Capturing the Wedding Energy at Sandos Playacar:

An Adventurous Wedding Video in Playa Del Carmen

Last year, I had the utmost pleasure of joining my dear friends on their destination wedding.

I remember driving in the cold, crispy Ontario air in March 2022 and hearing my phone ring. It was my good high school friend Nick. I knew he was engaged, having met his new fiancée over facetime a year prior, so I had a feeling it had to do with his wedding ;)

When I first spoke with them in 2021, they were on the fence about hiring me as a videographer. But on this 2022 call, I was super excited to hear they had realized just how 'epic' it would be to have me record their wedding. A destination wedding at that– and it was coming up only 2 months later in May 2022!

Nick and Julie were getting married at an exquisite resort in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico: Sandos Playacar. I had recorded a wedding in this area in 2019, so I had a good idea that this wedding would be just as exciting! My goal was to showcase the stunning beachside setting of this destination along with the energetic love of the entire guest list.

The Teaser:

Getting to Sandos Playacar:

My assistant, Francis, and I got to the resort 2 days before the actual wedding. The airports were, thankfully, smooth to get through, and the shuttle from the Cancun airport to Sandos Playacar resort with also smooth. I require at least 1 full day at the destination for work like this, meaning I need to get to the venue 2 calendar days beforehand. This is due to the new environment, getting used to the area and locale, while slowly recuperating from any long-distance travel. And since I knew Nick from highschool, I also knew a lot of the groomsmen and guests. A total reunion on a fantastic backdrop of sea and sand– thank you for the fantastic time guys!

The Wedding Day:

On the day of the wedding, the weather couldn't have been more perfect. The sky was a clear blue and there was a gentle enough breeze to keep cool in our wedding shirts, pants and shoes. The ceremony was held on the beach, with the crystal-clear waters of the sea serving as the backdrop. I can only assume the weather was planned by the amazing wedding planner, Alianne of Ad Astra Co, and wedding coordinator Sofia!

Julie looked stunning in her elegant beach-ready dress, her hair styled in loose waves and bouquet of tropical flowers in her hand. Nick was handsome as always, navy suit all pressed with a look of pure joy and happiness on his face as he watched his bride walk down the aisle.

As Julie and Nick exchanged vows, we used 4 different cameras in total: 2 cameras on tripods and 2 cameras that Francis and I could move by hand. This allowed us to capture all necessary angles. The tripods to capture the essential coverage of the wedding, and the mobile cameras to capture the movement of the wedding party and bride down the aisle. Likewise, the freedom of movable cameras allowed us to capture any facial reactions, including wide-angle shots and close-ups of emotional moments.

After the ceremony, Francis and I split up. I followed the wedding guests to the cocktail hour and reception location to set up for the upcoming dinner speeches. I also used this time to capture a few candid shots of the guests mingling with each other. Francis stayed with the wedding party, capturing the photo session with the fantstic photographer, Dani Faulkenberry, and directing some movement out of the party. This added to the overall energy of the final film. 

Right after the photography session with the entire wedding party, I came back to the beach to join Francis and the photography team. At this time, we let the wedding party leave, but kept the couple on the water with us. This was my time to capture a few shots of just Julie and Nick on a romantic and candid walk along the beach, really capturing some unforgettable beachside views.

At the reception, we were prepared for the grand entrances. Since I came beforehand, we could start recording almost right away. The grand entrances of the wedding party, the parents and then the newlyweds and their first dance. As dinner came out, we began to hear the speeches of the maids of honour, the best man, and wrapping the toasts with a heartfelt speech of gratitude by Julie and Nick.

Then came the dancing. A mix of top Latin hits and top 40. I had to join in on the dancefloor myself ;)

The Wedding Film:

Post-Production:

In post-production, I had a blast going over all these memories. Spending countless hours carefully curating all the clips, sifting through the best footage, and creating a seamless and cohesive story that encapsulates the atmosphere of the entire celebration. Every time I edit a wedding film it's like I've gone back in time. During the whole editing process, I feel like I'm actually with the wedding party, and I have to psych myself out of believing I've actually spent the editing weeks with all of them. 

I used a variety of color correcting and grading techniques to give the whole film a cohesive look– very much needed as we were recording on different camera brands and models: the Leica SL2-S, Lumix S5, Sony A7Siii, and Sony A7iv.

Likewise, on par with my usual storytelling style, I used a few of my transition techniques and plugins, music and sound effects, and overall story arc.

The Final Product:

"The full video was beautiful Aaron it made Nick tear up so hard" – Julie 😉

The final product was a fantastic wedding piece that I believe perfectly captured the atmosphere and emotions of Julie and Nick's beachside wedding at the Sandos Playacar in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico. They sounded overjoyed with the package (which included a teaser, the wedding film, the ceremony and the speeches) and really felt like best friends the whole time. The video was even rewarded as Video Of The Day by the international WEVSY.

Conclusion:

We were thrilled to be a part of Julie and Nick's special day and to have had the opportunity to tell their love story on film. Crafting an emotional destination wedding video is no easy feat, but with careful planning and a creative eye, I think any aspiring destination filmmaker can deliver a video that exceeds the couple's expectations. To me, their video serves as a timeless reminder of the magic and romance of this beachside celebration. I know I'll be treasuring these memories for years to come as well!

The Ceremony

The Speeches

VENDORS:

Venue: Sandos Playacar
Planning: Ad Astra
Photo: Dani Faulkenberry Photography
Film: 😉
Hair + MUA: Sara Tamargo Makeup and Hair