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Francisco Alvarez 3/5/23 Francisco Alvarez 3/5/23

Puerto Rico: The Ultimate Wedding Destination

Before you even begin to say it, I’ll do it myself: I was born and raised here so yes, I’m a little biased. Now that the obvious has been stated, I’m still going to persuade you to choose me as your Puerto Rico wedding photographer. I’ll take this opportunity to deep dive into the reasons why you should make Puerto Rico your wedding destination outlined in my homepage.

It’s a U.S. Territory

What exactly does this mean? Well, for starters, you’re technically not leaving the country (assuming you’re reading this in the United States) simply because Puerto Rico is a territory of the United States. By being incorporated to the states we enjoy quite a bit of tourism because of the fact that we still cherish our former Spanish heritage which is still intact while also soaking up the benefits of being part of the U.S.

A nice perk that comes with this association is the fact that you don’t need a government passport to come on down; any government issued ID will do just fine. This means that you can come and go as you please without the need for visas and/or any fancy paperwork that could pose a threat to hiring someone like myself to be your destination photographer in Puerto Rico.

Another benefit of the island’s status has to do with currency. We use the dollar as the official unit which means that you don’t have to resort to any exchanges whatsoever. The good ‘ol buck extends its courtesy just fine and there’s no bother with figuring out if it’s gonna stretch as much as in the states. Sure, you might pay a little premium “tourism” tax (as I’m calling it) but you have the peace of mind knowing you don’t have to add another box to your travel checklist.

2. Weather

As if I have to even mention this one, weather is a humongous reason why folks pick me as their Puerto Rico wedding photographer. Having grown up on the island most of life, I can assure you that our winters are no less than 65 degrees in chilly days (usually morning and evenings). Although visiting the mountains can dip to the 40’s, the island is usually even keeled when it comes to climate, fluctuating between 75 and 100 degrees in some areas.

Granted, I don’t think that it’s even debatable: Puerto Rico wedding photography beats ANY of the continental states in terms of winter. Not surprisingly, most of my business comes during the winter months. I think this is largely due to two very important factors, the first being that folks just want to escape the cold months and the second being that they want an experience with a photographer in Puerto Rico to go hand-in-hand with the holiday season.

For fun, let’s think about this for a second: imagine all of the people that you’re inviting to your destination wedding in Puerto Rico. They’re probably going to get their invitations in the mail while having to bundle up just to walk to the mailbox. When they open it, they see a picture of you that I took as your wedding photographer in San Juan wearing nothing but a tanktop, shorts and sandals while they’re up to the necks in beanies, jackets and long johns.

3. Venues

If there is one thing of which you need not worry it’s definitely the location of your wedding destination in Puerto Rico. Having been in the industry for so long, I can attest to the fact that there are more than 30 extremely popular venues that can host weddings, big or small, cozy or lavish. I would even go out on a limb to say that there are spots in which I have yet to exercise photography in Puerto Rico.

A word I’d use to describe the vast amount of venues for Puerto Rico wedding photography it would definitely be eclectic. Puerto Rico has every kind of location for wedding photography imaginable, from villas on AirBnBs and huge Haciendas to restaurants and reception halls. Many of the most popular venues have a historic past such as Casa de España and Antiguo Casino and others are just otherworldly like Hacienda Siesta Alegre and the Vanderbilt Hotel in Condado, all places in which I’ve shot amazing weddings.

If you truly get down to the nitty gritty and start scoping out places as well as doing walkthroughs, there are about thirty venues that are consistently being booked because of their overall aesthetic and spacious landscapes. Don’t get me wrong: it doesn’t all have to be huge and luxurious. I’ve been known to shoot micro-weddings at smaller venues but they never disappoint. The sun is always shining, the breeze always blowing in your face and there’s nothing quite like saying “I do” in the most amazing place in the Caribbean.

See you soon!

Francisco Alvarez 5/28/19 Francisco Alvarez 5/28/19

Elopement or Destination Wedding: Which One Is Right For YOU?

Regardless of where you stand, your nuptials are going to be special. I first should lead with that because, in these times of uncertainty, it’s comforting to know you’ll have someone who has your best interests at heart. That’s me: my name is Francis and I’m a destination wedding photographer in San Juan, Puerto Rico. If you're coming across these words, chances are you’re also considering coming to this enchanted island for a coveted bride and groom getaway and you know what? I don’t blame you: this is paradise.

The question is: how will you be celebrating it?

This is where I come in. After being a photographer in Puerto Rico, I’ve had the privilege and honor of capturing some of the most grounded and fascinating couples to which list I would love to add you. In this short article I’ve prepared, I’m going to pinpoint the deciding factors of whether you should choose to have a cozy, intimate elopement with your closest friends and relatives or if you should go all out and have the wedding you’ve always wanted. I’ll be outlining some pros and cons of both for benefit; this way you’ll have the most important talking points clear before you reach out to me.

Planning

It goes without saying but, for all intents and purposes, I will: it doesn’t matter if you go with elopement or destination wedding, planning is going to be crucial. Nuptials that are not well planned and shot from the hip are bound to be a disaster regardless of size. Granted, I think it’s safe to say that an elopement will require a lot less planning than even a micro-wedding (four hours or less). That does not necessarily say that you should wing it and be spontaneous on the spot either. In this section we’ll be discussing how planning is always going to be a part of the equation and how the tasks of putting together a timeline may ultimately affect the way you lean.

Elopements are much less convoluted than any style of wedding and rightfully so. An elopement is usually done on a whim and is something that comes naturally to couples. Partners who are more laidback and relaxed as far as their relationships are concerned tend to choose elopements over a wedding simply because they won’t want to get tangled up “in a hot mess”. Elopements are shorter and this require much less attention to detail as opposed to weddings. I’m gonna go out on a limb and say that an elopement can be planned in literally a day if you do it right. All you really need is to book a flight to Puerto Rico (which can take minutes if you fly often), check out a venue you like and book a suite and finally hire an officiant to take care of business for you. That’s exactly what my couple Anthony & Joanna did when they paid me a visit at Copamarina last year. Fun fact: I was one of their witnesses! The extra mile can also be applied by asking just a handful of folks to tag along but, for the most part, the planning for elopements is easy, quick and should constitute no more than 10 people.

Weddings, on the other hand, is a whole different story. From micro-weddings to more lavish ones, the planning can be quite overwhelming depending on just how complex you’d like your special day. Based on my experience as a wedding photographer in Puerto Rico, most couples usually resort to the hiring of a wedding planner to do all the heavy lifting. This takes a load off and makes the planning more enjoyable for the fact that you’re paying someone to do it for you. A wedding planner is tasked with most of the more important aspects of your wedding such as picking the venue, the photographer/videographer, DJ, catering, decor, etc. The list goes on and on depending on the magnitude of your special day but I’m sure you get the picture.

Choosing to put all of this on your shoulders can be a daunting feat but the good news is that you get to decide just how big that weight is since you’re in control one hundred percent of the time. Not delegating does have its benefits and one of those is being behind the wheel of the vision you’ve had in your head this entire time. This may prove to be useful if you’re in the business of not butting heads with anyone and prefer having a bird’s eye view for the day to come. Conversely, having that person by your side who is equally invested in you will go above and beyond to make that happen.

2. Investment

Let’s not cover the sky with your hand here: both options on the table will put a dent on your finances. From a simple, one-hour elopement to a ten hour destination wedding, either choice will not come cheap. This section isn’t about money as much as it involves deciding just how much you’re willing to invest in a day that will (hopefully) come once in your life. A few factors to consider when taking budget into consideration is your current financial state of affairs. If you’ve got a heavy mortgage, paying a premium on a luxury vehicle, up to your neck in student debt or simply lack the savings on which to fall back, then eloping with a handful of folks or, at most, having a micro-wedding is going to look like a viable option.

Like with all matters of life, there’s a flip side to every coin. If you’re one of those couples that has always wanted to experience getting married like royalty and/or you’re affluent enough that a few thousands wouldn’t matter as much then a full-blown wedding might just be up your alley. What exactly does that entail? Well, for starters hiring a solid planner to tie up loose ends is a good start. Right after that comes entrusting the documentation to a reknowned Puerto Rico destination wedding photographer like myself. If you’re willing to spend this amount of money to commemorate your big day, the last thing you want to do is to allocate that responsibility to someone not experienced enough to know what they’re doing. Details, getting ready, first looks, the ceremony, bride and groom sessions, cocktail hour and reception are all moments that you’re going to want to capture and coverage like that will not be inexpensive. Add to that the venue rental, catering, musicians, floral arrangements and all of a sudden you’re looking at a pretty penny.

At the end of the day, what matters is how you feel, not what you spent.

One thing is certain: money comes and goes. When it’s all said and done you have to check the wallet and ask yourself one very important question: if I’m going to do this only once, will I be happy with something low-key and modest or will I eventually regret not having the wedding of my dreams? Only you can answer that.

Whatever you choose, make sure it will make you happy.