Emotional and Elegant: A Destination Wedding at La Concha in Puerto Rico

Gabby and Ryan had imagined sunlight. They had hoped for the warm Puerto Rican breeze drifting across the pool deck during their vows, the golden hour glow softening everything. But the tropics had other plans.

Instead, the rain came in steady sheets — soaking the stone pathways, streaking down the windows, and moving their outdoor ceremony indoors. And yet… it was perfect.

There’s something poetic about the sky crying along with everyone else in the room. The ballroom at La Concha Resort wasn’t their first choice, but it held so much tenderness. Friends and family leaned in close, wiping their eyes as Gabby and Ryan exchanged vows surrounded by tearful smiles and open-hearted joy. The weather didn’t change what the day was about. If anything, it seemed to deepen it.

A Destination Wedding Rooted in Family and Love for Puerto Rico

Gabby and Ryan chose to get married in Puerto Rico because this island is part of Gabby’s heart — her mother’s side of the family is Puerto Rican, and she grew up visiting the island, feeling its rhythm and warmth. Now Ryan, who’s fallen in love with both Gabby and Puerto Rico, joined her in honoring that legacy with a destination wedding at La Concha Resort, a luxury beachfront hotel in San Juan’s vibrant Condado district.

Together, they planned a multi-day wedding experience that went far beyond the ceremony itself — with additional portrait sessions across the island, from Old San Juan to El Yunque Rainforest and the mountains of Orocovis. (More on that below.)

Getting Ready at La Concha Resort in Condado

Their day began with quiet rituals and meaningful heirlooms. Gabby got ready in a suite surrounded by laughter, energy, and a handmade crown passed down from her mother. She wore her family’s heirloom pearls and helped her own mother zip up her dress before slipping into her own. Her best friends cheered and teared up during a sweet first look — and they popped champagne and leaned out the window to celebrate.

Meanwhile, Ryan got ready just down the hall. His suite was filled with anticipation and reverence. He hand-wrote his vows by the window, taking time to feel the weight of the moment. Joshua photographed his calm focus while the room buzzed around him.

First Look & Private Vows Inside La Concha

The couple met on the staircase beneath La Concha’s floor to ceiling windows for their first look. They read their vows privately, tucked into a quiet pocket of time before everything began. Both of them cried. The kind of crying that comes from knowing, from being seen and chosen. A father-daughter first look followed, full of emotion and proud tears. Afterward, we moved into wedding party and family portraits while the skies above San Juan kept shifting between sun and mist. Just as the rain broke briefly, we stole a moment outside for Gabby and Ryan to explore the hotel grounds together.

A Ceremony Indoors — And a Room Full of Emotion

By the time the ceremony began, the skies had cleared — but the rain earlier in the day had already made its mark. Because of the weather during setup hours, Gabby and Ryan’s original plan for a poolside ceremony overlooking the ocean had to shift indoors.

And yet… it couldn’t have been more beautiful.

The La Concha ballroom was glowing — full of warm lighting and the quiet kind of anticipation that fills a room when something sacred is about to happen. Friends and family sat close, watching with tear-filled eyes as Gabby and Ryan exchanged vows. The rain may have changed the location, but it didn’t take anything away. If anything, it grounded the moment. It reminded everyone that the beauty of a wedding lives in the people, not the place.

Newlywed Portraits on the Beach at La Concha

After the ceremony, the air felt still — the kind of calm that settles in after a storm. The skies had cleared, and we stepped outside with Gabby and Ryan to wander the grounds as newlyweds. The light had softened into a quiet silver, wrapping the palms and shoreline in something gentle and reflective.

We began among the greenery that grows right out of the sand, tropical and wild and full of texture. Then we walked toward the edge of the water, where the waves rolled in and broke softly at their feet. Gabby and Ryan held each other in that salt-soaked breeze, breathing in the quiet.

Inside, cocktail hour had begun in the beach-level room. Guests stood by the windows overlooking the shore — and then laughter broke out as Gabby and Ryan ran up to the glass and waved at everyone inside.

A Reception Filled with Traditions and Puerto Rican Joy

The celebration moved upstairs to a glowing ballroom that felt almost underwater — warm lighting mixed with a soft blue atmospheric glow, mermaid-like and magnetic. The tables were dressed with tropical textures: handmade florals crafted from seashells, name cards written on pieces of beach glass, flowing blue runners, and hints of palm and coastal color throughout.

It was elegant in the most effortless, sun-worn way — like the ocean itself had come inside to celebrate.

Gabby and Ryan shared their first dances surrounded by their people, the room bathed in that ocean-toned light. The toasts that followed were full of tenderness and unfiltered laughter — stories shared, tears wiped away, arms around shoulders.

And then the drums began.

As a surprise for their guests, Gabby and Ryan brought in a traditional pleneros group — @yuviplena — who swept in with rhythm and energy and joy. The music filled every corner of the room. People jumped to their feet. The beat took over. It wasn’t just a party — it was a celebration of culture, of love, of everything that had brought them to this moment together.

Planning a Destination Wedding at La Concha Resort in Puerto Rico?

If you’re dreaming of a Puerto Rico destination wedding with a mix of luxury, island energy, and heartfelt connection, La Concha Resort in Condado is a beautiful place to begin. Whether you’re planning an intimate elopement, a full wedding weekend, or something in between, we’d love to help you document it with care, honesty, and artistry.

We’re Eastlyn & Joshua — destination wedding photographers who specialize in emotive, cinematic storytelling with experience in Puerto Rico and beyond. Let’s create something you’ll feel forever.

Reach out here to inquire about Puerto Rico wedding photography

More from Gabby & Ryan’s Puerto Rico Wedding Weekend

This La Concha wedding day was just one part of a multi-day celebration across Puerto Rico. Don’t miss the rest of Gabby and Ryan’s wedding weekend adventures:

• Sunset Elopement-Style Session in Old San Juan → A romantic evening among cobblestone streets, San Cristobal Fort, and the oceanfront by the old city wall.

• Waterfall & Mountain Wedding Portraits in El Yunque Rainforest → A dreamy morning session at Juan Diego Falls and Mt. Britton Tower under the jungle canopy.

• Golden Hour Adventure Session in the Mountains of Orocovis → A mountaintop view and soft wind at Cerro Mime to close the weekend.

Each one will be shared as its own blog post — stay tuned.

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Vendor Credits – La Concha Resort Wedding in Puerto Rico

• Venue: La Concha Resort

• Planner: Impress by Marlene

• Florals: Fioridella

• Hair & Makeup: Vanessa DeJesus

• Dress: Exclusive design from The White Magnolia

• Alterations: Alterations by Ruth

• Officiant: Ana Hernandez

• Ceremony Music: Duo Romanza

• Reception Music: Revolution DJ

• Pleneros: Yuvi Plena

• Catering & Cake: Provided by La Concha Resort

• Photographers: Eastlyn & Joshua