A Playful Akumal Private Villa Wedding at Casa Iguana
From tequila holsters on the dance floor to sunset runs and fireman’s carry portraits, this Akumal wedding blended playful moments with warm family love at a private beachfront villa on Half Moon Bay
Private Villa: Casa Iguana Akumal
Location: Akumal, Tulum, Mexico
Wedding Coordinator: @TurtleBayWeddingsAkumal
Hair & Makeup: @BesoBrides
Catering: @turtlebaycafe
Audiovisual: @tulum_me_music
Florals: @whitegardens.fs
Digital & Film Wedding Photography
5 hours – 2 photographers
Little things I loved about this wedding in Akumal
Film and digital, together
So first I have to mention that this is the first wedding I shot on film and digital. I’m super excited to include film in my photography packages now. I love the extra depth and texture it adds. I love grainy, grungy, sometimes expired, sometimes light-leaked film. It adds such a cool, nostalgic vibe, and in an age of AI-perfected photography, it brings a little chaos and unexpected magic. If you see a funky, weird-looking photo in the mix, that’ll be film.
Casa Iguana, Akumal — my hometown
I also loved that the wedding venue, Casa Iguana, is in Akumal — my hometown of 10+ years. I know the area really, really well and I was very happy to take V+M to one of my favourite secret beaches. We hopped in my car during cocktail hour and bombed down the road to where the bay curves just right and you can actually catch the sunset — a rarity on the east coast.
Playful portraits and movement
They really wanted fun and playful pictures — V wanted W to give her a fireman’s carry (he’s a fireman) and the two of them just totally leaned into the moment. I love the pictures with movement of them running toward the sunset — they feel painterly to me. I also adore the photographs we made right at the end of the session, actually in the car park. Those black and white, blurry, editorial-feeling, nostalgic pictures that V told me she loves too.
A dance floor that surprised us all
Lastly, kudos to the families — we were not ready for the dance floor! Props to her people for bringing the thunder — especially Auntie, who brought her own tequila holster and shot glasses (legend).
Why Casa Iguana works so well for weddings
Casa Iguana is a really great wedding location, with a beachfront ceremony spot and a winding brick path down to the courtyard, which makes a beautiful reception area shaded by palm trees. It’s a super cool venue and I loved every bit of this day.
Huge thanks to V+W for choosing me to document it — I had the best time with them. 🖤
