As the years have gone by and I have photographed more and more clients, I’ve gotten so wrapped up in sharing client images that I’ve let the personal stuff fall to the wayside. One of my goals for this year is to change that! So I’m going to start posting once a month with a personal post all about me. Anyone that knows me well, knows how much Aruba holds a special place in my heart, so I couldn’t think of a better place to start!

Aruba is nestled in the heart of the Southern Caribbean. The average temp is a balmy 82 degrees, with more sunny days than any other Caribbean island. I am a sun, sand, and turquoise water worshiper, so what’s not to love about the “One Happy Island”?! 

The Beginning

It all started back in 2003.

I had caught the travel bug and I had convinced my boyfriend to plan a trip with me. Neither of us had ever been to Aruba before. We couldn’t wait to go on a tropical vacation together!

A few weeks before our trip, we found out our direct boss would be there the week before us. My boyfriend (now husband) & I worked together and technically were not supposed to be dating, but we thought.. Pffff what are the chances we will see him. Slim to none right??

The Odds were against us

There are glass windows lining the hallway that you need to walk down after you get off the plane in Aruba. On the other side of the glass is where all the sad faces of passengers waiting to depart sit. Rick & I get off the plane super excited to start our vacation and walk down the hall headed for customs when a man comes running over to the glass waving. Ugh. It was our boss. He was waiting to get on the same plane we arrived on to head home!!! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! Without going into all of the details, I ended up leaving my job once we returned home.

Even though I lost my job, that trip was a trip of a lifetime. And so, our love of Aruba began.

In 2008, we went down on a trip with some close friends and got engaged! We told my mom by posing for a pic on the webcam at the resort next door. The quality of the webcam image was hard to read and she had no idea what our sign said until we called her!

Of course Aruba was the perfect place for our wedding! We married there in 2009 on the Renaissance’s private island. 35 of our closest family and friends travelled to Aruba for our special day in what was the most epic week ever!

In 2011, I shot my very first destination wedding in Aruba. Talynn and Lou said their “I-do’s” on the same island and in the same spot my husband and I did!

In 2012, Rick won a trip through work and our daughter, Cailyn went on her very first plane ride at just 5 months old.

2014 was our 9th trip and we celebrated our 5th year wedding anniversary on the island.

In 2016, our son Cole joined us on his very 1st trip. Over the years, we’ve visited Aruba 11 times. Countless amazing memories have been created with every trip and we could not love Aruba more!

Celebrating 10 years

November 2019, my husband and I celebrated our 10 year wedding anniversary! I really wanted professional photos of us as a couple and as a family, so I hired Aruba local, Crooze Photography to document this milestone and time in our lives. I love these images so much!

We also celebrated Cole’s 4th birthday while there since his birthday is the day after our anniversary. What a lucky boy!

I love that we’ve grown here, shared and created precious memories with family and friends here, and feel like we are “home” as soon as we arrive. Most of all, I’m so happy that we’ve been able to share the love of this island with our kiddos.

Thanks for reading a little bit about me! I hope you too get to enjoy the magic that is Aruba! xoxo

Planning a destination wedding?! I am your gal!! CONTACT ME or email alison@alisonmariephotography.com.