There are some wedding days that are almost impossible to put into words, and Marissa and Jake’s Renaissance Island wedding in Aruba is one of them.
Imagine taking a private boat to your wedding venue, arriving to flamingos wandering along the shore, saying your vows with bright blue Caribbean water crashing into the rocks behind you, sneaking away for sunset photos on an empty island, and then dancing with all of your favorite people on the beach late into the night.
It sounds like something out of a dream, but somehow that still doesn’t fully describe what it feels like to experience a wedding on Renaissance Island.
This wedding was also incredibly personal for me. Marissa and I have known each other for 17 years. We met playing volleyball in middle school, became inseparable for years, and her family was literally my second family growing up. Getting to spend her wedding week in Aruba as both her friend and photographer was something I will treasure for the rest of my life.
And while I might be a little biased because I love these two so much, their wedding was genuinely one of the most beautiful celebrations I’ve ever photographed.
If you’re considering a Renaissance Wind Creek Aruba Resort wedding, especially a ceremony and reception on Renaissance Island, here’s a look at what the experience can actually be like.
Getting Ready for a Renaissance Wind Creek Aruba Resort Wedding
Marissa and Jake actually started their wedding day away from Renaissance Wind Creek at the Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino on Palm Beach. They got ready in their rooms and then met up outside for their first look, which gave them a chance to have a private moment together before the rest of the day really began.
From a photography and timeline perspective, doing their first look early was one of the best decisions they could have made. They got to spend majority of their day together and capture every photo they wanted before the sun went down.
After the first look, we took private transportation to the Renaissance Wind Creek Aruba Resort in Oranjestad. Once we arrived, we were able to take family photos along with additional portraits of Marissa and Jake before everyone boarded the boat to Renaissance Island.
And this is the part where Aruba gave us a completely unexpected but perfect wedding-day moment. Because Renaissance Wind Creek is so close to the airport, we actually caught a plane coming in to land behind Marissa and Jake during their portraits on the rock bridge. It was such a fun Aruba-specific backdrop and something we never could have perfectly planned, but yet we nailed!
For couples planning a similar timeline, I would absolutely recommend getting as many formal portraits done before the ceremony as possible. More on that later because sunset timing on Renaissance Island really matters!
A Renaissance Island Wedding in Oranjestad, Aruba
Renaissance Island is the private island associated with Renaissance Wind Creek Aruba Resort, and it is what makes this venue such an unforgettable option for a destination wedding.
Renaissance Wind Creek offers several spaces for weddings and events, including indoor and outdoor options at the resort as well as Renaissance Island. But if you’re dreaming of getting married surrounded by the Caribbean, the private island is the obvious choice.
And getting to Renaissance Island is part of the experience.
Marissa and Jake boarded a private shuttle boat with their families and headed across the water to Renaissance Island. Their guests were transported over separately, and what a unique thing literally taking a boat to a private island for a wedding. The experience for everyone begins before the party even starts!
The best part is when we arrived to the island, we were immediately greeted by the flamingos! There were multiple hanging out on the shore just to greet us. Just kidding… they’re wild animals, but we like to think they knew it was Marissa and Jake’s special day!
If you’ve researched Renaissance Island before, you’ve probably seen photos of its famous flamingos. Seeing them in real life and getting to photograph Marissa and Jake with them multiple times throughout the day was every bit as fun as you would imagine. Since they are wild, it’s not guaranteed you’ll see them, so we were very fortunate to run into them a few times.
Renaissance Wind Creek Aruba Resort Wedding Ceremony
Their Renaissance Island wedding ceremony began at 6:00 p.m., and the lighting was just gorgeous. The ceremony site overlooked the bluest water I have ever photographed. Between the turquoise Caribbean waves crashing behind them, bold tropical wedding design, and everyone they loved gathered together on a private island, the entire setting really looked like a painting.
And the florals fit the setting SO well.
Their design leaned fully into the location with a vibrant tropical aesthetic. Lush greenery and palm fronds were layered with bright bird-of-paradise, anthurium, orchids, and roses in shades of orange, coral, pink, red, and purple. Against the turquoise Caribbean water, the colors really popped and added the final wow factor to the island setting.
I especially loved the asymmetrical ceremony florals. Instead of creating a full floral arch that competed with the scenery, the tropical arrangement framed Marissa and Jake while still leaving all of the beautiful blue water visible behind them. From a photography perspective, I loved this design choice. When you choose a ceremony location because of the view, you want to actually be able to see the view! And when you’re getting married somewhere this naturally beautiful, you can let Aruba do a lot of the work.
Planning Your Renaissance Island Wedding Timeline
If you’re planning a wedding on Renaissance Island, my biggest piece of timeline advice is to pay attention to sunset.
For Marissa and Jake’s July wedding, their ceremony began at 6:00 p.m., and sunset followed fairly quickly after the ceremony around 6:45 – 7:00 p.m. That meant there wasn’t enough daylight to save family photos, wedding party portraits, and all of their formal photos until afterward.
Instead, we did their first look, family portraits, and many of their couples portraits before everyone headed to the island. Then, after the ceremony, we could use that small window of sunset for their couples photos without having to rush or stress.
If I were photographing another wedding with a similar timeline, I would absolutely recommend doing it this way again. Get the formal portraits done earlier. Give yourself breathing room before the ceremony. Then protect that small sunset window for the two of you. It keeps you from racing through a long formal photo list while the best light of the entire day disappears.
Sunset Wedding Photos on Renaissance Island
THE SUNSET.
This was easily one of everyone’s favorite parts of the entire day.
After the ceremony, we ran over to Flamingo Beach to catch the best of the light, and the Aruba sky absolutely showed off for us.
By sunset, the island was shut down which made the entire experience private. Instead of trying to work around crowds while taking their wedding portraits, Marissa and Jake got to walk along the beach alone with the glowing Caribbean sunset unfolding behind them.
And yes, the flamingos found us again!
There genuinely wasn’t a bad angle. Between the blue water, flamingos, and vibrant colors in the sky, we could have photographed this moment forever… and we used every second until the sun dipped beneath the horizon.
But what I loved most wasn’t even how beautiful it was. It was how romantic it felt. After spending the day surrounded by family and friends and moving from one part of the timeline to another, Marissa and Jake had a few minutes where they truly had the island to themselves.
Renaissance Island Wedding Weather and Wind
One thing to remember when planning any tropical destination wedding is that the weather can change quickly. Rain can happen unexpectedly in Aruba. You can plan as much as possible, but there are some things you simply can’t control. Mentally preparing for a quick shower can make it much easier to roll with whatever the weather decides to do.
Wind is another consideration on Renaissance Island. You are celebrating on an island surrounded by water, so breezy conditions are part of the environment. This is where working with an experienced local planning and design team becomes incredibly valuable.
Marissa and Jake worked with D-Alma, and Leandro and Carolina were AMAZING. Everything ran perfectly on time throughout the day, which is especially impressive when your wedding logistics involve multiple resorts, private transportation, boats, 30+ guests, a ceremony on an island, and a reception with a lot of electronics, food, and other moving parts in the dark. Their team knew how to proactively design and plan for the environment. They were also so kind to me and willing to collaborate on the timeline and all the details—thank you Leandro for the inside scoop on the Aruba sunsets!
Renaissance Wind Creek Aruba Resort Wedding Reception
After cocktail hour and sunset portraits, everyone settled in for the reception on the beach. The reception ran from approximately 7:45 to 11:00 p.m., and once daylight disappeared, colorful DJ lights brought a completely different energy to the beach that was perfect for the party.
There were toasts, first dances, a private cake cutting, a whole lot of dancing, and definitely a few tequila shots. At one point, the DJ handed Jake the microphone and he started singing directly to Marissa, which is like every bride’s dream, right?!
Guests also got to interact with the flamingos during the reception, so I guess you could say even the local wildlife made the guest list! Flamingo food is available on the island for 25 cents per cup, but we didn’t even need it to draw them in for this wedding.
And then there was the point in the evening when the guys collectively decided shirts were no longer necessary. I don’t mean just Jake and his friends. The dads joined in. Uncles joined in. The baby joined in. I have photographed a LOT of reception dance floors, and this one will absolutely stick with me forever.
The combination of a beach reception beneath the night sky, all the colorful DJ lights, flamingos occasionally wandering nearby, and a dance floor full of their favorite people (and songs) made for an incredibly fun night after such a beautiful ceremony.
Tropical Wedding Details at Renaissance Island
Marissa and Jake really played into every element of the tropical design. One of my favorite touches they included was their coconut seating chart. Each guest received an actual coconut stamped with the couple’s initials. Each guest’s name was attached to a little umbrella coming out of the coconut, and each one was filled with coconut water. It was creative, interactive, and completely necessary for a wedding in Aruba.
They also incorporated their pups through a custom drink sign, which is always one of my favorite ways for couples to include pets who can’t actually travel to the wedding.
And of course, the florals deserve another moment. Marissa’s bouquet was full of color and texture with bird-of-paradise, anthurium, orchids, roses, and tons of lush greenery. The ceremony arrangements included those same colors and textures, so everything felt cohesive and really brought the island to life. Against the bright blue Caribbean water and white sand, everything photographed beautifully and made the design feel unmistakably like their version of an Aruba wedding.
Why Get Married at Renaissance Wind Creek Aruba Resort?
If you asked me what the best part of getting married on Renaissance Island is, I’m genuinely not sure I could choose one thing. The boat ride is so memorable. The flamingos are obviously incredibly unique. The water at the ceremony site is unreal. The sunset was epic. And the island is beautiful from literally every direction.
But I think what makes the experience so special is the combination of all of those things. You aren’t simply choosing a pretty ceremony backdrop. Your guests are boarding a boat and traveling to an island to watch you get married. Then you’re celebrating on the beach, feeding flamingos, watching the sun set over the water, and eventually boarding the boat again at the end of the night.
The venue becomes part of the wedding experience instead of simply being the place where the wedding happens. Renaissance Wind Creek also offers several wedding and event spaces beyond Renaissance Island, including both indoor and outdoor options. The resort offers wedding planning and event services as well, which can be especially helpful when coordinating a destination celebration.
But if your vision is specifically a tropical destination wedding that feels completely different from a traditional resort ballroom, Renaissance Island is hard to beat.
Where to Stay for a Renaissance Wind Creek Aruba Resort Wedding
Renaissance Wind Creek Aruba Resort is located in Oranjestad, Aruba, and couples planning a wedding here have several options for how they structure accommodations. My husband and I stayed at Boardwalk and absolutely adored this boutique hotel!
Marissa and Jake chose to get ready at the Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino on Palm Beach. After their reception ended, everyone took the boat back from Renaissance Island to Renaissance Wind Creek. From there, they boarded a bus that transported them back to the Marriott on Palm Beach, officially bringing the wedding day to an end. If you’re planning a destination wedding like theirs, just know that good transportation is essential to your day.
You don’t necessarily have to structure your day exactly the way they did, but if you’re getting ready or hosting guests somewhere other than Renaissance Wind Creek, make sure your planner helps you account for transportation between resorts, boat departure times, your photo timeline, and how everyone will get back at the end of the night.
With a good plan in place, the transitions can feel like part of the adventure rather than a stressful element.
A Wedding Weekend in Aruba
One of the best parts of a destination wedding is getting more than one day with everyone you love. Marissa and Jake made a whole week out of their celebration, starting with a welcome party at Moomba Beach and hosting their rehearsal dinner at Faro Blanco before the wedding day on Renaissance Island. I must say the food was just as good as the views at Faro Blanco, plus it’s next to the famous California Lighthouse!
I loved that their guests got to experience a few different parts of Aruba throughout the weekend instead of only seeing the wedding venue. It gave everyone more time together while still feeling like a vacation—which is kind of the whole point of asking your favorite people to travel somewhere this beautiful with you!
What I Loved About This Renaissance Wind Creek Aruba Resort Wedding
In every way, this wedding was unreal. I loved the vivid blue water behind the ceremony and watching the waves crash while Marissa and Jake exchanged vows. I loved how much color their tropical florals brought into every frame. I absolutely loved the flamingos wandering through different parts of the day as if they had been hired specifically for their wedding.
And I loved (literally) running to Flamingo Beach at sunset and capturing the sunset with Marissa and Jake before they headed back to their reception. But this wedding will always mean more to me than the photographs. Marissa and I met 17 years ago as middle school volleyball players and we became inseparable, considering each other family!
So getting to spend her wedding week with her in Aruba and then stand behind my camera as she married Jake is basically impossible to put into words. The wedding itself was stunning and probably the most beautiful wedding I’ve photographed in my career, but what made it SO unforgettable for me was the people. It was getting to see how happy and giddily in love Marissa and Jake are, hugging her family tight, and witnessing the joy everyone felt celebrating this moment together.
It’s true that beautiful scenery makes for beautiful photographs, but the people are what make a wedding (and the photos) really mean something. Getting to document this particular group of people celebrating someone who has meant so much to me for so many years is something I’ll always be so grateful for.
Renaissance Wind Creek Aruba Resort Wedding Photographer
I’m Logan Ferree, a Colorado-based wedding photographer primarily serving couples throughout Colorado, with destination weddings available upon request. Some of my favorite places to photograph outside of Colorado include Jackson Hole, Scottsdale, and California.
My approach to wedding photography is about so much more than finding a pretty backdrop. I want you to have photographs that bring you back to how the day actually felt—the happy tears your parents shed, all the guests’ reactions to their coconuts, the ridiculous dance-floor moments, the private few minutes you had together at sunset, the way your people celebrated you, and all of the little things you didn’t even realize were happening.
Marissa and Jake’s wedding was the perfect example of why I love being a wedding photographer. The scenery was unbelievable, but the moments were even better.
If you’re planning your wedding and dreaming of photos that look like the day did through your own eyes, I’d love to hear what you’re dreaming up!
