Destination Wedding at Hotel El Convento in Historic San Juan Puerto Rico

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Being the destination wedding photographer for Chady Dunmore and David Garibaldi in Historic San Juan, Puerto Rico felt like documenting more than a celebration—it felt like capturing legacy, intention, and return.

Chady has built her career as a fitness coach, keynote speaker, and influencer rooted in discipline and transformation. Her work centers on helping women step into strength—physically and mentally—with confidence and clarity. David, internationally recognized for his high-energy speed painting performances, is known for creating large-scale portraits in minutes, often in front of sold-out arenas. His artistry is kinetic and bold, turning blank canvases into powerful visual statements. Together, they are equal parts drive and creativity—two entrepreneurs who understand both performance and purpose.

Choosing to marry in Chady’s motherland of Puerto Rico added depth to every moment of the week. It wasn’t simply about destination appeal; it was about heritage, accessibility for extended family, and honoring where her story began. There is something grounding about returning home to begin a new chapter.

Few places rival the cinematic texture of Old San Juan. With over 500 years of Spanish colonial history layered into its architecture, the city is stacked with pastel facades, blue cobblestone streets, wrought-iron balconies, and monumental stone fortifications overlooking the sea. Knowing the wedding day would move quickly, we chose to photograph portraits the day before. The unhurried pacing allowed us to lean into the city’s depth—different outfits, varied light, and space to explore without the constraints of a timeline. Against sun-washed walls and dramatic shadows, their images feel refined yet natural, polished without losing authenticity.

Though both are based in Sacramento, they brought trusted creatives across 3,000 miles to ensure the week felt cohesive. Ernesto Robledo styled Chady for each event, enhancing her signature strength with an elevated softness. Her gown from Miosa Bride offered modern structure and timeless elegance, while David’s custom suit by R. Douglas Custom Clothier included meaningful stitching hidden inside the lining—a subtle personal detail that spoke volumes. To bring their vision to life from afar, they entrusted the production to Exclusive Weddings Puerto Rico, ensuring every detail translated seamlessly within the historic setting.

Their ceremony took place at Plazuela de la Rogativa, perched along the stone walls overlooking the bay. The location effortlessly blends old-world architecture with expansive ocean views, creating a setting that feels intimate yet open. Rows of white Chiavari chairs framed a clean aisle softened by a simple runner, allowing the centuries-old textures to remain the focal point. White hydrangeas arranged in woven baskets and modern pedestals added organic elegance, while tropical trees overhead cast shifting patterns of light across the terrace. The contrast between historic fortifications, crisp white ceremony details, lush palms, and open water created a scene that felt inherently editorial—timeless and deeply rooted in place.

Just steps away, Hotel El Convento awaited for the reception, making it easy for guests to transition from ceremony to celebration. Pleneros led family and friends through the streets, transforming the walk into a procession filled with rhythm and joy—an experience that felt distinctly Puerto Rican and entirely personal.

Chady and David chose not to see each other before the ceremony, preserving that quiet anticipation at the aisle. During cocktail hour, we moved swiftly through family portraits before slipping away for the final stretch of golden light. Those last 15 minutes—just the two of them against stone walls and fading sky—hold a softness that balances the scale of the day.

Inside Hotel El Convento, the reception design unfolded as tropical romance elevated by greenery and warm gold. The venue’s soaring ceilings, wrought-iron chandeliers, terracotta arches, and dramatic mural created a grand architectural backdrop. Long banquet tables dressed in crisp ivory linens were layered with gold-rimmed chargers, polished flatware, and delicate glassware, adding a luminous glow to every place setting. Lush banana leaves and palm fronds introduced movement and height, while low clusters of white and cream blooms kept the palette cohesive. Candlelight stretched the length of each table in hurricanes and tapers, amplifying the warmth of the gold accents and casting a soft glow across the checkered floor. The result was a seamless blend of Old San Juan grandeur and tropical elegance—destination-inspired yet timeless.

The road to this wedding required patience and flexibility—balancing schedules, distance, and the priority of gathering the right people in one place. But when the day arrived, everything felt intentional. The celebration carried on long after I packed up my cameras, a testament to the energy that defines them both.

What lingers most isn’t just the architecture or the design—it’s the feeling of home. In a city layered with history, surrounded by family and culture, Chady and David began their marriage exactly where it made the most sense: grounded in heritage, fueled by ambition, and fully present in the moment.