Last month I had the pleasure of spending a week mountain biking in Sedona Arizona with San Luis Obispo wedding photographer, Colin McVey and Phoenix Arizona wedding photographer, Riley Kimball. Both are accomplished shooters, mountain bikers and awesome guys to have on a trip like this. After a ten month long San Luis Obispo wedding photography season, our only criteria for the trip was to ride each day, eat lots of good food, sample the local spirits and to check out what Sedona had to offer to brides planning Sedona weddings.

Colin and I left San Luis Obispo at 5am in order to get a quick ride in before dark in Williams, AZ. After 10 hours or so in the car, we made it to Williams, which sits around 7000ft. Our selected trail head sent us straight up the side of a snow covered mountain which wreaked havoc on our stiff, long-distance-truck-driver legs. The way down was a lot of fun but, it took an hour for my hands to thaw out. After our Williams ride, we power drove the remaining hour or so to Sedona.

The next few days were spent riding (5 hours plus each day) and exploring Sedona wedding venues and wedding locations. Colin, Riley and I brought with us only our old photography school film cameras. The cameras included a Diana Mini, an LC-A (which is an old Soviet Union era 35mm – my fav.) as well as Polaroid’s and a Rangefinder. There wasn’t a digital camera amongst any of our cargo!

Sedona wedding photographers have it made as the backdrops are simply spectacular.

Sedona Wedding Venues

Tlaquepaque is a small Spanish style chapel with stained glass windows. The alter sits directly below an amazing mural of John the Baptist. The chapel also has a rustic patio area where a reception can take place.

Sedona wedding locations also include numerous golf courses that come fully equipped with everything you might need for your wedding day reception, ceremony or rehearsal dinner.

Many wedding sites in Sedona offer amazing views of the famous red rock landscape. Please see Sedona Wedding Professionals complete list of wedding and reception venues below.

Colin Michael Photo, as Colin McVey in Sedona, Arizona.

Riley shooting people at the Sedona red rock scenic overlook.

Toy camera drive by.

Dropping in – in Sedona.

Our Sedona hotel.

Gourmet food stop.

Still working….

More toy camera shots.

We ended up having a wonderful trip and I can’t say enough about how gorgeous a location Sedona is for your destination wedding. If you have any questions at all, please contact me anytime.

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Wedding Photographer Maui | Maui Wedding Photographers | Maui Wedding Photography | Maui Wedding Venues | Hawaii Wedding

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My recommended Maui wedding venues are listed below.

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The Grand Wailea Chepel is one of many chures or chapels on Maui. The wedding chapels on Grand Wailea Gazebo and Seaside Wedding Chapel are both close to the Grand Wailea Resort. I have no idea about the cost but, the locations are simply wonderful and this Maui Wedding Photographer would love to shoot your wedding here.

St. Johns Church is close to the Haleakala Crater in Kula. This location affords gorgeous views up above the busy urban locations below.

The Hyatt Regency Resort is in West Maui and has several intimate wedding sites which include the Statue Gardens and on onsite Wedding Chapel. This resort offers a complimentary of full wedding services including food and other wedding arrangements.

The Renaissance Wailea Resort has a private wedding venue called the Aloha Aina which features a waterfall behind where you stand during your vows. Gorgeous!

The Makena Cove or Makena Surf Beach is a great spot for your wedding. The Maui Prince Hotel is very close to these sites and offer a waterfall and/or garden courtyard location for your wedding.

The Tropical Gardens of Maui or Tropical Botanical Gardens are situated close to the Lao Mountain valley which is in Wailuku. The gardens have many places for a Maui wedding. The gardens offer a gorgeous gazebo and lush lawns.

In Makena, the South Maluaka Beach Park is a perfect setting for your Maui wedding. The beaches are hidden by steep cliffs and require no fees or permits.

The Seawatch wedding knoll in Wailea sits at the bottom of the Haleakala Crater. This is a very intimate wedding site for small groups. The views from this location are spectacular! The Seawatch is a dream Maui wedding photographers location.

The Kapalua Bay Hotel is on the west side of Maui and offers gorgeous sunsets. I suggest you consider an evening wedding to take advantage of the gorgeous skies and crisp peacefulness that comes with each passing day on Maui.

Kapalua Bay Beach is also on the west side of Maui. The last time I checked, this location required no permit for having your wedding celebration. Being a Maui wedding photographer, I love shooting weddings as the sun is going down on the west side of Maui.

Napili Bay Beach offers beautiful scenic views of rocky point which has room for only a few people. I caution you not to invite to many guests to this wonderfully intimate location.

For your convenience, I am listing some of the best Maui wedding beaches. The Cove Makena, Po’olenalena Makena, South Maluaka Makena, North Maluaka, Four Seasons Wailea, Polo Beach Wailea, Grand Wailea, Keawakapu Wailea, Ironwoods West Side, Kapalua Bay West Side, D.T. Flemming West Side

Here are some of my favorite Maui wedding resorts. Maui Prince Hotel, Kealani Hotel, The Four Seasons, Old Lahaina Lu’au, Outrigger Marriot, Seawatch, Sheraton, Diamond Resort, Grand Wailea

I suggest you consider Maui wedding estates for your Maui wedding venue. Check out the following: Olowalu Plantation, Makena Estate, Makawao Estate, Haiku Estate, Kihei Estate

Even in Maui couples sometimes prefer to be married in churches. A small list of churches/chapels for you to check out. Holy Innocents, Ka’anapali Ocean, Keawalai, Keolahou, Lahaina Methodist, Maria Lanakila

Be sure to check out the Lao Valley Garden which simply must not be forgotten in our list of gorgeous Maui wedding venue.

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Destination Wedding Photographer | Maui Wedding Photography | Maui Wedding Venues

The Caribbean has always been a region that seizes my sense of adventure and intrigues me with its rich history. Jamaica is a perfect place for Caribbean destination wedding.

Jamaica is smack dab in the middle of the Caribbean Sea and looks like a sore spot that doesn’t blend well with the rest of the Caribbean archipelago. The island host gorgeous resorts but, it is also full of a rich history that the rest of the Caribbean islands are lacking.

The original inhabitants of Jamaica came from South America 2000 years ago. These inhabitants were called the Arawaks and lived as tribal groups until the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1494. Spain’s first settlers were led by Juan de Esquivel who arrived about ten years after Columbus. At the time of the first European settlers, there were approximately 100,000 Arawaks. By the beginning of the 16^th century the Arawaks were completely wiped out due to their exposure to the foreigners diseases. This marked the beginning of the Caribbean as a place for foreigners to conquer and exploit for their own purpose.

Over the next 200 or so years sugar plantations were the dominant crop and required large amounts of manual labor. African slaves were brought over from Africa and the disgusting practice of human slavery in Jamaica was started. There were numerous slave uprisings throughout the history of the island and the horrible practice of slavery did not stop until the 1850s when foreign groups began to move to the island. Around 1900, Jamaica was seen as a destination for many different ethnic groups looking for a new start. This diversity helped Jamaica become a member of the West Indies Federation and helped lead the way to the passing of their constitution in the 1960s.

Today Jamaica offers its visitors a truly unique and distinct destination wedding or tourist experience. The island boasts some of the very best coffee in the world. The Blue Mountains coffee can be sampled at Mavis Bank where each individual cup is brewed (I can’t wait to give this a try!). There are literally hundreds of hiking and mountain bike trails that take you to the top of some of the island’s tallest peaks and featuring some of the most spectacular views in the world!

If you are thinking of planning a destination wedding, I suggest you consider Jamaica as an option. Bluephoto is the perfect choice for your Jamaica wedding photographer.  I am truly fascinated with this country and cannot wait to experience the rich history, fascinating people and gorgeous island landscape!

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Wedding Photographers Jamaica | Jamaica Wedding Photographers | Jamaica Wedding Venues | Jamaica Wedding

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