To be honest, this epic Puerto Penasco Mexico wedding is really tough to sum up. How can we even put into words this amazing couple, the gorgeous beach wedding, and the party animals that partied all night long?! We are so honored to be there to capture the 2 day wedding of Cali & Efren in Mexico. We consider them friends at this point and they are stuck with us for liiiife!
Years ago, (yes, literally years ago because of the “he who must not be named” pandemic) Cali reached out to us because she found our Where to Elope in Mexico blog! We’re so damn happy she did because we’ve been building a friendship with her and Efren ever since. We trade countless dog photos and we hang out for coffee. By the time March 2023 came around we are both throwing our hands in the air like we just don’t care and yelling, “ABOUT DAMN TIME!”
day 1 : pre-wedding couple session
I arrive in Puerto Penasco, Mexico to The Sandcastle, an Airbnb that can sleep up to 50 right on the beach. To say that I’ve been treated like family for this wedding is just a complete understatement. We explore the venue, play on the beach, and even slide into the pool for their pre-wedding couple session. After the beach fun, we go to the pool and this is where Cali decided to slide in! As she’s sliding down the slide, in true Efren style, he took his hand away from a high-five at the very last minute. DUDE! You had one job, man!! HAHA! It’s so funny we almost die laughing!
day 2 : wedding day!
Efren’s family is from Mexico, so we have a big Mexican family here for this wedding. Cali’s family and friends are coming from the US. It’s this really cool gathering of people and cultures and we are ALLL about it.
Before we dive in, we just have to give a little PSA to the world: this Mexico wedding parties RIGHT! (check out the party surprises at the end of this post!)
The Sandcastle is it’s own little paradise on the beach
Camilla, the wedding planner, is just crushing it. I mean, the flowers are just everywhere: huge flower arrangements on the tables, large round arch on the beach, and don’t EVEN get us started on the dessert display. Although, let’s be honest, you had us at “dessert.” Not one, but TWO shelves full of desserts wowed everybody who walked in. The head table is also a showstopper. They had a rectangle arch behind them with flowers everywhere and then a neon sign with their last name in it and a beautiful table arrangement on the sweetheart table as well. So, goddamn, the flowers were just on point. And you know us, we nerd out about the flowers. So ya girl was low-key, not too low-key, obsessed all day.
wedding day first looks
Something we’ve learned about Cali throughout this process is that she creates intentional time with her people. She has first looks with her dad, both moms, as well as Efren. Cali & Efren’s first look is on the balcony, only after we do a fake first look with Efren’s best friend, dressed in a wedding dress.
We wander along the beach, take some gorgeous photos, laughing the whole time! These two have such a great sense of humor! One of our secrets to getting the best wedding photos is laughter so these two rocked it!
ring bearer and flower man dance down the aisle
They put on “big dick energy” and “starships” and they TORE IT UP. They dance down the stairs leading down to the ceremony, everyone is laughing so hard we’re crying! Pants might’ve been ripped in the making of these epic dance moves! We learn later that the pants ripping is a common occurrence and that just means the dance is on point.
The sun was setting as the ceremony is taking place and it’s absolutely beautiful!
bring on the night
It’s time to partaaaaaay!!! Mexico wedding parties are a bazillion times more epic and people dance until three or four in the morning. The party scene is just insane. Smoke machines. Sparklers. Inflatable unicorn. What else could you really ask for?! A 16 piece Mariachi band shows up and everyone got their freak on, dancing along.
Photography: Honeybee Weddings | Venue: The Sandcastle | Planning: Corazon Events | Furniture, Decor and Florals: Festiva Eventos | Hair & Makeup: Luis de la Rocha Makeup | Bridal Boutique: Christinna’s Bridal | Catering: D’leite by Chris Partida | DJ: DJ Dreams Official | Band: La Band del Chark | Rings: J and M Jewelry
You did an amazing job capturing Cali and Efren and their big weekend!! It made me tear up and feel like I was there celebrating with them since I couldn’t actually be there in person!
I LOVED capturing every bit of it! Cali & Efren are life long friends, I’m convinced! I’m really glad you liked it!