Sometimes the most extraordinary stories begin in the most unexpected ways.
One morning, I woke up from a dream so vivid it felt like it had actually happened. In it, my dear friend Allison had posted on her Instagram story looking for wedding vendors, and she didn’t have a photographer yet. The dream was so clear that I actually checked her Instagram, half-expecting to see the post.
When I realized it wasn’t real, I felt a nudge in my heart — so I reached out to her, shared my dream, and offered to photograph her wedding. Fast forward, and what began as a dream turned into reality: I had the honor of capturing Allison and Mike’s breathtaking destination wedding at the Hilton Tulum Riviera Maya All-Inclusive Resort in Tulum, Mexico.
This weekend was more than a wedding. It was a perfect blend of love, storytelling, and adventure.
A Private Moment, A Sacred Promise
One of the smallest yet most pivotal moments of my career happened with Allison and Mike during their private first touch.
They chose not to do a traditional first look, but instead a “first touch” — not to be seen, but to be felt.
Hands gently reached around the edge of a wall. Eyes closed. Hearts wide open. And in that stillness, they began to speak.
Vows were exchanged, not for an audience, but for each other. Whispered promises carried on trembling voices. Quiet tears fell, and time seemed to stand still.
No spotlight. No audience. Just presence — sacred, honest, and purposeful.
As I stood there with my camera in hand, I felt it deeply. I wasn’t just documenting a photo opportunity — I was standing in the presence of something profoundly meaningful and holy.
It’s moments like this that remind me why I do what I do.
Why a Destination Wedding in Tulum?
The Hilton Tulum Riviera Maya All-Inclusive Resort created the perfect backdrop for their celebration. Think turquoise water, swaying palms, ocean breezes, and all the beauty that comes with gathering your loved ones in a place that feels like paradise.
Destination weddings bring something special that local weddings often can’t replicate: the adventure of traveling together, the joy of making memories beyond the wedding day, and the intimacy of slowing down to savor every moment.
For Allison and Mike, this meant a weekend of laughter, beachside dinners, heartfelt toasts, and a dance floor that didn’t stop until the early morning.
It was everything they had dreamed of and more.
Love Beyond Location
Destination weddings are stunning, yet Allison and Mike reminded me of this truth: love is the true destination. My prayer is that every couple who steps in front of my lens experiences that same joy, intimacy, and celebration, no matter where their story takes them.
Inspirational for Future Couples
This wedding was a testimony to the beauty of saying yes to the unexpected — to dreams, to love, and to the sacred moments in between. If you’re a couple dreaming of a destination wedding, know that the place matters, and even more so, the love you carry matters most. Allison and Mike reminded me of that, and I pray every couple I meet feels just as seen, loved, and celebrated as they did in Tulum.
Final Thoughts
From a dream that sparked in the quiet of a morning to vows whispered in Tulum, Allison and Mike’s wedding was a reminder that love has a way of creating stories worth telling.
And I will never forget the privilege of capturing theirs.
Vendors
Planner: @hiltontulumallinclusive
Venue: @hiltontulumallinclusive
Photographer: @monicaterrerophotography
Hair & Makeup: @hiltontulumallinclusive
Caterer: @hiltontulumallinclusive
Florist: @hiltontulumallinclusive
Stationary: @hughescorpprinting_Bridal Part my gifts: @tallyhojewelers
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