Vieques Wedding at the W hotel outside of Puerto Rico- a beautiful destination wedding

I wouldn't blame you if you had never heard of Vieques Island before. it's a tiny secluded island off the coast of puerto rico with a population of only 9,000 people.  Over half of that, is a wildlife refuge.

but, it is one of the most beautiful islands i have ever been to. 

wild ponies roam the island, and have full free rein of anywhere they would like to walk, including right up to your hotel room door. 

The morning after this (absolutely stunning) wedding I photographed I woke up at dawn to snorkel in the coral reefs.  at one point while i was near the shore, i pulled my head out of the water to see a rainbow arching over three palm trees on a cliff. it was so beautiful i just treaded water for a minute and stared at this gorgeous scene.  and then... like in a dream... three wild horses appeared on the cliff under the rainbow. i swam ashore to grab my camera, and they trotted down the cliff to the beach just a few feet from where i was standing.  they had themselves a good roll in the sand, a little drink of water, and a nice morning stretch.  

basically.... it was the most incredible thing i had ever witnessed...

Until later that night.  

you see, Vieques is home to one of the wonders of the world- the bio-luminescent bay.  The W Hotel on vieques island helped me secure a guide and we took a rickety old van out into the wilderness at midnight. I wasn't even sure we were going to make it- we were basically completely off-roading it through a very primitive dirt 'road' that could be better characterized by a series of giant pot holes and mud paths over grown with vegetation. Finally, we reached our destination, and using only headlamps we pulled out the kayaks, walked through the marsh land, and set them into the water.  

after having lived in Florida for many years, and knowing the kind of creatures that inhabit marshlands.... i just had to breathe deeply and put my full trust in the guide. 

we paddled out- without any light of the moon. the silence was incredible, and so were the stars.  black water below me, black sky above that looked like someone had spilled glitter all over it. 

and then it began to happen... very little at first, but growing much stronger the further out i paddled into the black. 

the water was literally glowing florescent green! each time i dipped my paddle into the water, a flurry of lumescence would surround it.

The bio-luminescent bay is home to a huge number of microscopic dinoflagellates, that when disturbed, light up like a firefly.  you can see it best in the dead of night, when there is no moon out, which is why we were taking our kayak tour so late at night. 

each time a fish swam under the kayak, the disturbance of the water would light up the dinoglagellates so that we could see the outline of the fish.  I was even able to identify (small) sharks, and a multitude of stingrays- with their easily identifiable shape.  night-time is an incredible and often over-looked time to view wildlife and experience nature. fish were jumping out of the water into our kayaks, and it was just an overall incredible experience. 

it would make perfect sense why someone would want to get married at the W hotel in Vieques Island- it's the perfect balance between luxury relaxation, wildlife conservation, and adventure. 

destination wedding photographer, Lexia Frank, photographs this destination wedding at Vieques island at the W hotel on film, as she is a film wedding photographer 
Destination Wedding photographer, Lexia Frank, photographs this destination wedding at the W hotel at Vieques Island puerto rico. 

Dana and Timo- a couple originally from Germany now living in NY, chose to get married here on the cliff over looking the water, and have their reception on the beach itself.  Their intimate reception on the beach was really just so incredible. completely surrounded by friends and family and undisturbed by the rest of the world. After dinner, they ended their night with sparklers, lanterns, and a bonfire on the beach with guests wrapped up in blankets and pillows with a guitarist playing all through the evening.  I can not imagine a more perfect wedding if I tried. 

Destination wedding photographer, Lexia Frank, a film photographer, photographs this Vieques Wedding at the W hotel in Puerto Rico 
black and white image of sea fan at this destination wedding at the W hotel in Vieques Island, while Destination wedding photographer Lexia Frank photographs this destination wedding in vieques on film, as she is a film photographer 
champagne is poured at this destination wedding at the W hotel in Vieques Island Puerto Rico while Destination wedding photographer Lexia Frank photographs this vieques Wedding Photographer on film 
view of the beach at Vieques Island at the W hotel at this Destination Wedding at the W hotel in Vieques photographed on film by Destination wedding photographer Lexia Frank, a film photographer 
destination wedding photographer, Lexia Frank, a film photographer for weddings, photographs this destination wedding at vieques island at the W hotel, as a bride gets her makeup done at this vieques island wedding 
Destination Wedding photographer, Lexia Frank, photographs this destination wedding at the W hotel in Vieques Island on film as she is a film photographer who shoots destination weddings in puerto rico 
the groom's jacket hangs outside his room at this destination wedding in vieques island at the W hotel while destination wedding photographer, Lexia Frank, a film photographer shooting destination weddings worldwide photographs their vieques island …
Destination wedding photographer, LExia Frank, photographs this vieques island wedding at the W hotel on film, as she is a film photographer shooting weddings at the W hotel in vieques island 
Vieques island is beautiful where Destination WEdding photographer, Lexia Frank, photographed a beautiful modern destination wedding at the W hotel on Vieques Island on film, she is a film photographer focusing on destination weddings worldwide 
handwritten vows in german are written the morning of the wedding at this destination wedding at the W hotel in Vieques Island photographed by Destination wedding photographer, LExia Frank, who is a film photographer who travels worldwide to shoot w…
Destination wedding photographer lexia frank photographs this Vieques Island Wedding at the W hotel for this destination wedding - lexia is a film photographer focusing on destination weddings 
bride walks down the aisle crying at her Vieques ISland wedding at the W hotel. the wind catches her veil as Destination Wedding Photographer Lexia Frank photographs their wedding on film, as she is a destination wedding photographer and film photog…
a groom recites his vows under the white canopy during his destination wedding at Vieques Island photographed by Destination Wedding Photographer, Lexia Frank, a film photographer specializing in destination weddings and luxury weddings worldwide.&n…
Guests use beautiful shade umbrellas for weddings to shield their faces from the sun during this Destination Wedding at the W hotel on Vieques Island Puerto Rico photographed by Destination wedding photographer, Lexia Frank, a film photographer spec…
bride and groom kiss under their bamboo chuppa at their Vieques Island Wedding at the W hotel while Destination wedding photographer Lexia Frank photographs their wedding on film 
destination wedding photographer Lexia Frank photographs this modern Vieques Island Wedding off the coast of Puerto Rico at the W hotel- lexia is a film photographer photographing destination weddings in vieques island puerto rico 
Destination Wedding Photographer Lexia Frank photographs this modern wedding at the W hotel in vieques island wedding- inside the W hotel there are modern cement sculptures and reclaimed wood walls. Lexia is a wedding film photographer focusing on d…
Destination wedding photographer LExia Frank photographs a modern wedding in Vieques Island Puerto Rico at the W hotel on film, as she is a film photographer shooting destination weddings worldwide 
Destination Wedding Photographer Lexia Frank photographs this beautiful modern Vieques Island Wedding at the W hotel off the coast of Puerto Rico-  bride and groom lounge in a modern neon lounge chair on the beach as lexia photographs the weddi…
Vieques Island Wedding Photographer LExia Frank photographs this beautiful and modern destiantion wedding at Vieques Island at the W hotel in Puerto Rico, lexia is a film photographer that focuses on destination weddings 
a bride and groom have their reception on the beach at this destination wedding at the W hotel on Vieques Island Puerto Rico photographed by Destination Wedding Photographer, Lexia Frank, a film photographer specializing in destination weddings in p…
a wedding reception on the beach at this modern wedding in vieques island puerto rico at the w hotel vieques island wedding where Destination Wedding Photographer Lexia Frank photographed a modern wedding on film, as she is a film photographer for w…
Destination wedding photographer, Lexia Frank, photographs this modern wedding at the W hotel in Vieques Island, where the bride chose to have the wedding reception on the beach with modern chairs and decor for her wedding. she is a film photographe…
stones are stacked on the beach at Vieques Island Puerto rico at this modern destination wedding at the W hotel on Vieques island puerto rico- while Destination wedding photographer Lexia Frank photographs this wedding on film  
wild horses roam the island at vieques island in puerto rico where destination wedding photographer LExia Frank photographed this modern vieques island wedding at the W hotel on film as she is a film photographer for weddings
a handmade and hand-lettered wooden guestbook is pictured here at this wedding that Destination Wedding Photographer, Lexia Frank, photographed at the W hotel in Vieques Island Puerto Rico. Lexia is a film photographer specializing in destiantion we…
the couple shares a first dance on the beach surrounded by sparklers and a bonfire at the modern vieques island wedding at the w hotel in puerto rico photographed by destination wedding photographer Lexia Frank - a film photographer for weddings&nbs…

How to Never Look Awkward in Photos Again- get rid of your double chin in photographs

So excited to launch these video tutorials! I started this just for my clients, because I found myself repeating the same things at every shoot and wedding I shot, but thought everyone could benefit from this information. These simple little tricks that are SO EASY to do, and make you look like a veritable super model.  

Have you ever seen a photo of yourself and just thought "I hate this picture of me. is that really what I look like? I feel like in real life I look better than that... at least I hope"  

The truth is, you do. That one millisecond in time is not a true representation of how you look normally. The photographer probably just caught you at an awkward time. You don't normally have a double chin, but look! there it is for all eternity in the photogrpah! A double chin! 

get rid of the double chin and stop looking awkward in photos that are taken of you with a really simple trick that takes two seconds. it's a modeling secret that anyone can employ to smooth out neck wrinkles and get rid of the double chin. Lexia is…

(That's me up there- looking awkward. )

In this video series (i'll be posting weekly on monday) I'll be teaching you how to pose like a super model- and how to get comfortable doing so- so that when you are in front of the lens on your wedding day or at our session it will feel like second nature and you'll feel natural and relaxed. 

This first video is one of the most basic concepts that you'll use in virtually every other video tutorial- so go practice! 

and, in case you dont believe me and need more factual proof- i forced by husband to also be in front of the camera. he was a good sport. double chin/awkward neck  vs pretty decent headshot. there you have it my friends. 

an example of poor posing in photographs- head over to www.lexiafrank.com/blog to see how to get rid of the double chin in photos
learn how to get rid of the double chin in photographs by destination wedding photographer lexia frank. www.lexiafrank.com/blog 

 

Disclaimer: the following rules of 'posing' are lovely tricks used by professionals to bring out the best possible version of our traditional standards of beauty.  Everyone wants to feel like their best possible version- and that is all fine and great- but lets also take this grain of salt with the grain of salt that reminds us that real moments are beautiful (regardless of double chin or not) and that being ourselves and comfortable in our bodies in whatever form they take at that moment is also very valid and beautiful. sometimes, we need to forget about makeup and body image standards for a minute, like this shoot i did here. 

A real genuine laugh, whether towards the camera or away, is better than no laugh at all (double chin inducing or not).  Don't overthink it and have a good time! 

The Wedding Style Forecast for 2015

I dont really know any other profession that asks people to jump in and start running when they've never had any experience at all in the field. And that is what planning a wedding is like. how many times has someone thrown a party with a full dinner and entertainment for 50-500 people before? and everyone wants their wedding to be beautiful and stylish and unique and a reflection of their personalities... but it is a lot to juggle, especially if this is your first time.

You may have seen cute little things floating on pinterest that seem like good ideas, but then fitting all your ideas into one cohesive event can be a challenge. Or, through the process of planning and designing you decide half-way through that what you liked 6 months ago is not necessarily your true style. It was only through immersion in the wedding industry did you find out what you really like. 

So, here i am to give you a fairly comprehensive list of style trends for 2015.  What is deader than a doornail, and what is up and coming.


OUT:

 

Mason Jars. Mason jars with cutesy striped straws. Mason jars with straws with flags. mason jars with candles in them, mason jars hanging from wire, mason jars of any kind shape or form of any kind of function.  Unless you are getting married in a barn or in a mason jar factory, lets let the mason jar fad fade away. 

Shabby Chic. this includes distressed dressers, collection of mis-matched shabby vintage items on display,  etc

'vintage'.   the actual word 'vintage' is technically used to describe any time in history, however in the wedding industry it's used synonymously with 'shabby chic'. As in 'I'm getting a vintage typewritter for my guestbook', or "I think  I'll use vintage mason jars for centerpieces'. or 'i got a bunch of vintage picture frames i want to hold up and peek my head through while you take a picture.'  the 'vintage' trend has thankfully been replaced by a more refined old-time glamour (think downton abbey or The Great Gatsby instead of Sweet Home Alabama) 

barn weddings. because things like shabby chic, vintage, and mason jars fit so well with barns, and because people are now tired of those same things, barn weddings have fallen out of favor

cupcakes. it's no secret, i love me a good cupcake.  but, i'm also a traditionalist. the cake is SUCH a beautiful work of art and a focal point of the wedding reception. it's like your own personal sculpture.... THAT YOU CAN EAT.  Though cupcakes can give lots of variety, cakes can too.  Cupcakes take up lots of un-necessary awkward space, and they lack the impact a beautifully designed wedding cake has.  save your cupcakes for a bakery treat that you can get any old time, and appreciate a beautifully designed wedding cake.  when else are you going to treat yourself to a cake like this?

strapless gowns.  CAN  I GET AN AMEN?!  look. i don't have anything against strapless. I do, however, have some beef with the weird skin rolls we all (admit it, all of us) get with skin pooches rolling over the top of the dress by our armpits. and the fact that we have to keep hiking them up all day long. and the fact that there have been, on multiple occasions, wardrobe malfunctions with a little slip-of-the-nip that happens during the reception. This is how it typically goes: "hi, i think you may have gotten a photograph with my bridesmaids nipple exposed.. is there a way to photoshop that out?' it's been a long run with these strapless wedding gowns, and i bid them (and nip-slips) adieu. 

satin gowns. i dont know why it took so long for them to die. it was like the 80s went straight into the 90s and it just.kept.going.  they're being replaced with flowy gowns that you can move in AND look gorgeous. more on that later...

bridesmaids wearing the same dresses.  In what other time or place are we like 'lets all dress exactly the same, regardless of our personal tastes or body types. that would be awesome!' . 

knick-knacks.  i'm not sure why this trend started (is it part of being shabby chic?) but for a time there were all these extraneous 'knick knacks' for decor at weddings. like little vignettes of randomness throughout the day. i'm so happy to see a focus on the essential and meaningful items of the wedding now. 

Trash the Dress sessions.  oh holy hannah hallelujah!  nothing spells classy like rolling in the mud in your strapless wedding gown. i still love doing a little photoshoot the following day of the couple if it is a destination wedding and we want to get a little more local flavor imbued in the photo gallery, or perhaps the timeline didn't allow for photos the day-of, but i'm seeing a real resurgence in the photojournalistic aspect of wedding days play the most important role- instead of the one-upmanship of how crazy/out there/unique a photographer can get with a creative idea.

WHAT I WISH WERE ALREADY DEAD:

 

Boudoir Albums as Wedding Gifts: I could not possibly come up with a more awkward situation in the entire world than giving the groom an album of sexy boudoir photography on the day of his wedding when he's surrounded by his groomsmen and dad and asking the photographer to photograph it to get his reaction.  For his sake, for my sake, for everyone's sake.... get him a classy present for the wedding day.  save the boudoir album for your first night on your honeymoon. 

the wedding adjectives.  'whimsical, ethereal, bohemian vintage with a modern twist'. lets call a spade a spade and remember that this is a ceremony, a party, a reunion, and a union. Lets not take ourselves too seriously and use over-flowery adjectives to describe an event that just focuses on the style of the wedding. lets remember what it is really about. 

super-saturated colored uplighting in reception ballrooms.  This one is still hanging around, but i'd like to see it fade into more natural lighting. Stylish weddings all have one thing in common- understated timeless elegance.  and, blue and magenta uplighting in your ballroom says more 'fish bowl mixed with rave party' than 'timeless elegance that will never go out of style' 

naked cakes. i'm sad to see this one go (i think they are so beautiful!) but, in true practicality there is nothing worse than an un-frosted cake. you put an un-frosted cake out on display and within 15 minutes that thing is dried out and nasty. the reason cakes have frosting is to seal the moisture inside, creating not just a beautiful display, but also a tasty one too. lets love our cakes and put some clothes on them. no one likes an immodest cake (the shame!). 

Choosing a wedding 'style' that is so-not-you but you saw it on pinterest so you did it anyway.  were you raised on a farm in alabama? is your home decor burlap and grandma's lace?  no? you actually live in Manhattan and your home decor is ultra modern and your preferred clothing of choice is a suit?  well... lets not have a barn wedding then, just because it's on pinterest. 

Treating the wedding day like a senior photography photoshoot.  the point of hiring a photographer is not to get as many posed portraits of you and your fiance in every beautiful location in the city.  Tt's to photographically tell the story of your day, so that your album reads like a visual book with a cohesive beginning middle and end, instead of a set of disjointed images that dont work together as a group. 

floral crowns. i really really do love floral crowns. but i think this is going to be one of those things we look back on and say 'gosh, i feel kind of silly' - especially if you're not a bohemian type of girl and are actually a type-A personality business woman. 

bowties and vintage clothing for guys. guys are being less 'cutesy vintage' and more Don Draper Dapper (say that three times fast). I think this comes from the desire to have a 'timeless' wedding that looks like it could be from yesteryear. the problem is... timeless means 'without time period'. and when you dress in a clothing style from a certain era- it tends to look more 'costume' than 'timeless'.  so choose a traditional tux instead- something that has always been in fashion and will remain so. 

the garter toss.  Always an awkward tradition while grandma is sitting next to you watching this all unfold

the bird cage veil.  I love a good bird cage veil- but sometimes it can look 'costume-y' and there are so many other beautiful veil options... see below.

Bridezillas. enough said. 

 
destination wedding photographer, Lexia Frank, photographs this napa valley wedding  on film - she is a film photographer for weddings focusing on destination weddings, luxury weddings, and ethnic weddings 
 

 IN: 

 

Using your wedding day for good causes. Companies like Black Sheep Bride are celebrating weddings that give back and educating brides on ways they can utilize their day (and the massive amount of money that is spent on one day) for charity. 

gowns that flow, have sleeves, are lightweight, and beautifully elegant.  check out what Ellie Saab, Claire Pettibone, and BHLDN are doing this year. backless is in style and anything that moves in the wind.  as a photographer, this makes me very, very , very happy! here are some of my most favorites

understated elegance: floral designs that have asymmetry and texture that feels effortlessly thrown together instead of perfectly manicured spheres of flowers. like all of these incredible displays

outdoor receptions lit with candlelight and long tables that go on for ages like these examples

Calligraphy instead of type- the more elegant the better. check these out by clicking here

a focus on the food-  not only are we seeing more platted dinners with food elegantly displayed, but brides are paying attention to things like calligraphed menus for each guest at their place setting. midnight meals (hello food trucks!) are being featured when the guests need a break from dancing and celebrating .  

Mixologists.  along with the greater attention on food, it's presentation, and the design that goes along with it-  drinks are getting the same kind of love. Companies like The Grand Bevy are taking drinks to the next level- creating art pieces in and of themselves. 

Destination weddings.  with family members spread out across the US and having to buy plane tickets to attend a wedding regardless, it makes sense to have the wedding venue in a beautiful destination. And, with wedding vendors specializing in destinations and traveling, you can have everything you wanted for your wedding at your new destination. gone are the days of having to hire local wedding vendors. check out these venues by clicking here

Cakes as art pieces-  check it out here

pyrotecnics- the basic sparkler has been replaced by some seriously awesome effects.  sparkler exit? how about fireworks going off as the getaway car drives away. though not technically pyro-  confetti bombs will be big this year and to come during the first dance. HALLELUJAH! please, though, seriously.... one of my brides... can you do a confetti cannon for your first dance? preferably with metallic confetti so the light catches it just right.....  you can see it all by clicking here.

WHAT I WISH WERE IN:

 

Veils. you guys.... i mourn inside my heart every time i photograph a wedding where the bride doesn't wear a veil.  there are SO MANY BEAUTIFUL OPTIONS, and at no other time in your life will you have the option to wear a veil. and it's SO beautiful in photos.  lets bring this beautiful traditional style back in, even if it's just for the ceremony. click here to see all the different ways you can style a veil

Bold Statements: who says weddings have to all be blush, gold, and white?  Where  my Frida Kahlo's at? don't be afraid to introduce a bold pattern or color or statement piece into your wedding.  Click here to take a look at some of the art installations you could do.

Headpiece Crowns. Not like a 'i bought this at Claires for my Junior Prom and i feel like a princess' kind of crown- but more of a headpiece. check it out here

artists who paint the reception or ceremony scene right there at your wedding like greg kalamar   

candles, ribbon, cloth. - check out Frou Frou Chic  or Silk and Willow for the most glorious hand-dyed ribbon ever and fabrics ever.

Honoring your heritage and culture and imbuing age-old traditions in your ceremony. i have lots of pinterest boards for different cultures weddings, go check it out by clicking here.

A focus on the photojournalistic aspect of wedding photography instead of being perfectly posed and placing the emphasis on the photographer photographing the wedding decor instead of the connections between people. read this if you haven't already

laughter. i mean, i love the quiet moments of the wedding day as much as anyone. but i'm tired of the straight faced super model poses and long for heartfelt belly laughs and genuine emotion. lets make that happen in 2015 shall we?