How My First Wedding Film Took Me to Mexico (and Changed My Life)

My first wedding film wasn’t in my hometown — it was in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. I was 18, under-equipped, and sleeping on a very uncomfortable, curved couch. But that trip changed everything for me.

Discovering the Camera Life

I graduated high school in June of 2022, and not long after, I fell headfirst into the world of videography. One of the first YouTube videos I ever watched was titled “How to Make Six Figures a Year With Your Camera.”

As an 18-year-old with no interest in college, that got my attention. Skipping student debt to chase a new passion sounded like the right call.

That fall of 2022, I bought a filmmaking course and devoured every lesson. Two months later, I finally bought my first camera, a lens, and a key light. Over the winter, I added a few lenses, filters, and batteries to my kit. I was using my gear almost daily and getting better, but I still hadn’t taken the leap into actual paid work.

My first ever video recorded on my Sony.

A Chance Encounter

At the gym I go to, I started chatting with a guy named Cody. Over the next few weeks, we talked more, and one day he mentioned he was getting married in March of 2023 — in Playa del Carmen.

When I got home, I looked it up and realized it was 40 minutes south of Cancun. That night, I had the thought: what if I went and filmed his wedding?

The next week, I told Cody I’d cover my own travel and shoot their wedding film for free if they’d let me. He and his fiancée, Grace, were all in — and suddenly, I had my first “job.”

Shooting My First Wedding

There were a few stars that had to align for it to happen. I had no money for my flight, so my parents loaned me $1,100 for the flight (bless them for that). The resort was all-inclusive, but I had nowhere to stay — until I learned that one of the wedding guests had an open couch.

I’m 6'2", and the couch was curved. It was one of the most uncomfortable sleeping arrangements of my life. But I didn’t care. I was in Mexico, about to film my first wedding.

I got to Cancun, was bussed to the resort, and spent the next few days walking around with my camera, shooting everything. I had no idea what I was doing, so I figured I’d just capture everything and see what stuck.

When the wedding day arrived — March 27, 2023 — I started with Cody and his groomsmen, then headed to Grace’s room to get details of the dress and bouquets. We even staged a first look since all her bridesmaids had already seen her.

Looking back, I was wildly under-equipped. One camera, no audio equipment, no idea how to pose people.

But the photographer, Giuseppe, was incredible. He pulled me in and showed me how to direct couples, and the shots I got with his help ended up being some of my favorites. I’m still grateful for that collaboration to this day.

The reception was a blast — dancing, speeches, and a comical rap from one of Cody’s best men that caught everyone off-guard. I wasn't able to capture the audio, but the energy was unforgettable.

My Turning Point

After getting home from Mexico, I spent the next couple of months piecing together their wedding film. I was still figuring out my style, editing off an incredibly slow laptop, and doing so after work at a restaurant job in Madison, WI — a job that couldn’t have been further from filmmaking.

By early June, I finally wrapped up the edit. I delivered a physical copy of the film to Grace before heading out of Milwaukee for another restaurant shift in Madison. A couple hours later, my phone lit up with a FaceTime call from Cody and Grace.

“You have talent,” Cody said.

I’ll never forget that. Up until that point, I wasn’t sure if this path was one I should keep chasing. That moment was the confirmation I needed — proof that I was onto something, and maybe my dream could actually work.

Full Circle

Fast forward two years, and I now live with Cody and Grace — in the bottom duplex unit they rent out to me. Talk about full circle.

Since that trip, my passion for weddings and filmmaking has only grown stronger. I’ve gotten to meet and work alongside the most incredible people, both inside and outside the wedding industry.

Building genuine relationships through my work has become the most rewarding part of what I do. And to think it all started with a borrowed plane ticket, a really uncomfortable couch, and one camera in Mexico — that’s something I’ll always being proud of.

If you want to watch Cody and Grace's full film, click here

Looking for a videographer to shoot your 2026 weeding? Contact Me

Venue: Hyatt Vivid Playa del Carmen

Location: Playa Del Carmen, Mexico

Videographer: Jamison Borden Films - Milwaukee Wedding Videographer

Photographer: Giuseppe Messina Photography