Sony & Hilliard Wedding in Jamaica

Visiting a place that is far from anything I usually experience, gets me inspired. When time is limited I have to make the best of it, and I found Jamaica to be an incredible place containing great beauty and poverty. Sometime mid-July I got a phone call. My former boss Hilliard, and his fiancee Sony asked me to be their photographer for their wedding in Jamaica (November 3rd). The realization that I could have an all-expenses-paid for the trip, something I’ve never experienced, and traveling with my family got me very excited! Passports arrived about a month later, and a couple of months after that we arrived at the Riu Palace resort in Montego Bay, Jamaica.

Overview of Riu Palace

Below is a preview of my architecture series, Riu Palace, Montego Bay Jamaica.

RIU Palace Resort in Jamaica no.15
Visiting Riu Palace Resort in Jamaica. This was taken in the early morning before the wedding.
RIU Palace Resort in Jamaica 14
The view outside of our bedroom the evening Jen and I (and Elon) arrived.
RIU Palace Resort in Jamaica no.5
Riu Palace at night

I took this stepping outside of the rehearsal dinner in the Palace’s amazing dining hall.
This trip would not have been possible if it weren’t for Sony & Hilliard paying us for our travel expenses. One of the reasons Jen and I were chosen to be their wedding photographers was because I did their engagement session.

Hilliard Sony Engagement-24
This is a callback to this post about their engagement photoshoot in Detroit.

Detroit to Atlanta

All of us getting ready to jump on a plane to Jamaica
With printed off-boarding information in hand, here we are at 6 am arriving at the Detroit Metro Airport the day before the wedding. This was my first time booking a vacation with a travel agent.

Leaving for three nights
Looking out of our plane window as we were about to depart.
Atlanta Airport Metro
Atlanta Airport Metro

I took this from the back of the subway train after we arrived at the Atlanta airport, about to board the plane to Jamaica.

Atlanta to Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, Jamaica

The first thing that hits you even after just getting into the airport is the heat. Jamaica is a very hot place, even in November.

Jordan and Jen selfie from Jamaica airlines airport
Our selfie picture as we arrived

The following series is part of my series Roadside Driveby.

Snapshots while driving to Riu Palace no.2
Snapshots while driving to Riu Palace no.2
Snapshots while driving To and From Riu Palace no.14
Snapshots while driving To and From Riu Palace no.14

Arrival at Riu Palace

Once Jen found out there was going to be unlimited food and drinks at the resort she went from excited to very excited!

Jen following bellhop without luggage to our room at Hotel Riu
Jen following bellhop without luggage to our room at Hotel Riu

In-between our arrival and wedding to photograph the next day, we spent the rest of our time eating food at the luxurious all-you-can-eat buffet and putting Elon down early that night.

Jen and Elon lounging at the Riu Palace resort beach
Jen and Elon lounging at the Riu Palace resort beach

Selected Images from Sony & Hilliard’s Wedding Day

Sony and her Bridesmaids
Sony and her Bridesmaids
Hilliard and his groomsmen
Hilliard and his groomsmen
Sony walking down the aisle
Sony walking down the aisle
Sony and Hilliard at the altar
Sony and Hilliard at the altar
Sony and Hilliard exchanging rings
Sony and Hilliard exchanging rings
Just married!
Just married!
Wedding party group shot
Wedding party group shot

Romantics in Montego Bay

After the ceremony and some dinner, I headed out to photograph some romantics. Hilliard previously had arranged a cab to show us some good local spots. Our driver knew what was up and took us to four very interesting and beautiful places.
Sony and Hilliard Wedding Selects 24 Sony and Hilliard Wedding Selects 25 Sony and Hilliard Wedding Selects 27 Sony and Hilliard Wedding Selects 29 Sony and Hilliard Wedding Selects 31 Sony and Hilliard Wedding Selects 33 Sony and Hilliard Wedding Selects 36
This last selected romantic was taken in an abandoned cafe. I have more images of this abandoned cafe here.

Excursion after the Wedding

The next day we headed out on an excursion. Our boat tour was complete with snorkeling, swimming under a cave, and cliff jumping from Rick’s Cafe. We had some time, so we went for a swim. This was Jen and Elon’s first swim in the ocean.

Jen pulling my hand into the ocean in Jamaica
Jen pulling my hand into the ocean in Jamaica

Scuba Caribe 05 Scuba Caribe 41 Scuba Caribe 42 Backflip Composite near Cafe Ricks in Jamaica 3 Backflip Composite near Cafe Ricks in Jamaica 4

Jen to take turns jumping from Rick’s Cafe
Jen to take turns jumping from Rick’s Cafe

Ricks Cafe 09 Ricks Cafe 12

The guy next to Jen only told her to jump to the side, otherwise, she would hit the cliffs. I think this was partly the reason for what happened next. She wasn’t thinking of the landing, no, she was thinking about the cliff! I jumped before this by the way, and there was no way you could hit the cliff… maybe next time dude, let people know how they should land.

Jen being wheeled in the hospital, not exactly very happy at this point. She ended up having two broken wrists. This picture I snuck shows two men putting a plaster cast on each wrist
Jen being wheeled in the hospital, not exactly very happy at this point. She ended up having two broken wrists. This picture I snuck shows two men putting a plaster cast on each wrist
Jen Broken Wrists in Jamaica 1
Jen Broken Wrists in Jamaica 1
This whole group was so supportive to us and just awesome to work with and get to know
This whole group was so supportive to us and just awesome to work with and get to know

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