Prior to Melina and Teddy’s beach wedding in Jamaica, I arrived a few days early to Sandals Negril. Part of that was simply to enjoy the island, but the bigger reason is that I always prefer to build in extra time before a destination wedding. Flights get delayed, luggage gets lost, and unexpected travel hiccups happen. I’d much rather arrive early, get settled, and be ready to go than risk any last-minute issues.

Since we had a little extra time before the wedding festivities officially began, I asked Melina and Teddy if they would be interested in a beach engagement session. They had already done an engagement session with me among the cherry blossoms in Washington, DC, but this felt like an opportunity for something completely different. With their wedding celebrations taking place on the beach, it seemed fitting to capture another chapter of their story against the backdrop of Negril’s famous turquoise waters and white sand beaches.

One of the unexpected benefits of arriving early to any destination wedding is getting to learn the location. I pay attention to where the sun rises and sets, how the light moves throughout the day, and what the local weather patterns are like. What I quickly learned about Jamaica in May is that the weather has a mind of its own. A storm can last five minutes or an hour. It might be a light sprinkle or a complete downpour. And the forecast? Let’s just say the forecast is more of a suggestion than a guarantee. The weather seems to come and go whenever it pleases. I noticed that many of these showers tended to roll through during the evening, which is exactly what happened during our session.

Fortunately, instead of ruining the experience, the rain ended up making it even better. If you look through the photos, some of my favorites are the ones captured while a light rain was falling. There’s something incredibly romantic about them. They have that dreamy, cinematic feel that reminds me of scenes from The Notebook. The overcast skies softened the light, the beach emptied out, and Melina and Teddy simply embraced the moment together.

As an added bonus, the session gave them a chance to see firsthand how I approach unexpected weather. Destination weddings often come with a little unpredictability, and when the rain made an appearance during their wedding weekend, they already knew there was no reason to stress. We’d already proven that beautiful photos were possible no matter what the forecast decided to do.

I’m also completely obsessed with the outfits they chose for the session. Melina looked effortlessly elegant in a classic white swimsuit paired with a flowing pareo, while Teddy kept things timeless with crisp beach attire. The neutral tones complemented the vibrant blues and greens of the Caribbean perfectly, creating a look that felt sophisticated without being overly formal. This session ended up being the perfect start to an incredible wedding weekend. It gave us a chance to slow down, explore the island, and create some beautiful memories before the celebrations officially began.

Melina and Teddy, thank you for trusting me to document not only your wedding day but these quieter moments in between. Looking back on these images makes me want to hop on a plane and head right back to Negril.

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