_{All photographs (c) Lansing Michigan wedding photographer Heather K. Please do not download without permission.}

As Ian and Jen’s wedding photographer for their Puerto Rico wedding, I would have been crazy not to suggest a beach Trash the Dress session while we were there. Ian and Jen, being crazy adventurous awesome people, were all for it! …and so, at 7am the morning after they were married, we snuck away to the beaches of Esperanza, PR, to battle the sand fleas and create some photographs of epic proportion. What resulted was (1) some of my proudest moments as a photographer and (2) a heck of a lot of sand in my pants. …Totally worth it.

This little guy below was bit camera shy, but held still long enough to be posed with Ian and Jen’s stand-in ‘wedding’ rings. He welcomed us trepidatiously (can’t believe I finally got to use that word!) to the beach and watched us as we got settled…

The morning light was absolutely perfect- the clouds were thick and heavy, and the water created a mist that reflected the hazy light…

As we turned to head to another part of the beach, we spotted a rainbow over the palm trees! Not going to lie… I kind of just stood there gaping for a minute!  …Jen wiggled her eyebrows, pointed at the sky, and said: “I called in a favor”.

We then headed out to Hacienda Tamarindo, where Ian and Jen had been staying. It is a Inn that overlooks the gorgeous beaches of PR. The staff are so hospitable and kind- and despite the incredible beauty of the Inn and the surroundings, we always felt comfortable and cozy.

The streets of Esperanza were still barren this time of day (the nightlife snaps the strip into action!), and we made our way down to the docks and one more set of TTD beach photographs.

These photographs are among some of my own very favorite work to date. The colors, the lighting, the couple- all fantastic… and remarkably cooperative.

Understandably concerned about the (heavy!) sand accumulating in her dress, Jen did what any logistically minded bride would: leap with her new husband into a freshwater pool back at the Casa Piedra Grande, of course!

Finally, with the heat of the day getting into full swing, we set the dress out to dry. (Jen would be wearing it again at her and Ian’s Waterfront Bar and Grille vow renewal.)

_{Note to those curious: Jen had the dress professionally cleaned upon returning to the states, and it was good as new- no marks, stains, or remaining sand.}