‘This wedding is split across 4 posts to allow each part of the wedding to shine’.

So, this is where it all started. I touched down in Puerto Rico honored and ready to document the amazing wedding of Amber Ridinger and Duane McLaughlin. Destination weddings are amazing, but they also have their negatives. Issues with visa’s, tiredness and working out of your comfort zone can be a challenge bigger than some assume. However one of the biggest reasons why I shoot mainly destination weddings is because I tell stories. I arrive a stranger but leave as family. For me this hold weight far bigger than a transaction. I will live my life documenting people and making friendships. Connecting to two with my art completes me and when I am old, I will look back and smile over the value I have created in peoples life. Most destination weddings span across a number of days and involve a number of events. This wedding started here, on an amazing beach in the Ritz Carlton Puerto Rico. 

The small details are important. They hold the key for many triggered memories and tell the story of why a couple decided on that particular destination.  I arrived with my assistant Yiannis to find Duane in the sea, feeling right at home kite-surfing, this is where it all started. Hanging out with people, observing them, their family and friends to build a mental picture of their story is why I shoot stories. I am more focused on a series of images over single imagery. It is a case of watching, building trust and connections first. Trust is a major part of what I do and I know at this stage I had their trust…..this was precious to me. After some fun times on the sand, friends and family started to casually arrive, so naturally where is there life, there are stories and moments. It was beautiful to see people come together and embrace this experience. When I saw Duane’s reaction when he first saw his ‘Boyz’ I knew how special this day would be for him. So I introduced myself to his friends and after no time I was accepted into the crew as one of the ‘Boyz’, the only Greek one which gave me immense pride. Now it was a case of documenting the moments between friends, the moments they will all remember for ever. I thank Duane and Amber again for allowing me to be a part of their personal memories.

So the big day has come upon us. Anxiety, passion and anticipation set the undertone as we arrived at Duane’s suite to document his preparations. Duane is an artist at heart, meaning, like me, he approaches life with his heart on his sleeve. We could all see his excitement to want to see his future wife walk down the isle. Duane started off relaxing with his closets friends ‘the boyz’ which lead to him being pushed into a cold dunking pool, which as you could imagine, woke him up. After a super dope hair cut, Duane started to prepare his special unique wedding suit, in fact it was his Grandfathers. Duane’s Grandfather was a special man indeed. He was the fist black man to deep sea dive….. with one leg. In fact his story was so powerful and touching, a film starting Robert De Niro and Cuba Gooding, Jr was made in his honor, ‘Men of Honor’. It was a very proud and emotion time for Duane, it was an experience to watch him prepare his Grandfathers medals. The best part was that no one knew he was wearing this….not even his family, thank you for allowing me to be witness to this Duane.

Amber had her preparations in a different part of the Ritz Carlton. The atmosphere was very different. It was calm, relaxing and all about detail. For me personally, I love the process of watching the transformation a woman takes from woman to a bride and when Amber put on her amazing dress, topped with the veil, everyone in the room stopped. The hairs on my arms raised and I could not even take pictures for a few minutes….It was magic. Amber had a custom J’aton Couture dress which was simply stunning. J’aton Couture dresses are amazing and Amber complimented the design with grace and pure beauty. She also had her custom pair of christian louboutin shoes to finish off her styling.Once Amber was dressed we proceeded to her amazing ceremony which was designed by Preston Bailey. Preston Bailey do not do things by half. The design, coordination, attention to detail and beauty of the ceremony was breathtaking, you can see that from the images. This was Ambers perfect fairytale wedding, for everyone to adsorb and enjoy. Amber is a beautiful, graceful, polite, compassionate and simply an amazing woman. Her style, taste, attention to detail and flair was all over the details of this wedding, but details are nothing without soul. The depth of love Amber and Duane share, runs deep. To see such a young couple in love is so refreshing and always reminds me of my loved ones. Amber’s personality is tribute to the love and dedication which comes from her parents Loren and JR who I am sure are very very proud of…. the apple never falls far from the tree. The ceremony was emotional. Duane being a man who his faith means a lot, meant the ceremony was that bit extra special. Personal readings from the couple and loved ones reflected the support and love the couple have. What an amazing love story we all witnessed before us. For me, I am always honored to be accepted to tell a persons story, but my connection with Amber and Duane has gone beyond that ‘client’ relationship and into a special friendship I will have for life….thank you guys.

The last post of the sequence is all about stillness, love and memory. The power of love is far more than a picture but if I am lucky enough to be able to capture just a small part of it frozen in time, then I am complete. A simple location, light and love set the mood. It is not about bells and whistles and over complicated imagery when it comes to this, but it is more about stillness and allowing love to come through. I don’t like to direct my couples, I just like to let them love each other in nice light that compliments them.  I shot most of the location shoot and wedding preparations on film, on my Contax 645 using Fuji Pro 400H . Shooting film and the whole philosophy of capture, mirrors what we see in these images. Analogue chemistry is like what is happening at the moment of shooting the couple. The fact that a moment is really recorded onto a negative and can not be deleted is beautiful. It is for life, it is not code or photoshop, it is pure raw and organic, just like Amber and Duane.

Amber looked amazing in her J’Aton wedding dress. The light was to die for but the magic was when Duane embraced her as her husband and for the first time Mr and Mrs McLaughlin had their first shoot…… magic.

Wow, was the most common reaction from guests as they walked into the reception room graced by the stunning design by Preston Bailey. The design here is not to be ignored. It is is Preston’s vision and trust from the couple in it’s full glory. The man power and 2 week construction which took over the Ritz Carlton was fully worth it when you walked in to see and feel what Amber visioned for her wedding reception. The couples reaction was priceless when they had their big walk through after the audience being treated to an amazing video created by Ray Roman from Ray Roman Films. A small 5 minute documentary showing the couples natural love prepared the guests for what will come of the evening…. love, passion, fun, youth and celebration. After some amazing words by Ambers father JR, and some emotional fist dances, the dance floor was fully open. We were all treated to an amazing set of performances by Mary J Blige, Maxwell, dj cassidy, Fat Joe and of course their close family friend Mark Anthony. The atmosphere on the dance floor was electric. To see close friends and a long list of artists, musicians, singers and actors all relax and come together to celebrate the happiness of Amber and Duane was amazing. Friendships were formed and many many memories have been set in stone from now on.

The amazing wedding and love story of Amber Ridinger and Duane Mclaughlin all took place in Puerto Rico. Design by Preston Bailey. The full story coming soon.

You can see some BTS shots of us using the light just below.

Credits:

Photographer / Videographer: Adam Angelides
Creative Director / Art Director: Yossi Fisher (Fisher & Moss)
Stylist: Oliver Vaughn
Hairstylist / MUA: Jolanda Coetzer
Model: Nika Lauraitis (Next Model Mgmt. – London)

Sarah looked amazing, full of beauty and grace as she walked down the isle to see her husband for the first time. I could talk for hours about how amazing the couple are but I will let their story do the talking. I will just add that the weather was the ‘pitts’, typical British weather, but God allowed some sun to come out for 15 minuets just in time for a few pictures of the couple after the church. I want to wish them all the very best for their future.