Isabela, Puerto Rico Wedding | A Colorful, Joy-Filled Weekend Celebrating 20 Years of Love

February 4, 2026

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Some weddings are about a single day.
Shadia and Jose’s Puerto Rico wedding was about a lifetime.

They were married on the exact date of their 20th anniversary, surrounded by the people who have walked with them through every chapter, including their kids, in a place that has always felt like home.

I’ve been lucky enough to know Shadia and Jose for the past few years (Jose is actually my jiu jitsu coach), which made this weekend feel even more special. This was also our second time traveling to Puerto Rico with them, and somehow, each visit feels more meaningful and more beautiful than the last.

This destination wedding was emotional, relaxed, and full of joy. It was a reflection of a love that has grown, stretched, and deepened over two decades.

A Place That’s Always Felt Like Home

Puerto Rico wasn’t just a beautiful backdrop — it’s part of their story.

Jose is from Puerto Rico, and over the years, he and Shadia have returned again and again with their kids. It’s their favorite place in the world. A place tied to family, culture, memory, and belonging. Choosing to get married here felt less like a decision and more like something that had always made sense.

That connection was felt throughout the entire weekend. This wasn’t a couple visiting somewhere new. This was a family coming back to a place they love.

A Full Weekend of Togetherness

Instead of squeezing everything into one busy day, Shadia and Jose planned a full weekend celebration — intentionally slow, communal, and centered on being together.

The weekend began with everyone arriving and gathering for a casual cookout. No formal timeline. No expectations. Just people catching up, sharing food, laughing, and easing into the days ahead. It set the tone perfectly.

After a relaxing and casual cookout night, it was wedding day! The day of the wedding was rich with emotion and celebration. Since my boyfriend and I personally know the couple, and know a lot of the guests, it almost felt like a reunion! Shadia and Jose were married at Villa Montaña Beach Resort in Isabela, Puerto Rico, an oceanfront venue that feels effortlessly beautiful. The setting felt calm, intimate, and grounding with the coastline stretching out behind them, waves rolling in nearby, and warm coastal light filling the space. Just being near water is enough to feel a little more relaxed, especially when things can get so easily chaotic on a wedding day.

The day after the wedding, everything slowed back down again. Everyone spent the day on Crash Boat Beach talking, laughing, resting, and soaking in the fact that they were all together. We ran up and down the dock, jumping off into the clear blue water. There was no schedule, no agenda, just presence.

This is what destination weddings can be when they’re done with intention. They are less about spectacle, and more about the connection and experience.

Married on Their 20th Anniversary

There’s something incredibly powerful about choosing to get married on the same date that marked the beginning of your relationship.

Twenty years of choosing each other. Of building a family. Of returning, again and again, to what matters most.

That history was visible in the quiet moments — in the way they looked at each other, in the ease between them, in the emotion that surfaced without needing to be prompted. This wasn’t just a wedding. It was a celebration of endurance, growth, and commitment.

Photographing that kind of love is an honor.

Documentary Moments, Exactly as They Happened

From the very beginning, Shadia and Jose wanted their photos to feel real. No stiff posing. No over-directing. Just an honest record of the weekend as it unfolded.

Their gallery is full of:

Genuine laughter and easy smiles
Emotional reactions shared between family members
Natural moments with their kids
Unscripted hugs and quiet conversations
A dance floor full of movement, personality, and joy

This is why documentary wedding photography matters. Years from now, these photos won’t just show what the day looked like — they’ll bring back how it felt.

Color, Culture, and Celebration

Puerto Rico’s energy naturally shaped the entire weekend. Color showed up in the surroundings, the details, the light, and the emotion.

The celebration felt bold without being overwhelming, elevated without feeling formal. Stylish, joyful, and completely unforced — exactly right for a couple who values authenticity over tradition.

Once the music started, the energy shifted in the best way. The kind of joy that happens when people feel comfortable, connected, and fully themselves. Shadia even hired a traditional Puerto Rico band to surprise everyone on the dance floor!

A Wedding Rooted in Love, History, and Joy

At its core, this wedding worked because it was genuine. Shadia and Jose honored their past, celebrated their present, and surrounded themselves with the people who matter most — in a place that has always meant everything to them.

No performance. No pressure. Just love, laughter, and a weekend that felt exactly like them.

Planning a Destination Wedding That Feels Like You?

If you’re planning a destination wedding, in Puerto Rico or anywhere else, and want photography that captures real moments, real emotion, and the story as it naturally unfolds, I’d love to connect.

I photograph weddings for candid, documentary-loving couples who care more about experience than perfection, and joy over tradition.

You can reach out here to start the conversation.