Not even a passing hurricane deterred the wedding plans, as they tied the knot right by the ancient El Morro Fortress in Old San Juan. But first, let me tell you how these two got together to create the adventure of a lifetime, in their own words!
Tyler moved to Chicago after he graduated college from Western Illinois University. I moved to Chicago from northern Michigan on a whim to go to design school. We met in the winter of 2008 at a bar where we were both working. We got to talking and discovered that we lived just a few blocks from one another. It’s at this point Tyler claims he knew he wanted to date me, but I’m pretty sure he was only talking to me because he wanted a ride home, as I had a car in the city but he did not.
So here we are, happily dating, when one day Tyler (who I should mention is a spontaneous sort of person, whereas I am more of a ‘let’s formulate a plan, and then a backup, and then to cover our bases, a extra emergency backup plan’ kind of person) tells me about a promotion that an airline is doing, where for $600 you purchase a package which lets you take unlimited flights with this airline for one month. I told him that sounded like an interesting promotion and that was that. 10 minutes later he calls me back to inform me that he just bought 2 of those tickets. From there, we spent the next couple weeks planning a month-long 14 city vacation, which involved us heading to the airport every Sunday, flying out for the week, and returning Friday evening so I could bartend for the weekend and then flying out again once the weekend was over. In hindsight it was extremely romantic and the experience of a lifetime, but at the time it was a little stressful. I should mention we did this entire trip living out of a backpack. 2 people’s things, for one week, in one backpack. So I had made Tyler a deal before we started our vacation, that I would go anywhere and see anything, but at the end of it, I wanted to go to a beach and relax. Any beach. Anywhere. I didn’t care. And that’s how we found and fell in love with San Juan, Puerto Rico!
So, when he proposed to me in 2010, we decided a destination wedding would be the best thing for us. Since my family is from Michigan (with extended family pretty much everywhere in the States) and his family in Southern Illinois, they would all have to travel regardless, and we figured none would mind having to travel to a tropical location as opposed to the cornfields of Illinois. He proposed to me on 8-9-10, we figured 9-10-11 as a wedding date only seemed appropriate! And, a week ago, we were married, on a perfect day, at El Morro!
Joseph –
We would like to thank you for being so patient with us last weekend. We were so stressed, and with the time of the ceremony changing and a very bad storm coming by so close and everything, it was just really nice to have a photographer who was understanding and awesome!! We are excited to see all the pictures!
Thanks again Joseph!
Jessica Kukla & Tyler Sincalir
Tags: a perfect day, a promotion, adventure of a lifetime, airline, airport, all the pictures, ancient, being so patient, chicago, decided a destination wedding, discovered, el morro, el morro fortress, excited to see, experience of a lifetime, flying out, graduated college, happily dating, he wanted to date me, Illinois, In their own words, it was extremely romantic, it was just really nice, joseph, next couple of weeks, northern michigan, Old San Juan, passing hurricane, proposed to me, San Juan Puerto Rico., thank you, they tied the knot, time of the ceremony, to have a photographer, travel to, tropical location, understanding and awesome, university, unlimited flights, vacation, we found and fell in love with, wedding adventure, wedding plans
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“Do you dream of having your wedding at the beach in a warm and gorgeous sunset afternoon?
Well, your dream may just come true! Imagine getting married in the nice, cozy, warm sands in a Caribbean Island. And then having a talented lenz technician capture the whole story, from start to finish! Guess what? You can! I know you can have this, because I do just that, all the time. Most of the brides & grooms that select my services are mainly from all over the United States. From as far away as New Mexico to Colorado to Maine to Florida, including New York, Texas, Illinois, Michigan, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, etc. I have so many wedding stories to share with you, but I prefer leaving you with some images, just to give you a feel for what I mean.”
Joseph LaMotta Photography




Tags: at the beach, because I do just that, by the sea, capture your whole story, Colorado, cozy, dream of having your wedding, Florida, from all over the United States, from start to finish, Guess what? you can, Illinois, imagine getting married, Island, Joseph LaMotta Photography, Maine, Michigan, most brides & grooms, New Mexico, New York, nice, North Carolina, PR, San Juan, select my services, so many wedding stories, some images, sunset weddings, talented lenz technician, Texas, to give you a feel, to share with you, Virginia, warm and gorgeous sunset afternoon, warm sands, Washington DC, what I mean, you can have this, your dream may just come true
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AMY & DAVE’s WEDDING June, 2011
I was very happy and flattered to receive a testimonial from their wedding. In their own words they sent me a message saying this:
“My husband and I got married and had a small ceremony on the island of Vieques. Photography was very important to us, and it made me a little nervous to work with a photographer who we would not be able to meet ahead of time. I found Joseph’s website and liked the feeling that his images evoked much more than other photographers that were presented to us, and so we contacted him. I spoke with him by phone and got a better sense of who he was, how his style evolved, and his motivations for being a wedding photographer, which left us feeling more confident. He sent us several full weddings to look at, all of which were very different in style, to get a much better sense of his style and approach. We liked what we saw, so we hired him to travel to Vieques to shoot our wedding.
Throughout the process (from planning to finish), he communicated with us and answered our questions in a timely manner.The day of the wedding, he arrived on time, and was able to spend some time with both of us getting ready. During the ceremony, he was up close, which a lot of guests noticed and were slightly distracted by, but we appreciated it because we had asked him ahead of time for some very specific photos, which required that he be very close up. To us the photos are what people will remember, so we were glad that he did what he needed to do to get the shots we wanted. During the reception, he allowed people to eat and enjoy themselves without intruding, but he still got tons of photos of people having a great time. His presence was very well-balanced. We had some offbeat requests for photos, and he rolled with them in a very easy-going way throughout the evening.
During both the ceremony and reception, we were thrilled to see that he captured not just moments, but the emotion in the moments. It takes a lot of skill to do that. When the pictures came back to us, it truly brought us back to the day of the wedding. We loved his style of composition because it fit the tone of our wedding: solid in skill, yet casual. But having seen other weddings he has shot, he seems to be able to adapt to each individual style, which is really great.
He delivered the photos by website fairly quickly after the wedding, the photo CD came a little later, and even several weeks after final delivery of the CD, he kept working with us to do some minor changes to a few of the pictures, which we really appreciated. His portrait shots are equal in quality to his photojournalistic shots, which is great. And some of our favorite shots were in the dark, which obviously can be challenging. Our photos arrived on disk in the mail, with a lovely cover featuring a photo of us. The little details count!
We had a very good experience working with Joseph and we would definitely recommend him to anyone getting married.”
Amy & Dave
Washington, DC
Tags: a photo of us, able to adapt, all of which were very different in style, allowed people to eat and enjoy themselves, answered our questions, being a wedding photographer, brought us back to the day of our wedding, but the emotion in the moments, by website, captured not just the moments, challenging, cover featuring a photo, delivered the photos, during the reception, each individual style, easy-going way, fairly quickly, favorite shots were in the dark, feeling more confident, fit the tone of our wedding, flattered, from start to finish, getting ready, got a better sense of who he was, got married, got tons of photos, had a small ceremony, he arrived on time, he communicated with us, he rolled with them, he was up close, his photojournalistic shots, his portrait shots are equal in quality, his presence was very well balanced, how his style evolved, I found Joseph’s website, I spoke with him by phone, I was very happy, in the mail, In their own words, liked the feeling that his images evoke, loved his style of composition, lovely cover, motivations, obviously can be challenging, on the island of Vieques, Our photos arrive, our photos arrived, people having a great time, photography, photojournalistic shots, receive a testimonial, sent us several full weddings, takes a lot of skill, the little details count, the mail, they sent me a message, Throughout the process, to anyone getting married., very important to us, very recent wedding, very specific shots, we appreciated it, we contacted him, working with Joseph, would definitely recommend him
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This couple came all the way from Ireland to get married here in beautiful San Juan. Puerto Rico being a tropical paradise, was a big plus which made it the perfect destination for their wedding, because Ireland is a very cold country, but also because Bethany’s mom lives here. Gail, who prefers they call him Billy instead, is a towering six foot five big man, which makes most people have to look up to him! They are both christians and had a very nice ceremony at the First Union Church in the Condado area, which was sweet and emotional. They brought a band and 2 local musicians to play special hymns. Afterwards we went to the beach to take some photos, and it was a gorgeous sunny day!!! The reception was at La Casona Restaurant. The owners who I already new, are originally from Spain, living here for several years now. Both, the best man and maid of honors, described their adventurous friendship they’ve had over the years with them and how Billy used to misbehave and get in a little trouble when a bit younger! Now born again Christians, they told me how their life has changed and how it has made a big difference in their lives. Here’s a few pictures you can see from the wedding.


Tags: adventurous friendship, beautiful san juan, big man, ceremony at the First Union Church, Christians, gorgeous sunny day, how their life has changed, Ireland, perfect destination, pictures you can see from the wedding, Puerto Rico., their wedding, to get married, to the beach to take some photos, tropical paradise
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Amy and Ricardo selected beautiful San Juan Puerto Rico as their destination for tying the knot. This couple came all the way from Colorado to celebrate the wedding with family and close friends. They chose me as their photographer, because they said I had the style that matched exactly what they wanted. It was a very special evening with some great music and dancing. Her’s just a sample of photos from their wedding.

Tags: beautiful san juan, celebrate the wedding, dancing, destination, family and close friends, great music, Puerto Rico., sample of photos., special evening, style matched, their photographer, tying the knot
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Do you want to get married in a romantic surrounding, with an old world charm and gothic architecture that is close to the sea? San Juan PR provides just that and more! I have shot many weddings for couples that decided to have their wedding here in Puerto Rico, escaping to a more tropical and different atmosphere and because it’s where they dreamed it would be. I want to share with you some of the images I’ve made for destination wedding couples around all of the United States that have planned and done their wedding here.




Tags: a more tropical, awesome., close to the sea, couples, decided, destination wedding couples, different atmosphere, emailed me, escaping, Florida, gothic architecture, military, Old San Juan, old world charm, parents are local, photos I did, planned and done, Puerto Rico., romantic scenery, romantic surrounding, San Juan PR, shot many weddings, some images, that and more, their wedding, their wedding here, United Sates, want to get married, wedding, where they dreamed
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A recent wedding of mine this past month, was at the San Jorge catholic church and the Conrad Condado Plaza Hotel, both here in San Juan, Puerto Rico. I made a selection of some of my favorites, which I’m including here in a photo collage. A rather large wedding of about 300 people, in which everyone had a great time and everything ran smoothly. I met Natalia through her cousin, to which I also was her photographer and captured her wedding pictures.

Tags: August, captured wedding pictures., Conrad Condado Plaza Hotel, photo collage, photographer, Puerto Rico., recent wedding, San Jorge catholic church, San Juan, selection of favorites
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KNOW A WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER IN PUERTO RICO THAT CAN ALSO HELP WITH ADVICE IN OTHER AREAS?
Having a destination wedding in Puerto Rico is by far the best alternative, according to most newly wedded couples from all over United States. Most people speak the same language or are bilingual like me, same currency, no passport required, tropical weather all year long, many different hotels, venues and places to celebrate, plus it’s only a few hours hop by plane, among other things. But the biggest reason is, because you actually SAVE money, having a more intimate kind of wedding with around 30-70 guests, instead of a larger, more elaborate and expensive one with 150 people or more, in your home town. I am an experienced wedding photographer based here in San Juan Puerto Rico, serving all areas and neighboring islands as well. A few of the things brides & grooms enjoy about me and my services is that I am fully bilingual, which helps in knowing the couples needs, and I’m able to help with valuable tips and information about weddings here, besides my natural and romantic photojournalist style photography. Contact me and let me know the date of your wedding in advance and to see how I can best be of service.
My main site is: www.lamottaphoto.com
Phone: 787-370-1133
By Joseph LaMotta
Destination Wedding Photographer
Professional Photographers of America
On Aug 12, 2010
Tags: 787-370-1133, bilingual like me, destination wedding photographer, experienced wedding photographer, fully bilingual, good wedding photographer in pr, hotels venues and places, intimate kind of wedding, Joseph LaMotta, knowing the couples needs, most newly wedded couples, natural romantic, no password required, photography, photojournalist style, same currency, same language, San Juan Puerto Rico., serving all areas, tips & information, United States, you actually save money
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It was an exciting wedding celebrated on the beach in one of our beautiful Islands here in Puerto Rico. I selected some of my favorites, but only a few out of so many I like. I can only describe this young couple as cool and great to work with. We all had an awesome time at this destination beach wedding, at a nice tropical spot to the east of the main island.
Just a glimpse of this awesome couple and the gorgeous scenery we had for some exciting photos.
By Joseph LaMotta
Destination Wedding photographer
Tags: awesome couple, beautiful islands, celebrated on the beach, destination wedding photographer, exciting wedding, gorgeous couple, Joseph LaMotta, Puerto Rico.
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Tags: beach ceremonies in puerto rico, by the beach, destination weddings in puerto rico, first few photos, from the states, Korean ceremony, main wedding, medicine, outdoor ceremony, psicology, Puerto Rico., recent wedding, Ritz Carlton, San Juan PR, Simon's parents, tradition, wedding photography
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