Antigua, Guatemala Destination Wedding | part 1

Weddings

Mar 31

Written By Kami Olavarria

Details

Date 03.16.19

Location Antigua, Guatemala

Awards Wedding of the Year 2019 on Junebug Weddings!

Published On BRIDES

Antigua, Guatemala destination Wedding

To say this destination wedding in Antigua, Guatemala was the wedding of my career would be a massive understatement. Preparing words for this two-part blog post was really tough because it still all feels like a dream. I don’t necessarily classify myself as a destination wedding photographer, but having the opportunity to photograph Brogen and David’s wedding in Antigua was one of the highlights of my life not only professionally but personally too. It was one of the greatest adventures of my life and totally lit a fire in my heart to travel more! I’ve gotten to know this couple and become such good friends with them over the last year and gotten to know their circle. We had the entire hotel to ourselves which basically felt like the most epic summer camp of all-time. I can’t describe how much fun it was exploring an adventuring with this group of people the days leading up to the wedding. It was such a special experience I will cherish forever and I love the friendships that have blossomed as a result!

I’ve always been an open book and I’m not going to sugar-coat it – this was easily the most nervous I’ve ever been for anything ever. Imposter syndrome is real and I was feeling it A LOT the year leading up to this wedding. Brogen is an incredible wedding photographer who I have looked up to for years and it was so crazy that she asked ME to shoot her wedding - it was such a dream come true! It was hard to believe it was happening until we were on the plane on the way there. Actually to this day it still barely feels real – I look at the images and surprise myself and am like “omg did that actually happen? Did I take those?!”

One of my biggest fears I had leading up to this wedding would be any regret I’d feel afterwards. As creatives (but I’m sure most people in general too), we are our toughest critics. I was pretty scared that I wouldn’t measure up to my own standards for what I wanted these images to be. I was so nervous that I’d have regrets and wish I did things differently or approached something different. But I can 100% confidently say that there isn’t a SINGLE thing I would have done different AND THAT FEELS SO GOOD. I have never been so proud of anything I’ve done before! I am so proud of my ability to give my best and do my best work even when I am the most nervous I’ve ever felt. I’m extremely proud of these images and have been so excited to share them with you all.

Huge thank you to Brogen and David for trusting me to capture this INCREDIBLE celebration and giving me the opportunity of a lifetime. Huge thank you to my husband Victor for coming with me, location scouting, and being my rock when I was freakin out haha. And a huge massive thank you to Amanda Vanvels for coming to assist me and second shoot for me. Your steady presence kept me calm and focused and the storytelling images you added truly complete this gallery. I will forever cherish this time I had with you and I can’t thank you enough!

This was such a fun experience - my first true real ‘destination’ wedding. I had a blast and I welcome the opportunity to do it again!! hint hint hint universe!

Enjoy part 1! Featured in part 1 is getting ready, first look, portraits, and the ceremony. Party 2 will be the party, reception details, and some more portraits. In part 2 I’ll talk a bit more about the wedding itself, but I couldn’t NOT open this up and talk about my own experience a bit because this was an extremely personal project for me. <3