Danielle & Derrek's beach portrait with the groom kissing the bride's forehead

Stories from Paradise

Danielle & Derrek

"At the end of the night, we ran straight into the ocean, dress and all!"

Just friends at first, Derrek secretly reached out to one of Danielle’s friends, trying to figure out how to ask her out.

Danielle and Derrek met on the very first day of their residency orientation.

Danielle and Derrek’s first look wedding moment on a tropical walkway
Danielle & Derrek walking hand-in-hand along a tropical wooden boardwalk toward the beach
Danielle & Derrek kiss at their beach ceremony after walking down the aisle
Danielle & Derrek posing with guests under a beach ceremony arch

He had a crush but wasn’t sure how to ask her out, especially since they worked together. So he did what any nervous guy would do and got a friend involved. A little matchmaking magic later, they ended up at a hockey game with a group of friends. One incredible hangout sesh turned into many, and before they knew it, they were inseparable! Fast forward to a well-earned vacation in Cancun. With Valentine’s Day around the corner, Danielle had a feeling a proposal might be coming.

But she had made one thing very clear: a Valentine’s Day engagement? Way too cliché. So, Derrek popped the question on the beach the day before! It was an unforgettable ‘yes’ moment! A destination wedding in Cancun just made sense, it was where they had decided on forever, after all. Ocean Riviera Paradise resort checked all the boxes, and before they knew it, their dream wedding was in motion! The wedding day itself? A dream.

The couple spent the morning lounging by the pool before parting ways to get ready. With just 34 guests, the day felt intimate, relaxed, and exactly how they imagined it. The ceremony and reception both took place on the beach. And even when rain showed up during the reception, nobody ran for cover. Guests stayed out, dancing, laughing, and making the most incredible memories. In the end, the rain became one of the most unforgettable parts of their day!

Danielle and Derrek’s first look wedding moment on a tropical walkway
"Everything about our day was perfect, and we wouldn’t change a thing!"
  • Karla, Certified Wedding Specialist at Paradise Weddings
  • Ryan, Certified Wedding Specialist at Paradise Weddings

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