Miami Adventure Wedding & Elopement Photographer | Puerto Varas, Chile | Cristina + Chris in Patagonia

South Florida Wedding Photographer Travels To Chilean Family Farm For Intimate Summer Solstice Wedding

Photographing my cousin and her life partner's December 21st wedding in Patagonia was beyond a dream come true. My dad was born in Santiago, Chile and his whole family moved to DC when he was in high school. About 20 years ago my grandparents and aunt and uncle started to feel the pull of the fresh air, clear lakes, and mountainous skyline and opened a bed and breakfast called Quinta Del Lago about a 2 hour plane flight south of the capital in Puerto Varas. (You may have heard of the town in 2015 Volcan Calbuco erupted and covered the area in ash.) My uncle renovated an old german farm house next to Lago Llanquihue and turned it into a BnB with lakeside cabins, volcano backdrop, and working farm. Now, my grandparents live on the farm with my cousins and their 4 girls who take care of horses, alpacas, sheep, cows, chickens, cats, dogs, and tend to apple and cherry orchards and the gardens. You can follow their adventures on Instagram and book your stay on Air BnB too!

My family lives all over the world, so it was perfect that Cristina (Titi) and Chris decided to get married in paradise and bring us all together to celebrate their love on the summer solstice. Chile is special not only because of family, but Chris also proposed to Cristina on a backpacking trip to Parque Nacional Villarrica and upon return to the farm asked our grandfather for this blessing. Chris and Cristina are the most caring, welcoming, and loving earth people. They currently live in California on their own homestead where they teach others about organic farming and make medicinal tinctures from their garden. Their connection to the earth and its cycles is what inspired the summer solstice celebrations to take places right at 1:30pm, the peak of the longest day of the year for us in the southern hemisphere.

Titi and Chris planned the most amazing day! The week leading up to the wedding was so special too because our whole family got to be together, sing songs around the fire, go on horse rides and white water rafting together, and just enjoy the goodness and love of the festivities. Titi and Chris also were excited to include their adorable one year old, Isaiah's, in their wedding too!

The personal details of the wedding are so special. The family came together in celebration but also to help throw an awesome party!
Dress: Titi wore her mother's wedding dress
Jewelry: Titi's bracelet was her mom's (and my dad's) grandmother, so our great-grandmother's, Laura or, "Lala" who I was named after! 
Invitation: Chris's mom, Lynn Frost, is an artist and painted Volcan Osorno on the invites
Rings: Chris wore a handmade ring from Puerto Montt inlaid with volcanic stone 
Flowers & Centerpiece: Family helped cut wild flowers to decorate the venue and Titi's bouquet are from our grandmother's garden.
Arch: Chris hand wove the arches from Kila from La Quinta's backyard temperate rain forest and hand laid the stone aisle www.quintadellago.com/
Wine: Another family member, Pato, has a restaurant in Puerto Natales, Chile called Aldea and he hand selected all the wine for the wedding!
Band: Evelyn Cornejo Banwww.facebook.com/EvelynCornejoOficial/d is from Santiago and friends of my cousins!
Getting Ready: Family's working farm and BnB La Quinta Del Lago
Venue: Cabins down the road from the family farm called Rio Pescado

The ceremony was touching and personal as the waves of the lake lapped and snow capped Volcan Osorno peaked out in the background. The officiants blessed all guests as they entered the arch way with flowers and sage. Titi and Chris honored those who could not attend by placing a rose in a bowl of water and saying their name. They were later released into Lago Llanquihue. They exchanges rings and vows, sealed their promises with a kiss, and then danced to their friend's singing as we threw flower petals in a colorful shower of love and joy.

At the reception, local seafood was served with an array of all thing yummy in Chile like salmon from the lake, empanadas, fresh salads, Chilean cakes, and even a traditional asado where a lamb is roasted over a pit the entire day. The toasts were brilliant as family and friends shared memories, stories, and well wishes for the perfect couple. 

I am still so honored and humbled by the opportunity to capture these memories Titi & Chris. I loved seeing all my family in one place to honor and love on Titi & Chris and the personal touches of the wedding made it even more memorable and special. 

At the end of this post you can also see a little video I made shot and edited on my iPhone of all the amazing things the Lakes Region of Chile has to offer.

Thank you Titi and Chris for letting me document your amazing day and for bringing everyone together for the most magical celebration!

PS

You can also see my two other Chile Blog Posts!
Volcano/River Engagement my my cousin
Farm/Lake Portrait Session with my sister

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