Romantic Destination Wedding at El Convento

From the bride: “We had the best day ever surrounded by our best friends and family!

One of our couples has chosen El Convento, one of the small luxury hotels of the world, to witness their love and celebration. Located in the heart of Old San Juan, Puerto Rico is an alluring mix of spanish colonial architecture, high ceilings, handcrafted tiles, antique chests with its luxury boutiques set on cobblestone streets, Cathedral San Juan Bautista, hillside forts as El Morro and San Cristobal Castle. Congratulations and Thanks for allow us to capture your wedding day.

El Convento Hotel, Old san Juan

Small Luxury Hotels of the World

Destination Wedding Planner: Beatriz Collazo
Destination Wedding Photographer: Claudette Montero
Cinematography: Alucinarte Films
Ceremony Music: Best Harp Serenade by Milton

New York wedding at Waldorf Astoria New York { Asha + Raj }

Asha and Raj at Waldorf Astoria a legendary New York City landmark and one of the world’s foremost grand hotels.

The couple met in Atlanta, Georgia. A year of long-distance dating ensued until Asha could move down to Atlanta. Raj proposed to Asha in March on the HighLine in New York City. The couple’s wedding date is especially significant to them as it falls exactly in between the bride’s and groom’s parents’ wedding anniversaries. 

They had an Epic celebration! Our couple had their wedding announcement published in The New York Times.

Dream Team

Venue: Waldorf Astoria, New York Wedding Planner: Sonal J Shah from SJS Events Photography: Claudette Montero Filmmakers: Alucinarte Films  Flower Design: Azizan Ali from Design House Decor Dj: Dj Raj 

Laura + Rafael’s Wedding at Hacienda Siesta Alegre

Hacienda Siesta Alegre, Rio Grande PR

Laura and Rafael have definitely had an amazing relationship! Laura is a wedding planner in NYC and actually booked me exactly one year (365 days) before their wedding on July 7, 2012!. They choose Arquetipo as her flower designers, Merylin Andino as her wedding planner and Hacienda Siesta Alegre, a Spanish Colonial architecture as their wedding venue. This place allows the gentle trade winds to cool you and the delightful sounds of the evening to thrill you, with the song of the Puerto Rican coquis. The nearby El Yunque rainforest helps to make the landscaping always lush. Laura wanted things to be relaxed and beautiful, and she let me add a touch of elegance to her wedding photography and for that reason she also asked me to capture a day after session at Fort San Cristobal in Old San Juan. This destination wedding was going to be a beautiful day of family and friends, and I was honored to be asked to be a part of it!

Enjoy this beautiful wedding and be sure to share your love with our bride and groom in the comments below!

Venue: Hacienda Siesta Alegre, Rio Grande, PUERTO RICO

Photography: Claudette Montero, FLORIDA & PUERTO RICO

Wedding Planner: Merylin Andino from The Event by Merylin, PUERTO RICO

Floral Design: Julio A. Cintrón & Emilio Olabarrieta from FLORA BY ARQUETIPO, PUERTO RICO

Cake Designer: Carlos Fernando Morales from C + M Cakes, PUERTO RICO

Make up Artist: Caridad Vidró, PUERTO RICO

Wedding at El Convento Hotel & San Juan Bautista Cathedral in Puerto Rico

   Yanel + Bryan Wedding

   Their story started in college almost 9 years ago. In a case of love at first sight, she saw Bryan across the room and exclaimed to her friend, “I am going to marry that guy”.  A few years later the planning started, over a course of a few weeks, she tried on 178 dresses to find the one, yes 178, that was about 29 bridal appointments. They always knew they wanted to get married in Old San Juan during the holidays.

   On a beautiful Saturday afternoon in Old San Juan, Yanel and Bryan were finally married and days later after getting to enjoy the island with their friends, they jetted off to Cambodia and Thailand for their long-awaited honeymoon. Special thanks to all the vendors involved and their wedding planner Yaska Crespo, because everything was perfect.

Yanel + Bryan may your days be filled with only laughter and love, Cheers.

xoxo ~Claudette

Ceremony: San Juan Bautista Cathedral, Old San Juan, Puerto Rico

Reception: Hotel El Convento, Old San Juan, Puerto Rico

Cinematography: Alucinarte Films, Florida & Puerto Rico

Photography: Claudette Montero, Florida & Puerto Rico

Wedding Planner: Yaska Crespo, Puerto Rico

Hair & Make-up: Javier Moreno, Puerto Rico

Floral Design: Intic, Puerto Rico

Cake: C+M Cakes, Puerto Rico

Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo

Groom’s Attire: Leonardo’s, Puerto Rico

Music: Batukéalo & DJ Rockhand, Puerto Rico

Engagement Ring: E.B.Horn, Boston, Massachussetts

Wedding Rings: Jack’s Jewelers, Santa Monica, California

Wedding Dress: Manuel Mota, Panache Bridal, Beverly Hills, California

Venice, Italy daydream by Claudette Montero Photographer + Alucinarte Films

I am so thrilled to share this photo session in Venice, Italy!

Kate + Stanley a lovely couple  from Hong Kong had their wedding in Prague, Czech Republic a few months ago and they choose Venice, Italy as a backdrop to their pictures. It was my second time in Venice and as a destination wedding photographer I must say ohh! this place is simply unique. I really enjoy travel and visit beautiful and unique places around the world and this time was very special!! 

Meet Kate and Stanley through the ancient streets of Venice, Piazza San Marco & Basilica ( St Mark’s Square ), Palazzo Ducale ( Doge’s Palace), on a gondola and other Venecian sights. 

I hope all of you enjoy it as much as I do! xo

                                                                                                   Thank you Kate and Stanley, it was my pleasure xo. ~Claudette

Elope to Italy, France, Puerto Rico or Caribbean is a beautiful choice for many couples who want to live their wedding day in a different and intimate way. To have information about photo shoot in Venice, Paris, Puerto Rico or other lovely destination, get in touch with me sending an email or facebook message. ~Claudette

{A Southern Engagement Session in Orlando Florida, Part II }

E- session captured by Claudette Montero wedding photographer from Alucinarte Films

{ A Southern Engagement Session in Orlando FL, Part I }

Spring & love usually goes so well together. About a week ago, I met with Ashley & Trevor and not only are they super nice, they also have such great style. They wanted to give their e-session a vintage flavor. They were just so adorable together, this shoot turned out beyond beautiful!

Enjoy this engagement session captured by Claudette Montero wedding photographer from Alucinarte Films

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Julie & Adam’s fabulous day after session in Puerto Rico

Julie + Adam’s fabulous day after session in the Caribbean Sea.

The full wedding pictures are here: https://alucinartefilms.wordpress.com/2012/06/25/puerto-rico-beach-wedding-at-san-juan-marriott-resort

Photography: Claudette Montero www.alucinartefilms.com

 

{Caribbean Beach Wedding at San Juan Marriott Resort, Puerto Rico}

It’s true. She’ve been dreaming of that destination wedding since before she were even engaged. Julie + Adam choose nothing better than walk down that aisle made of sand and hear the waves subtly crashing in the background. They choose a paradise at a dreamy beach in Puerto Rico, and us to capture all the details, emotions, tears and excitement of that day through photography + cinematography. What resulted was a breathtaking memories and lots of fun in the sun followed by a fabulous day after wedding photo shoot. Here are some of my favorites.

Photography: Claudette Montero  www.alucinartefilms.com

{Gorgeous Barn Wedding at Vinewood in Newnan, Georgia}

Photos: www.alucinartefilms.com

Casey & Jeremy’s Wedding at Vinewood was pure rural elegance. Here, some of my favorites images that reflect the full joy of two people beginning their lives together. A day full of sunshine, love, family and friends. Congratulations to this lovely couple!!

P.S. I am also so excited to say that this gorgeous wedding was just published on STYLE ME PRETTY, so go check it out!

 

 

Casey & Jeremy’s Wedding at Vinewood was pure rural elegance. Here, the breathtaking wedding highlights crafted to this beautiful couple!. Reflections of the full joy of two people beginning their lives together.

Congratulations to this lovely couple!!

Venue: Vinewood Events, Newnan GA
Florist & Event Styling – Jessica Robinson
Planning & Coordination – Jamie E. McPherson & Maria Fabre
Officient – Justin Flowers
Dress: Monique Lhuillier, Fabulous Frocks of Atlanta & Chaviano Bridal Couture
Vintage rentals: Funky Shack Art Studio
Hair – Elish Buchard
Makeup – Katrina Brown
Caterer – Making Memories
Wedding Cake – Blooming Flour
S’mores – LaMothes Sugar House
Favors – Lush Cakery
Music – DJ Professional

New York City Engagement Session, Amaris + Emmanuel

 

April 23th,  2014

Manhattan, NYC Engagement Session

Im beyond excited about next week wedding because we are covering Amaris and Emanuel’s fabulous Wedding.  Was very nice working with them, below some of their engagement pictures in different spots in New York City. Congratulations to this lovely couple!!

From the bride… We met at a dance club during our last semester of high school. The night of February 19, 2005 I went out with one of my best friends, and somehow ended up meeting “the baseball players”, as we referred to them, one of whom was Emmanuel. And like the song says: “Y todo comenzó bailando!” At some point while we danced, I murmured to myself that it was so hot in there and that I was thirsty. 5 minutes later, he came from the bar with a bottle of water for me (What a first move!).

5 months later, after Emmanuel had shown up at every possible gathering with my friends (or even family sometimes), day or night, weekend or weekday, we became boyfriend/girlfriend. It happened on the night of July 14, 2005 in Old San Juan, about an hour after he gave me a greeting card declaring his love and warning me that he would ask me some question later…

And that’s how our long-distance relationship started. We went to college in California (Emmanuel) and Puerto Rico (Amaris). Emmanuel graduated and moved to PR while Amaris finished her last year of undergraduate studies. And we lived in the same “state” for 1 year! Then Emmanuel found a job in New York City and Amaris started her graduate studies in Boston, and we transitioned to a “not-so-long-distance” relationship. Since then, Emmanuel has traveled 4-5 hours to Boston every single weekend so we can spend time together.

On March 9, 2013, 7.7 years after we met, we got engaged! We are really looking forward to starting our life together as a married couple (with our adorable dogs, Piper and Paris), with no distance of any kind!

 

 

 

Featured Wedding at Grace Ormonde Wedding Style

Happy Valentine’s Day Everyone!

We’re absolutely thrilled for being featured in Grace Ormonde Wedding Style Magazine. Yes, one of our Real Weddings at El Convento Hotel has been featured! Thanks to the wonderful team of vendors from Brenda & Patrick’s wedding as well as Grace Ormonde Wedding Style for the feature!

sincerely,

Claudette Montero, Destination Wedding Photographer

FEATURE>>>http://weddingstyle.com/site/portfolio/hotel-el-convento-san-juan-puerto-rico-wedding-photography/

Fabulous Vendors:

Church: La Santa Catedral de San Juan Bautista
Venue: Ruben Alvarez & Kamil Rivera Hotel El Convento
Cake: Carlos Morales y Maricel Morales from C + M Cakes
Floral and Event Design, Linen, Rentals and Lighting: Emilio Olabarrieta & Julio Cintron from Flora by Arquetipo
Hair and Make up: Caridad Vidro
Stationary: Bella Figura
Wedding Dress: Oscar de la Renta
Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo
Cinematography: Andre ML from Alucinarte Films
Photographer: Claudette Montero Photography

Beach Wedding at W Retreat & Spa, Vieques Island

Vieques Island, Puerto Rico

 Enjoy the beautiful wedding pictures of Jenniffer and Zackary Wright an american-bosnian professional basketball player of the german league who get married at W Retreat and Spa. 

from the bride… Zack and I had a very unconventional meeting. We both had some mutual acquaintances on Facebook and happened to run into each other’s profile a lot. One day I decided to request him as a friend, later he wrote me a message and it’s like we instantly clicked.  It felt like we had known each other for years. Only one problem, he lived in France at the moment due to his job. We talked for hours every day for a few months.
We knew we wanted to meet in person and we didn’t want to wait almost a year until his next return to the states to meet. So we decided I would fly to France to meet him in person. Yes I know it was such a crazy idea, for me to fly half way across the world to meet somebody who I had only known through calls, skype, and email. Naturally we were both nervous but luckily when we did meet the connection was there just like it had been for the past few months via phone and emails. At the end of the trip we spent a day in Paris. He walked the whole city sightseeing with me, doing everything I wanted to do without complaining even tho I knew that sightseeing wasn’t his thing. It was so romantic. Paris is truly the city of love and I can say I fell deeply in love with my now husband during that trip. A few months later I moved to France with him and ever since then we’ve been living in a different country every year from Greece to Croatia to Russia and now Germany, due to his job.

We travel the world together as a family. Needless to say we live an unconventional life just like our meeting. When planning our wedding we knew from the start we wanted a destination wedding, but being that we live overseas due to my husbands job we wanted it to have a feel of home. I am originally from Puerto Rico so the thought of getting married there was always a dream for me. I also seen this as the perfect opportunity to show my husbands side of the family my culture and have them experience it first hand. I wanted our wedding to feel like we were vacationing in a secluded tropical island, no big city near by, just the ocean, palm trees and some good Puerto Rican food and music. When I seen the W Retreat & Spa Vieques online I instantly fell in love.

It was the most beautiful and perfect location I had seen. We were in Russia the whole time we planned the wedding so we depended heavily on the W and all the vendors. We had to put a lot of trust into them and I’m so happy they all did such an amazing job. We wanted the whole week to be a big family vacation full of fun, laughter, adventure and new experiences. We started the week off on the main island of Puerto Rico doing some touristic things, Old San Juan, beaches, the rainforest and introducing our guest to Puerto Rican food and music. Then we took the ferry over to Vieques where we had more beach time and we explored the bioluminescent bay.

We asked our guest to dress in white and if they could, in linen to keep with the whole island vacation feel. My ceremony was bilingual with my parts being in Spanish and my husbands in English. Most of the food served was typical of Puerto Rico and I had the DJ play mostly Latin music for the night. For the favors I had straw fans which my mother attached different pictures of my husband, son and myself to.

I also had handmade maracas made with our wedding date and location written on them. My mother also made the table numbers by hand.

¨The day of the wedding couldn’t had been any more perfect. The sun shined all day, and we danced all night. It was truly the best night for all of us¨

Venue: W Retreat and Spa Vieques, www.wvieques.com

Wedding Planner/Catering Manager: Iris Ortiz
Florist: PR wedding flowers, Patricia Suero, www.prweddingflowers.com
Dj: Paul Chavez, www.djsoftheislands.com
Photographer: Claudette Montero, www.alucinartefilms.com
Brides dress: Allure Bridals
Grooms Suit: Express 

Brides hair and makeup: Away Spa at the W Retreat and Spa

Brides and grooms rings: Ben Bridges Jewelers

Brides shoes: Badgley Mischka

Grooms shoes: Polo Ralph Lauren

St Regis Bahia Beach wedding in Puerto Rico, Nichole + Homel

https://vimeo.com/81973588

Enjoy the wonderful wedding highlight of Nichole and Homel at St Regis Bahia Beach, Puerto Rico. Congratulations to this wonderful couple!!

http://www.alucinartefilms.com

Engagement Session, New York (Nichole + Suraj)

Puerto Rico Wedding at Antiguo Casino and old San Juan Cathedral

Idalis + Michael Santana’s Wedding

Idalis + Michael’s wedding  was a beautiful Puerto Rico wedding celebrated at San Juan Evangelista Cathedral and Antiguo Casino, they enjoy with friends and family their special day. This wedding was coordinated by Eventus by Zahira and the flower design was in charge of Akua. May the Sun always shine as bright as it did on the day you celebrated yor wedding the rest of your lives, cheers. ~Claudette

CEREMONY: SAN JUAN BAUTISTA CATHEDRAL, OLD SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO

RECEPTION: Antiguo Casino de Puerto Rico, OLD SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO

CINEMATOGRAPHY: ALUCINARTE FILMS, FLORIDA & PUERTO RICO

PHOTOGRAPHY: CLAUDETTE MONTERO, FLORIDA & PUERTO RICO

WEDDING PLANNER: Eventus by Zahira, PUERTO RICO

FLORAL DESIGN: Akua, PUERTO RICO

MUSIC: Banda Sin Prisa, PUERTO RICO

WEDDING DRESS: Pronovias