Author: Sigmar Sommer

Brian and Bree

It all came down to a split decision. It was 3 am in Manhattan, and Bree was more than ready to call it a night after a fun evening out with friends, but she begrudgingly agreed to go to one last bar, called Prohibition. By then, the crowd at the bar had thinned out and the band was packing up their gear. As fate would have it, Bree struck up a conversation with a friend of the band, who kept insisting that Bree meet the band’s bass player, Brian. An introduction was made, and the two were left to their own devices.

Brian was used to getting a lot of attention during shows, but he took his gigs seriously, and he didn’t usually put too much stock into such encounters. He was also simply a really busy guy with a lot on his plate, working as a marketing account executive by day, playing shows at night, and being a father to his son, Mason. Life was moving fast for him, and he was doing everything he could to keep up. But there was something different about Bree. He was exhausted from the gig, yet so intrigued by this beautiful woman. Brian recognized this wasn’t just a random woman trying to cozy up to the band. As the conversation rolled on, Brian started to see that the inner beauty matched her outer beauty. They exchanged phone numbers, and he called her the next day to see where things might go.

Well, things decidedly went pretty far, as the couple tied the knot about 10 years later on July 22, 2022 on the beautiful island of Aruba. As the bride and groom got ready in separate rooms, our team had the opportunity to learn more about the couple while documenting their loving words for one another for their wedding video. Brian spoke highly of how Bree builds people up, supports them, and helps them to become the best version of themselves. He also admits that he was instantly awestruck by Bree’s beauty when they first met, and he considers himself a very lucky guy. Bree shared how much she appreciates Brian’s sense of humor—he can always make her laugh. And while he seems tough, he is the most caring person she knows, which we also saw firsthand. Oh, and she loves his perfect eyebrows! (Ha ha!)

The simply elegant wedding on the shores of Sandpiper Beach at the Divi Aruba All Inclusive Resort was absolutely gorgeous. The handwritten vows, the sand ceremony, the unforgettable sunset—it was all perfect. But the real show-stopper was when Brian’s best man—his son, Mason—gave a speech where he mentioned how happy he is that his family is now officially united. He feels lucky that his dad found Bree, who treats Mason as if he is her own son and is always in his corner. Mason also pointed out that

while he may be the best man for his dad’s wedding, it’s his dad who is truly the best man. We also loved that Brian and Bree chose their friend Brian to officiate their wedding.
In our experience, it’s so much more fun when a friend officiates the wedding. Not only are lots of laughs guaranteed, but the couple’s story is told so much better. We learned about how Bree has fostered Brian’s remarkable personal growth and how Brian’s humor keeps Bree’s stress at bay. It’s stories like these that enrich the story we tell of a couple’s wedding through videography and photography.

As Brian (the officiant) pointed out, Brian and Bree have been doing the work of marriage for years, evident in the life that they share and in the home they have made together. It simply became official on July 22, 2022. Our team was truly honored to capture this official day for them, and we wish them all the best!

William and Alejandra

William and Alejandra’s love story could be straight out of a movie. They met while on vacation in Aruba and were immediately drawn to each other. William, a handsome Dutchman, was on a trip with his buddies, while Alejandra, a stunning Colombian woman living in Italy, was also enjoying a break from her busy life. One fateful night at a club, William was captivated by Alejandra’s beauty and approached her with his smooth dance moves. They spent the rest of their vacation exploring the island, enjoying romantic dinners, and falling deeply in love.

When their vacation ended, William and Alejandra returned to their respective homes, but they couldn’t stop thinking about each other. They started a long-distance relationship, traveling back and forth to see each other whenever possible. Their love only grew stronger with each visit, and after several years, they decided to take their relationship to the next level and move in together in the Netherlands.

As their relationship blossomed, William and Alejandra knew they wanted to get married, but they also knew they wanted to do it where they first fell in love: Aruba. They started planning their dream wedding, and our team was honored to be asked to capture every moment of their special day.

William and Alejandra’s wedding was a two-part celebration, beginning with a civil ceremony at City Hall in downtown Oranjestad. The bright and colorful Dutch Caribbean architecture of City Hall served as the perfect backdrop for some casual couple shots after the more formal ceremony. Our team snapped photos of the happy couple as they posed in front of the building’s vibrant walls and beautiful archways.

The second part of the wedding took place on the beach at the Divi Sandpiper, and it was indeed a magical setting. The beach was adorned with a wooden arch draped with sheer fabric and decorated with three big flower bouquets set in the pristine sand close to the water’s edge. Next to this was the reception area, where three beautifully decorated dinner tables were set under three large pergolas, also draped with sheer fabric, decorative ivy, and twinkling lights. The pergolas were centered around a makeshift dance floor, where the couple shared their first dance as newlyweds.

Our team captured some beautiful moments throughout the day, from the couple’s first dance to the cake-cutting ceremony, which featured a stunning cake frosted with ripples of icing. We also loved the various speeches in several languages, reflecting the couple’s backgrounds and the cultural fusion that made their relationship unique. But what stood out the most was William and Alejandra’s deep love and connection. Their love radiated throughout the day, and our team felt honored to capture that love in every frame. It was clear to everyone who attended the wedding that this was a couple who were truly meant to be together.

As the sun set over the Caribbean Sea and the stars came out, William and Alejandra celebrated their love with family and friends. It was a truly magical day, and our team was thrilled to be a part of it. We wish the happy couple all the best as they embark on this new chapter in their lives together, and we know that their love story will continue to inspire others for years to come.

Kristen & Kyle Brodhagen

Over-the-top elegant, rustic, bohemian, classic, you name it. When it comes to wedding photography and videos, our Aruba Wedding team aims to capture the vibe of each type. While we don’t necessarily have a favorite kind of wedding to shoot, we will say that there are advantages to each and every one. So what about the simple, understated wedding? What’s the advantage there? Kristen & Kyle Brodhagen’s simply elegant wedding on the shores of Palm Beach at the RIU Antillas in Aruba on November 16, 2022, perfectly illustrates the photographic advantage of the unassuming wedding celebration. A simple arch, tastefully decorated with sheer white fabric and white flowers, framing the gorgeous Caribbean Sea, set the stage for their small, intimate wedding, surrounded by close friends and family. The classic, one-tier cake and the casual reception added to the no-frills of it all. So what’s the advantage here? Take one look at the videos and photos of their wedding. We think you’ll see it too. Kristen and Kyle’s warm personalities and genuine love for one another shine brightly and become the focal point of each video and photo. Nothing else gets in the way. It’s truly beautiful!

While capturing his wedding message before the ceremony, Kyle shared that Kristen arrived an hour late on her first date. She had made a mistake while navigating and took a wrong turn, causing her to arrive at the wrong location. When She finally arrived, She found Kyle sitting on the porch waiting for her. Kyle, Still in good spirits, looked up at her and saw her smile. That smile instantly made the waiting worthwhile.

His favorite thing about Kristen is that she is always positive and upbeat. Indeed, her beautiful, genuine smile lights up the entire day. She can hardly keep the huge grin off her face! In her message, Kristen shared that Kyle is her rock, always steady, trustworthy, and taking care of everything. Again, this is apparent in their videos and photos—he is a solid, calm presence that grounds her and, as she mentions in her vows, “always feels like home to her.” This is exactly the feeling we get when we look at the images we captured.

When Kyle read his vows, he spoke about how when he was little, whether it was a good day or bad day, all would be ok because there were always cartoons in the morning. Bad days were good days, and good days were great days, because instead of cartoons, he has her in the mornings. We loved this analogy! The couple also has a playful side, which we were able to capture during the vows. Kristen had wanted Kyle to write the vows in a book, but Kyle, wanting to stay true to his off-the-cuff character, never wrote them down, and after finishing his vows, playfully showed her the empty pages of the little notebook he was supposedly reading from, eliciting cries of laughter from Kristen.

Our team always strives to capture the unique vibe in each wedding photograph or clip as we document a wedding. This one was no exception. The simplicity of the setting allowed us to focus on the couple’s personalities and their genuine love for each other, which shines through in every photo and video. We absolutely loved the extra time allocated for portraits and video, which allowed us to delve into the couple’s dynamic and produce stunning and intimate results. Shooting wedding portraits is an essential part of any wedding photography experience. It allows the couple to have beautiful, timeless images they can cherish forever. It is essential to allow enough time for the photographer to shoot the portraits. Often times we are left with a short period because Wedding Ceremonies generally take place close to sunset due to the hot midday sun in Aruba. Additionally, when we set out to shoot a wedding video and photography, we love to add little snippets of the portrait session to emphasize the love between the bride&groom. Having extra time with a couple

of which the chemistry is so tangible only adds to the magic in both photography and video.

While their wedding was understated, Kristen and Kyle’s love was much more radiant in every one of their wedding videos and photos. Thank you, Kristen and Kyle, for allowing us the pleasure of capturing your radiance!
We are incredibly grateful to Kristen and Kyle for entrusting us with the task of capturing the radiance of their love, and we feel privileged to have been a part of their special day.