A Cabo Surf Hotel Wedding in San José del Cabo

Kelsea and Daniel’s Cabo Surf Hotel wedding in San José del Cabo was everything they loved rolled into one weekend: the ocean and their favorite people. They wanted a destination wedding that felt like a party for their friends and family. Their wedding weekend in Cabo was the perfect way to make that happen.

Cabo Surf Hotel & Spa is a small oceanfront hotel in San José del Cabo. There’s a surf break right in front of the property, a spa, and space for all your guests to stay on site. Having everyone so close by really made it feel like a shared vacation!

For Daniel (who is a huge surfer!) being this close to the water was an obvious fit. Kelsea has always been drawn to the ocean too. And, as an interior designer, she appreciated the architecture and character of the hotel. It felt personal to them both, and I feel like those are always the best wedding days. 

What I Loved About Their Cabo Surf Hotel Wedding

I loved that the whole wedding weekend took place at the Cabo Surf Hotel. When everyone is staying together, there are naturally more opportunities to be able to capture candid moments. This allows me to really tell the story of your wedding!

That’s one reason I recommend having your photographer stay on property for a destination wedding whenever it’s possible. For Kelsea and Daniel, it allowed me to be part of the weekend in a really natural way. Capturing those small moments also lets you feel like you’re reliving the day when you look at your gallery. That’s exactly how I want my couples to feel.

We had gorgeous architecture at the hotel, the stone around the property, the rocky shoreline, and of course the beach for portraits. Their wedding gallery has a wonderfully complete and varied feel. Kelsea and Daniel were able to stay close to their guests and celebrate, not rush around the city.

Looking for help planning your wedding timeline? Grab my free guide to a stress free wedding day timeline!

A Beautiful Beachfront Ceremony in San José del Cabo

Kelsea and Daniel knew they wanted to get married by the ocean, so their beachfront ceremony was not only stunning, but it felt very personal and connected to them.

One of my favorite photographs from the entire day happened right before Kelsea walked down the aisle. She looked absolutely beautiful in her Alexandra Grecco dress as she neared the beach. She stood there, on the stairs, with her dad. They looked at each other and both had these huge smiles as they walked down the last few steps of the aisle. 

Those are the photographs that mean the most to me. I love creating beautiful portraits, and I’m happy to give guidance and direction to my couples when needed. Most importantly, though, I want to leave space for couples to be present on their day, and to capture exactly what it felt like for them. 

Check out some behind the scenes highlights from their day. 

A Surf Inspired Beach Reception 

The reception design had a really fun connection back to Daniel’s love of surfing! Instead of generic table numbers, the centerpieces and tables were named after some of his favorite surf spots. This was definitely one of the most creative wedding ideas I’ve seen, and I loved it. 

The floral design brought fun pops of color into the ceremony and reception. The tables felt beautifully elevated for the outdoor celebration by the water. Kelsea’s interior design background really came into play, because the visual details and architecture played such a big role in the weekend.

See more details from their reception on Instagram. 

Cabo Destination Wedding Planning Tips

A destination wedding changes the way you plan for your wedding day, so there are a few decisions along the way to help make things easier while you’re planning. As a destination wedding photographer, I’ve really been able to help my couples through this process.

Have your photographer stay on site when possible. This is especially useful if having candid photographs throughout the weekend matters to you. It means less commuting and more opportunity for your photographer to be around for unscripted, documentary style moments. 

See more about the experience working with me.

Hire a wedding planner in addition to your hotel coordinator. Cabo Surf Hotel has a wedding team that helps with the property and event logistics. For design, vendor communication and all the moving pieces surrounding a destination wedding, I still recommend working with a dedicated planner. Kelsea and Daniel worked with Cabo Wedding Services, who were an absolute dream to work with and really made everything come together flawlessly. I’d highly recommend them! 

Give your guests a simple arrival plan. Los Cabos International Airport was a few miles away from the hotel, and many resorts in the area require a shuttle or other transportation to get there. Depending on where it is along the coast, it can take anywhere from 30 minutes to over an hour to arrive after leaving the airport, so either plan for group transportation, or make sure that your guests have all the transportation info they need ahead of time. 

The best time of year for a Cabo wedding is October through April. San Jose Del Cabo has a warmer, stormier period during the year, usually from May through September. A sunny day in Cabo doesn’t mean that a storm can’t roll in quickly, so make sure to talk with your planner and venue about having a rain plan as backup! 

There are two Cabos: Cabo San Lucas and San Jose Del Cabo. San José Del Cabo is where the major international airport is located. Nearby are some resorts like Cabo Surf Hotel, and fine dining venues with a quiet, charming vibe. Cabo San Lucas is about a 40 minute drive from the airport, and you’ll find a higher energy, party vibe downtown. A trip from one Cabo to the other may be a pretty big vibe shift. Also, it could take more time than you may at first realize, so plan accordingly!

Give guests room to enjoy the destination. Cabo Surf Hotel has surfing and spa options right on property, and San José Del Cabo also has paddleboarding, golf and plenty of other activities for guests who want to make a fun trip out of the wedding. 

Plan early for the legal aspects of getting married in Mexico. You’ll want to confirm the legal requirements early on with your planner and the local Civil Registry. Specific requirements and documents can vary by state. Some also choose to plan for a symbolic ceremony in Mexico, while completing the legal part in the states to simplify the process.

Is Weekend Wedding Coverage The Right Fit?

Kelsea and Daniel were very clear that they wanted this weekend to feel like a party with their friends and family! That’s exactly when destination wedding coverage makes the most sense. The story is bigger than just a few events. It’s everyone traveling to the same place, enjoying the weekend together and having a fun celebration. 

On the wedding day itself, I never wanted Kelsea and Daniel to feel like they had to disappear for photos. We took portraits along the coastline and the hotel, and still kept the focus on getting them back to the people who had traveled to Cabo for them and their wedding.

That balance is a huge part of how I photograph weddings. You can have intentional portraits and still be fully present for your wedding. A thoughtful approach is key, and something I love to do for my couples.

You can see more full wedding galleries from travel weddings + wedding weekends on the blog.

Photos captured on film from Kelsea & Daniel’s wedding day.

Kind Words From Kelsea and Daniel

“Kelly is by far everything we wanted and didn’t know we needed for our wedding photographer. We were so pleased with Kelly for our engagement session that for our destination wedding we decided to use her and her team rather than risk using a photographer we didn’t know at our wedding location. Kelly was fully invested from the start, helping with the timeline, the family photo list, helping refine photo ideas, and just genuinely reassuring me that everything will be perfect.

During the wedding weekend she blended in with our family and friends so naturally. She captured every moment, every memory, every feeling in a way I never saw coming. Her photos are so beautifully natural, organic and tell our story so perfectly. She was by my side every step of the way with a big smile on her face, capturing those special moments that brought me to tears: our private vows, wedding morning beach and surf session, a moment with my mom reading a letter, the moment before my dad and I started walking down the aisle, even a simple teary eye moment to myself.

We could not have chosen a more perfect photographer to be part of our special day. I could go on and on about her and her amazing team! Choose Kelly for your day, you will love her as much as we did!”

Planning A Destination Wedding in San José Del Cabo

Photographing Kelsea and Daniel in Cabo had so much of what I love in a destination wedding weekend! The ocean, time for their people, thoughtful portraits and moments that were able to happen naturally and authentically throughout their celebration.

If you’re planning a Cabo wedding or destination weekend and want photos that let you stay present while photographing how it really felt, reach out to chat about your wedding day and see if we’re a good fit.

Vendor Credits

Photography: Kelly H Photo @kellyh_photo // Planner: Cabo Wedding Services @caboweddingservices @ileanacaboweddingservices // Venue: Cabo Surf Hotel & Spa @cabosurfhotel // Florals & Rentals: @monicasantosproductions // Hair & Makeup: Makeup by Jeisa @makeupbyjeisa // Dress: Alexandra Grecco @alexandragrecco // DJ: DJ Mijares @djmijares // Hotel Coordination: @cabosurfhotelweddings