fbpx
Reviews

Author: Sigmar Sommer

Melissa & Travis

Posted on by Sigmar Sommer

Melissa & Travis

Melissa & Travis

By the end of the crazy 2020 we got a request to do a wedding. Still overwhelm by everything that was happening and catching up with all safety measures, without knowing what was going to be for upcoming 2021, we decided to embark on a new destination wedding adventure.

Susan was our first contact, being the mother of the bride she really wanted to be on top of every detail. Our conversations where so easy and warm that it was clear for us the success that this event was going to be; The daughter Melissa, was determined not to postpone, the long-awaited date of her ceremony on one of the most beautiful beaches in Aruba. Meanwhile Travis was giving his entire support to his upcoming wife and of course to our wedding team.

After a couple of phone calls and a few emails we where all set, WE HAVE A DATE! May will be the month and the 7th the day.

Fast forward to May 2021 after vaccination and testing negative, we got to meet in person in Aruba Weddings For You office. That day was key to review every detail and understand how Melissa & Travis wanted their wedding pictures done. The cosy feeling and the chemistry between then let us know that the images where going to be amazing.

May 7th, 2021 Wedding Day – Partly cloudy, hoping for the best…

4:30pm

We started with photos at the room where Travis was getting dressed. The room was filled with joy, everybody was helping each other and at the same time making fun of themself. We where having so much fun that we didn’t realize about the time almost missing Melissa’s prep.

5:00pm

We got To Melissa’s room; music is playing, champaign bottles are being pop and the hectic feeling it’s all over. All the ladies are helping Melissa with jewelry, last hair and make up details. Between clicks and words we blended as part of the family and suddenly we where all dancing and laughing   celebrating life and love while capturing unique images.

5:50pm

We are all set to go to the Sandpiper Beach at Divi Tamarijn. Both families show concern about the cloudy weather and how this is going to affect the Wedding photos and the most important, the sunset.

6:00pm

Ceremony starts, they even brought a cut out of their dog to be able to have all the love ones present in their unique destination wedding and yes, the sky  it is full of scattered clouds but not cloudy, this translated into vibrant and unique sunset colors, like always happens here in the One happy island.

After the sunset pictures what is left aside is to share with your love ones and partying until the body endures.

Thank you guys for letting us tell your story and capture your wedding photos.

We wish you joy and fulfillment forever.

Erica & Matt

Posted on by Sigmar Sommer

Erica & Matt

Erica & Matt

Erica and Matt’s ‘how we met’ story will renew your faith in the persistence of love. Matt first laid eyes on Erica when he visited a bar in New York she worked at years ago. After convincing his friends to return to the bar with him several times so he could see her, Matt finally worked up the courage to get her number. Matt’s high hopes were dashed when his texts to Erica were being ignored. Matt decided to visit Erica one last time at the bar to explain that he would stop messaging her, which is when they both discovered that something had gone amiss — Erica had not been receiving the text messages at all! Apparently, Matt had accidentally been sending the messages to another Erica on his phone! On that unexpected note, the couple started dating. Eventually, they moved in together. Eight years later they tied the knot … in Aruba!

A destination wedding is incredibly special, but Erica and Matt took it to the next level by saying their ‘I dos’ at Renaissance Island. A destination within a destination. The lush, 40-acre retreat is just a few hundred yards off of Aruba’s harbor — reachable by boat shuttle from the water launch at the Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino. These few hundred yards away can feel like miles away from civilization, with secluded coves and tropical garden retreats dotting this private island. Wedding ceremonies take place on a private beach, closed off to other island guests. When it is time for the reception and all other guests have left the island, the couple and all their friends and family have the entire island all to themselves (except for the resident flamingos of course). It’s the perfect location for a truly magical wedding!

Weddings on the private island do come with some challenges from time to time. The boat ride to the island makes photography a bit trickier. On top of that, couples that get married on Renaissance Island are usually also guests of the Renaissance Hotel. For Erica and Matt this was not the case, they stayed at the RIU Palace, which posed an interesting logistical challenge. However, it wasn’t anything our team couldn’t handle with sound planning and timely execution.

Of course, nighttime receptions can be challenging due to the lack of light which makes it difficult for cameras to focus. However, Renaissance Island offers ample, cozy lighting after the sun goes down. Not to mention that our team is experienced in taking professional photos in a variety of light situations. It’s this seasoned experience that enabled us to beautifully capture the radiating smiles of both Erica and Matt as they danced their wedding night away under the stars. We feel truly honored to have captured the wedding of their dreams.

Angie & Billy

Posted on by Sigmar Sommer

Angie & Billy

Angie & Billy

The reason to say get married in Aruba is different for each individual person. Sentimental value, the weather, picture perfect scenery etc. But, at the end of the day, what ever makes you decide to have your Destination Wedding in Aruba, You sure want to enjoy it right ? This goes for every part of the wedding, and let me tell you, Your Wedding Photographer is an important part of this ^_^

We totally understand that the bride and groom can often be quite stressed during the course of their wedding. Is the Wedding Photographer here yet? Is the food any good? Did we order enough liquor? Did the band arrive yet? Has one of the bridesmaids already run off with a groomsman? But Angie and Billy? Cool the Aruban trade winds.

On may 5th, 2017 it was time for them to say their “I do’s” and they could not think of a better place than the Barcelo Aruba Resort.

In the Pre-meetings to discuss the ins&outs of their Wedding Photography we did thoroughly discuss with them how the timeline influences the vibe of the day, They really wanted to have great wedding photographs without sacrificing too much time they’s otherwise spend with the friends & family. And that is what they got.

Angie & Billy where introduced to each other by friends. For Billy, it was love at first sight. He asked her out for a cup of coffee, and there was never any turning back from there. After only 4 months, he bought the ring—he’s a man who knows what he wants! But the Universe butted in and declared, “Not so fast!” Billy’s position as a Navy logistics officer required him to pick up and move from the West Coast to the East Coast, and the two lovebirds spent a while doing the whole long-distance relationship thing. Finally, Angie got a job on the East Coast, bringing an end to the long distance….and making it real. After sitting on that ring for 20 months, Billy finally proposed on a hot summer night. Billy started telling Angie about how much he loved her, but accustomed to the emotional outpourings of her sensitive Navy man, Angie didn’t expect a thing…that is, until he popped the question! Two long-awaited years later, they made their union official at the destination wedding of their dreams on the beautiful island of Aruba.

During the preparations of the bride&groom, it was clear… These people are here to enjoy their time with friends and family. No hussle and bussle, just smooth sailing and having fun. It helps when you look naturally beautiful or handsome ^_^
Everyone was smiling, making jokes having fun…non as much as Billy though. His personality really gets a crowd going. There is just no way you can’t have fun with this guy around.

Angie’s personality matches billy. I do have the feeling though that she balances things out with her organisation and slightly calmer demeanour. When we arrived in the room to capture the wedding photography of her preparations, everything and everyone was prepared and ready to shoot. No wonder everything went of without a hits !!

This is something that reflects in the wedding photographs too. You can see the happy faces, crazy poses, love and picture perfect backdrop that makes people dream of a destination wedding in Aruba.

Peter & Savanah

Posted on by Sigmar Sommer

Peter & Savanah

Peter & Savanah

When Peter set out to surprise Savannah, he completely swept her off her feet. Peter and Savannah had been together for a while, and Peter wanted to take the next step. So he secretly arranged for Savannah to be off from work and booked a trip to Aruba to stay in The Ritz-Carlton Aruba, all the while hiding that big shiny ring.

Then on June 19, they set out for dinner. Savannah did notice Peter being a bit nervous. Once they found their way outside and walked towards the restaurant, Peter lagged a bit behind, looking around.

Peter and the unsuspecting Savannah passed by a small photo shoot. Savannah remarked that it would be fun to book a shoot together in Aruba. Peter stopped, looked at Savannah, and went down on his knee.

Both Savannah and Peter were overcome with emotion. In the meantime, we stopped pretending to do that photo shoot, pointed our camera towards the couple, and captured the whole thing. You see, Peter booked us a while back to capture the proposal & engagement photo shoot.

Peter and Savannah needed quite some time to gather themselves, but once we got the engagement photo shoot going, things were smooth sailing.

As photographers/videographers, we always try to capture a series of photographs that reflect both the character and stories of our clients. We also love to let our creativity roam freely from time to time. Because the shoot went so smoothly, with Peter and Savannah posing naturally, no direction required, we decided to see if we could push it a little further.

At the end of the shoot, after the sun had set, we created a unique misty scene with the help of little cans of smoke we have in our cases for situations just like these. Aren’t the engagement photos stunning?

Jay & Meg

Posted on by Sigmar Sommer

Jay & Meg

Jay & Meg

We are suckers for anything that can make your proposal unique to you, and oh boy, did we witness a nice little “personal touch” during the proposal of Jay & Meg.

The couple had been together for a while, and Jay knew, after surviving this pandemic business, their relationship was ready to level up. He booked a trip to Aruba—you know, why not, right?—and started looking for a photographer to capture the proposal, and perhaps a few engagement photos after Meg said yes. After speaking with a few photographers, he finally settled his mind on us.

You see, we always try to look for ways to truly make a little love story out of every engagement photo shoot, and whenever we get to participate in planning a proposal, we try to get as authentic as possible. We help couples brainstorm little ways to make the moment the question is popped on the beaches of Aruba just a tad more special.

Jay and Meg met online, and they hit it off immediately. After dating for a while, Meg had made a little book with all the messages they sent to each other when they first started talking to each other. We all remember that feeling when you first message someone you like, and that just HAD TO BE THE CENTERPIECE of Jay’s proposal. I mean, how couldn’t it!?!

So we asked Jay to bring the book, have a little note saying “Open me” and another saying “Will you marry me?” We met up on the big day to go over the game plan; he entrusted the book to us, and later that night, we would hide near the beach of Fisherman’s Huts in Aruba, waiting for Jay & the unsuspecting Meg.

As we arrived to set everything up, poor Jay couldn’t stall Meg any longer without raising suspicion. Luckily we like to be early. Jay sent us a message, and we replied we were good to go. We sent the exact location via GPS & a picture so Jay could easily find the little setup we created for the proposal. Jay was SO nervous he wouldn’t be able to find it, so when we saw him checking his phone in the distance, I tried to guide him through “discreet” messages. “A little further, see that little wall there??” But the nerves just took over. While guiding Meg towards the setup to be surprised to see the book she made, he completely missed it. He just walked straight past the setup!

In a moment of “Oh, my God!!” I grabbed my phone, sent a picture to him where he could once more see where the setup was in relation to them. We tried to stay out of sight, of course. Meg still didn’t know what was going down here.

Finally, after wandering around a bit, Meg noticed something in the sand, and upon closer inspection, she recognized the book. From that moment on, she knew. Tears of joy were everywhere!

Look, I remember when I proposed to my wife and later when I first saw her walk down the aisle. You can plan all you want and rehearse the words you want to say over and over and over again, but when it is game time, nerves sometimes just completely overtake your ability to speak and think and do. You know what? For me, the emotions running high, the fact they couldn’t find the setup, and the personal touch of that book with messages make this one of my favorite proposals. No big flash mob, no fancy floral décor, no family hidden around the corner. Just Meg, Jay, and the love between them. Oh, and she said yes!

Matt & Alexa

Posted on by Sigmar Sommer

Matt & Alexa

Matt & Alexa

Often we are contacted by men wanting to do something special for their proposal/engagement photography during their travels to Aruba. When Matt reached out to us regarding his plans to propose to Alexa, he knew exactly what he wanted. Matt & Alexa love traveling, and they have been all over the world and love to go off the beaten path. What better way to pop the question than to go on a “tour” that does just that.

So we took Matt & Alexa on a tour across the island, carrying our cameras under the disguise of making a video commercial for a private tour company, and took off towards Arikok National Park on Aruba’s north coast. Matt looked online in preparation for the big moment and found Dos Playa, a set of twin coves in the park.

Matt was a bit afraid he wouldn’t be able to keep the ring a secret for long, so he was eager to pop the question as soon as possible. They walked up towards the edge of a cliff, and as Alexa looked at the waters below, Matt got down on his knee. May I add that this was quite the sacrifice from him as the north coast, especially Dos Playa, consists of sharp limestone rock formed from old coral reefs. In preparation, we had our drone up in the air to capture this fantastic moment with nothing short of an epic shot! After this fantastic proposal, we got to shoot an awesome upbeat proposal video to reflect the upbeat characters of Matt & Alexa.

Aruba is a fantastic place to explore, and if we get to take our guests off the beaten path, we get to create incredible videos and photography. Locations like Plantage Prins, Balashi Gold Mill Ruins, and the mangroves of Frenchmen’s Pass are stunning backdrops for your proposal videos and engagement photos. We love to create something that fits the characters of our clients, and I think, based on our time with Matt and Alexa, we did just that.

George & Alyce

Posted on by Sigmar Sommer

George & Alyce

George & Alyce

Wow, wow, wow. Where to begin?

In our time as wedding photographers and videographers on the lovely island of Aruba, we have gotten to witness some great—no, awesome!—stories of couples taking the next step in their lives together. Today I will be telling the story of a proposal that had me crying, and we were there to capture it all.

We get to form integral parts of weddings, proposals, engagement shoots, family shoots, and whatnot, but none quite as unique as the day George popped the question and asked Alyce to marry him.

You see, George had asked Alyce to marry him before, but she was not quite ready yet. Alyce had some challenges to face, and George would stand right beside her every step of the way.

And then, the time was right. Alyce was ready, and George was willing and able. So they booked a nice romantic couples vacation to Aruba. Alyce suspected that something was up, and oh boy, something was.

A while before traveling to Aruba, George sought out Marielle from Proposal Planner Aruba to come up with a plan to propose to Alyce. After a lot of brainstorming, planning, and preparations, it was time.

George booked an “island tour” with “a bunch of guys” who happen to be photographers & videographers (this is where we came in). So we arrived and picked them up to explore Aruba’s wilder side and take a few pictures along the way.

Here she must have suspected that something was up, but Marielle and George surmised as much and found a way to remedy that.

A MISSION OF MISDIRECTION

We arrived at the first location, the ruins of an old gold smelter with great rustic aesthetics on the northern coast of Aruba, called Bushiribana, where Marielle was waiting. Before Alyce was allowed into the ruins, though, she had to put on a blindfold.

After being guided through the ruins, they came to a standstill. We could see the excitement on her face. “This is it…he’s going to propose!” she must have thought. When she took off the blindfold, she was surprised by George…standing there—not for the proposal, but rather to surprise her for her birthday with a few balloons.

Of course, we don’t mean just a few balloons. I mean, it was a nice-looking setup, just not what Alyce expected. It was the day before her birthday, after all, and the first mission of misdirection succeeded.

We did get to take some great photographs and video, and they looked absolutely stunning, but Alyce was not aware that there was more to follow.

GOOD FORTUNE

Next stop…Ayo Rock Formations, one of our favorite locations. Not beachy at all, but rather rustic and wild. (Aruba has so much more to offer than just white sandy beaches!) So we walked through the site, talked a bit about the ancient history of Aruba, the Pre-Columbian era, and had a good ol’ time. One of our team members was “struggling” with some of the gear, and we asked if George could “help him out.” In the meantime, we decided to take some solo portraits of Alyce on top of a nice-sized rock.

When George returned, he was carrying a little tray with some fortune cookies. “What is this?” Alyce must have thought. “This is the moment he will propose to me! We are getting engaged!”

So, George gave her the first cookie, and Alyce opened it. “You are the best thing that has ever happened to me,” it said. The next one said, “I am so proud of you,” and the third said, “To celebrate the person you are, I’ve made reservations at Passions on the Beach.”

There she stood. Happy. Confused. She must have thought, “Why tell me where we are going for dinner like that? Sweet, but, why?!?” The second mission of misdirection accomplished.

THE GRAND FINALE

After passing by a few more locations, taking pictures, having fun, we arrived at Eagle Beach, Aruba’s award-winning beach. The “unsuspecting” couple was received by Marielle from Proposal Planner Aruba once more. Now, George was blindfolded, after which Alyce was also blindfolded. Why both, though, right? It’s all about misdirection, my friend.

George took off his blindfold, and they guided Alyce onto the beach. Proposal Planner Aruba had arranged a setup with flowers, lanterns, and a violinist, pulling all the stops, because this was the moment—George would go down onto one knee and ask Alyce to marry him.

Alyce heard the violinist, asked if there was a wedding going on, still somewhat confused as to what was going on, but this didn’t last long. Cue the waterworks!!

The blindfold came off, and there George was, down on one knee with a ring in his hands and giving the best speech I’ve ever heard. A sunset sky explosion, champagne, puppies, tears, smiles, and the best proposal we have ever witnessed.

We witnessed a masterclass in building up tension for your proposal. It was the perfect 3-step master plan to pop the question during a Caribbean getaway vacation.

Dustin & Jenna

Posted on by Sigmar Sommer

Dustin & Jenna

Dustin & Jenna

On September 4th, 2021, after many delays, We were finally able to be part of Dustin Smylek and Jenna Tureson’s big day. And what a day it was!!

The Marriott Stellaris Casino and Resort – here in Aruba has some of the most professional wedding coordinators. Jenna & Dustin knew what they wanted, and together they came up with quite a list of little moments to make their Aruba Destination Wedding Extra special. We, of course, we were there to take their Wedding Photography and Wedding Videography.

Perfect little moments like the first look with Jenna and her father, a special gift from Dustin for Jenna with a handwritten card, or the first touch with Dustin and Jenna. And what an emotional rollercoaster it was.

Please take a look at that moment when Dustin gets to hold Jenna’s hand without seeing her….You can clearly see his heart racing. The emotions were unmistakable. He was able to hold some of the tears back, although one escaped him. This did build up the tension for when he first got to see her walking down the aisle. Then and There, the emotions got the better of him.

There was a lot more going on that day, though. So let’s drop a little truth bomb here, though. I know Aruba is generally well known for the sunny days and a sure bet for dry weather during your wedding. And it still is. But, we did get a little scare during the preparations. Look, the Aruban flora and fauna also need some water to survive…and yes. However unlikely, there is always a chance it rains on your wedding day. This was such a day. And as you can imagine, Jenna was visibly under pressure. Luckily she was about the say her “I Do” to Dustin.

For the most part, this was the case. Up until the meeting right before the wedding. Look, we have seen many brides, and we know that this” getting married” thing is a lot. We have seen many grooms “just being part of it.” But not Dustin. Once Dustin knew what would happen on the big day. he was on top of things. In the last days leading up to the big day, he carried the torch, making sure we knew changes.

During the preparations, Dustin made sure everything was taken care of, elevating some of the pressure. And when the rain poured down on the big day at about 3 pm, Dusting made sure to express Jenna’s wish to continue as planned and have a ceremony on the beach. (If you plan your ceremony at a resort, they generally have a bad weather option)

Now, I assume you are still reading this, right? And you will be like, “OMG, what if that happens to me ?!?! Let me tell you the following. As a wedding photographer with more than seven years of photographing Destination weddings in Aruba, adding to that the experience of my colleagues here at Aruba Wedding, we have, in all that time, only once had a little spritz of rain, right before the ceremony. Once. Never during a ceremony, and never during the reception. That is not to say this will not happen to your destination wedding. That guarantee we can’t give you. We can say, though, that it is highly unlikely.

And guess what happened on September 4th?? at 5 pm, the weather cleared, and the sun peaked through the clouds right as Jenna walked down the aisle. From that moment on, the only drops falling were tears of joy from Dustin’s face and drinks spilling from glasses during a wild and crazy Wedding Reception !!

Christina & Aaron

Posted on by Sigmar Sommer

Christina & Aaron

Christina & Aaron

“It’s one thing to make a picture of what a person looks like, it’s another thing to make a portrait of who they are.”

Paul Caponigro

I, personally love this quote. It is true, Not every one is as comfortable in-front of a camera. Their personality gets hidden from the camera by their shy appearance, awkward looks etc. Luckily we have a large toolbox of tricks to get that personality to the surface and shine bright in all our clients Wedding Photographs. A Destination wedding in Aruba is something to remember, after all, and nothing helps you remember like wedding photographs & Video.

Sometimes though…just sometimes, we meet people for their wedding photography and we instantly know, that there is now hiding that personality. That personality will shine bright!!

After walking into a barbershop, Aaron sat down in Christina’s chair for a haircut, and, well, basically, he never left. If love at first sight exists, this was definitely it, and from what we saw, it was a love ever so true. While Christina is working her magic with scissors day in and day out, Aaron has a demanding job as a lawyer. “No one calls a lawyer just to talk about the weather,” Aaron points out, “but whenever my mind is clouded with stress, it’s the ever-smiling Christina who brightens up my day.” And wow, how she brightens up places! On April 22, 2017, Christina and Aaron finally tied the knot during their breathtaking destination wedding on Aruba, and Christina was absolutely radiant. Her personality shined so bright Aaron couldn’t take his eyes of her. It couldn’t be more clear that these two are perfectly made for each other. And from all the things they have in common, we would say their shared love of dancing and having fun is high up there on the list…what a party!

There are many things that influence the flow of a wedding-day and unlike in many places like the US, it is customary in Aruba to have your ceremony around 5:30pm, 6pm and do Formal’s or Family Photographs after that, and of-course Bridal Portraits after that.

This is partly because of the fact that it is just too darn hot to do those shots prior to the ceremony, but also due to the fact that most people want their Bridal Portraits to be shot with at sunset on the Aruban Beaches.

When doing “formal’s” or family combinations, it’s important to have someone to help gather all the people together. We, as Wedding Photographer’s don’t know all the names of friend’s and family members, and if we spend too much time trying to wrangle everyone together—first the family of the bride, then the family of the groom, then the bride’s friends, then the groom’s friends, etc.—we’ll run out of sunlight for those stunning sunset Bridal Portraits that every couple wants.

Fortunately, we received lots of help from various guests in pulling everyone together in a timely manner. (And trust us, we know it’s not easy getting Uncle John away from the bar!)

Consequently, we could get all the group shots we needed with these great people and still beat the sun to get those epic sunset shots! It’s highly possible these folks were also very efficient during the photography session because they were eager to get back to the party…what a wild shebang!

We hope the laughter and happiness we witnessed on their wedding night is a reflection of the life that Christina and Aaron are about to share together.

MEET OUR TEAM: Kanter Constandse

Posted on by Sigmar Sommer

MEET OUR TEAM: Kanter Constandse

MEET OUR TEAM: Kanter Constandse

Kanter Constandse is a videographer and editor at Wings Global Media & Aruba Wedding. He has been with the company for just under 5 years. Born and raised in the Netherlands, he moved to Aruba when he was a teenager and grew up here. He has a strong bond with the island and loves the beach sun and fun lifestyle.

He has dedication to deliver bespoke and tailored projects to clients, and enjoys bringing to life all sorts of video projects. In his spare time at Wings he also enjoys shooting documentaries and also spends time shooting underwater photography. In 2022 he won best Professional Underwater photographer of Aruba in a competition organized by Arikok National Park and Aruba Post.

In his free time Kanter enjoys martial arts such as Brazilian Jiu-jutsu and Muay Thai and trains multiple times a week to keep growing and learning more. He also likes to watch films and has a particular fascination with japanese anime and culture.