Oct 22, 2017
Gold Coast Aruba Destination Wedding // Stephanie + Enzo
I met Stephanie and Enzo last year while attending the Wanderlust Workshop in Aruba put on by my fabulous blue-haired-unicorn-of-a-gem-travel-buddy, aka Laura. They helped coordinate and find the locations of the workshop where we would be shooting. The goal of the workshop was to get away from the typical high rise hotel area with white sandy beaches and photograph in the vast array of landscapes that Aruba has to offer such as desert Alien landscapes, abandoned beach shacks with awesome antique Spanish tile flooring, to Gold mines, and caves! That’s where Steph and Enzo come in – one of their favorite activities is exploring all the hidden abandoned places along the island together- go check out Enzo’s page, HERE, he’s an awesome photographer!
Fast forward to two more trips to my favorite island in the Caribbean where in between Enzo had asked Steph to forever explore the world with him and make him the happiest man in the world by marrying him. I was lucky enough that she had thought of me – a Boston Wedding Photographer to travel and photograph my first official destination wedding in Aruba. I WAS STOKED (to say the least).
Because of the up coming 2017 elections in Aruba, Stephanie and Enzo would be celebrating their wedding over the course of two days. The first day, Steph got ready at her aunts’ home and then we headed over to the beautiful bring green Town Hall in downtown Oranjestad for the ceremony where for the first time I had to rely on body language to understand what was going on because the ceremony was not spoken in English haha. After they said “I do” in front of their closets friend’s and family, we spent the afternoon taking some more photos and chasing the sunset – which did not disappoint!
On Friday, Steph got ready at her grandparents home which just happens to have an amazing lush, tropical orchid garden in the front yard – no big deal or anything – also can all my brides get ready in tropical orchid gardens because it was as enchanting and amazing as it sounds. Steph wore a gorgeous custom made long sleeve lace dress that she purchased in Columbia. We decided to have a first look first with Steph’s grandfather and next with Enzo in a desert setting. I got way too excited when I was able to frame them with in a cacti. After a few more dessert and beach photos, we headed over to Gold Coast to finish setting up and wait for the arrival of guests. One more epic sunset and an even more epic caribbean dance party, their wedding was filled with so much laughter, love, and straight up adventure.
Steph & Enzo – I can’t thank you both enough not only for trusting me to capture your day (seriously, that means the world to me when another photographer as talented as you are Enzo hires me to document their day! <3) but also for hosting us every time we come to your island. You guys always show us the coolest hidden places and have always made me feel like a local (swa 😉 ) I cannot wait to see you both again very soon!
Photography – Alexsandra Wiciel
Ceremony – Aruba Town Hall, Oranjestad
Reception Venue- Gold Coast Malmok Aruba
Art Direction – Laura DeCarlo
Dress- Custom Designed in Columbia
Florals- Flortiek by Wilson
