

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos Casa RosalFootnote:  Photo by Dave Paek

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos Casa RosalFootnote:  Photo by Dave Paek

Footnote:  Photo by Dave Paek

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos Casa RosalFootnote:  Photo by Dave Paek

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos Casa RosalFootnote:  Photo by Dave Paek

Footnote:  Photo by Dave Paek

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos Porta Hotel AntiguaFootnote:  Photo by Dave Paek

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos Porta Hotel AntiguaFootnote:  Photo by Daniel Diaz

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos Porta Hotel AntiguaFootnote:  Photo by Daniel Diaz

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos Porta Hotel AntiguaFootnote:  Photo by Dave Paek

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos Porta Hotel AntiguaFootnote:  Photo by Daniel Diaz

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos Porta Hotel AntiguaFootnote:  Photo by Dave Paek

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos Porta Hotel AntiguaFootnote:  Photo by Daniel Diaz

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos Porta Hotel AntiguaFootnote:  Photo by Dave Paek

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos Porta Hotel AntiguaFootnote:  Photo by Dave Paek

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos Porta Hotel AntiguaFootnote:  Photo by Dave Paek

Best Antigua Wedding Photographer - Porta Hotel AntiguaFootnote:  Photo by Daniel Diaz

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos Porta Hotel AntiguaFootnote:  Photo by Dave Paek

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos Convento Las Capuchinas Chicken BusFootnote:  Photo by Daniel Diaz

Footnote:  Photo by Dave Paek

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos Convento Las Capuchinas Chicken BusFootnote:  Photo by Dave Paek

Antigua Wedding Photographer

Footnote:  Photo by Dave Paek

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos Convento Las CapuchinasFootnote:  Photo by Daniel Diaz

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos Convento Las CapuchinasFootnote:  Photo by Dave Paek

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos Convento Las CapuchinasFootnote:  Photo by Dave Paek

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos Convento Las CapuchinasFootnote:  Photo by Dave Paek

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos Convento Las CapuchinasFootnote:  Photo by Dave Paek

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos Convento Las CapuchinasFootnote:  Photo by Daniel Diaz

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos Convento Las CapuchinasFootnote:  Photo by Dave Paek

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos Convento Las CapuchinasPhoto by Daniel Diaz

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos Convento Las CapuchinasFootnote:  Photo by Dave Paek

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos Convento Las CapuchinasFootnote:  Photo by Daniel Diaz

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos Convento Las CapuchinasFootnote:  Photo by Daniel Diaz

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos Convento Las CapuchinasFootnote:  Photo by Daniel Diaz

Footnote:  Photo by Dave Paek

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos Convento Las CapuchinasFootnote:  Photo by Dave Paek

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos San José El ViejoFootnote:  Photo by Dave Paek

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos San José El ViejoFootnote:  Photo by Daniel Diaz

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos San José El ViejoFootnote:  Photo by Dave Paek

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos San José El ViejoFootnote:  Photo by Dave Paek

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos San José El ViejoFootnote:  Photo by Dave Paek

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos San José El ViejoFootnote:  Photo by Daniel Diaz

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos San José El ViejoFootnote:  Photo by Dave Paek

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos San José El ViejoFootnote:  Photo by Dave Paek

Best Antigua Destination Wedding PhotosFootnote:  Photo by Dave Paek

Best Antigua Destination Wedding PhotosFootnote:  Photo by Dave Paek

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos San José El ViejoFootnote:  Photo by Dave Paek

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos San José El ViejoFootnote:  Photo by Dave Paek

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos San José El ViejoFootnote:  Photo by Daniel Diaz

Best Antigua Destination Wedding PhotosFootnote:  Photo by Dave Paek

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos San José El ViejoFootnote:  Photo by Dave Paek

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos San José El ViejoFootnote:  Photo by Daniel Diaz

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos San José El ViejoFootnote:  Photo by Daniel Diaz

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos San José El ViejoFootnote:  Photo by Daniel Diaz

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos San José El ViejoFootnote:  Photo by Dave Paek

Best Antigua Wedding Photos - Porta Hotel Antigua Wedding

Footnote:  Photo by Dave Paek

Best Antigua Destination Wedding Photos San José El ViejoFootnote:  Photo by Dave Paek

Destination Wedding in Antigua, Guatemala

Destination Wedding in Antigua, Guatemala:  Andrea + Andrew

I’m dreaming that my last wedding of 2014 was an incredible destination wedding in Central America with a beautiful couple that I photographed in collaboration with my very good friend from Mexico Daniel Diaz who is like a brother to me (click his name to see his blog post of the same wedding). In particular I was in Antigua, Guatemala which appeared to be frozen in time as it retained its cobblestone streets, its Spanish Baroque architecture, and its beautifully maintained historical ruins.  Intertwined with much of its beauty, Antigua has a tragic past. The former capital of Guatemala was nearly destroyed by two major earthquakes in the 1700’s and another as recently as 1976. Antigua is also flanked by three volcanoes one of which remains active (Volcán de Fuego).  There’s almost a beautiful yet fatalistic zeitgeist among the locals here that any day could be their last so they live everyday like it is their last – familiar words to live by yet such an alien concept to us New Yorkers. Our beautiful and generous couple Andrea and Andrew treated us like family and gave us their complete trust in capturing their dream wedding. They worked hard and had fun in the process of helping us nail the shots.  They saw what we were willing to do just to get different perspectives. Climb a boulder?  Not a problem. Scale a roof? Sure. Get our backs against the wall with a nest filled with angry wasps? Piece of cake. Lie down in a field of fire ants? What else you got for me? There was no doubt in Andrea’s mind that Antigua was the place where she wanted to get married.  Antigua had a deep personal significance to her as both her parents were born in Guatemala. The most inspiring experience of this trip for me was witnessing Andrea’s strength and determination as this dream wedding almost fell short of happening due to a serious illness that occurred a few weeks before. Thankfully she made a quick recovery in time but she was still in a lot of pain. You almost couldn’t tell how much pain she was in as she intrepidly climbed boulders at the ruins (with a little help of course) and walked down cobblestone streets in heels. We started the first day with portraits at the beautiful ruins of La Recolección followed by a Trash-the-Dress session at our hotel’s swimming pool (Porta Hotel Antigua).  The rehearsal dinner took place that night at the beautiful Casa Rosal villa.  The wedding ceremony was held at the breathtaking ruins of San José El Viejo and the reception followed at the Porta Hotel Antigua. The hardest part was leaving, saying goodbye to both the city and the couple I fell in love with.  When do we do this again?

Published on Junebug Weddings (June 23, 2015)

http://junebugweddings.com/wedding-blog/sophisticated-destination-wedding-porta-hotel-antigua/

Destination Wedding Photographer | Antigua Wedding Photographer | New York City Wedding Photographer

All Photos by Dave Paek ©

Andrea+Andrew Antigua, Guatemala -

[…] My brother from NYC Dave Paek second shoot with me and couldn’t have asked for a better shooter than him. Thanks Dave for sharing this experience with me. Check out Dave’s blog post here. […]

Natasha Singh -

After viewing these images, I’ve decided that I’ll be getting married at the same location! …no idea to whom and when but I’m hiring YOU!

Dave Paek -

You’re too kind Natasha!

David Pun -

WOWZA!

Dave Paek -

Thanks David Pun.

Dan Dalstra -

I love that city. Shot my very first destination wedding there. Oh how I wish I could do it all over again. Gorgeous pics, man. You killed it.

Valerie Snell Hurtado -

Beautiful!

Daniel Diaz -

Can’t wait to go back and shoot another wedding there with you amigo. Dave + Daniel team!

Andrew Stephen -

I still cannot believe the pictures you took. Still the highlight of our wedding! You guys are incredible! You and Daniel both!! Maybe we’ll renew our vows already next year just so we can do round 2 asap.

Antigua, Guatemala Wedding Featured on Junebug Weddings Blog! » Dave Paek Photography -

[…] you Junebug Weddings for featuring Andrea and Andrew’s Antigua, Guatemala Wedding on your Blog!  We are beyond excited and honored to be featured alongside with the super talented […]

David and Anita: Ritz Carlton Grand Cayman Wedding

Congratulations David and Anita!  A wedding and a week of vacation in Grand Cayman is definitely something I wish I could do more often.  What a joy it was meeting their friends and family and taking part in the activities.  There was also a spooky encounter of the paranormal kind in one of our condo rooms – but I won’t delve too much into that. I guess I could describe Anita and David’s wedding as nothing but supernatural in that everything went so amazingly well – the notoriously fickle tropical weather held up during the ceremony and reception when the forecast called for rain and we were also treated to a free fireworks show during the reception.

 

Grand Cayman Wedding, Destination Wedding Photographer

Grand Cayman Wedding, Destination Wedding Photographer

Grand Cayman Wedding, Destination Wedding Photographer

 

 

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Equipment:  Nikon D4, 70-200 f/2.8 VRII, Nikkor 85mm f/1.4, Nikkor 35mm f/1.4, Nikkor 28mm f/1.8, Nikkor 45mm f/2.8 PC-E, Nikkor 60mm f/2.8 Micro, Sigma 12-24 f/4.5-5.6,

Stefy Hilmer -

Great work, Dave.

Sara Kelly -

It’s official. I want to get married again so you can photograph it. That flower girl shot is just astonishingly beautiful. Scratch that, the whole this is gorgeous. Wonderful, wonderful work Dave.

Dave Paek -

Thanks so much @[100003390363273:2048:Sara]!! 😀

Ryan Brenizer -

Great job, man!

Dave Paek -

Thanks @[1194941247:2048:Stefy]!

Dave Paek -

Thanks so much @[103264:2048:Ryan]! Couldn’t have done it without all your support!

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