Ali and Riku’s Monday wedding at Hamilton Hoppin House was the kind of day that quietly reminds you why you do this work. A little rain in the morning. Cloud cover during prep. And then, just in time for the ceremony, the sky opened up and gave us sun.
This was a solo-shot wedding for me, which means I was photographing everything from prep to sparkler exit on my own. It’s a challenge I love taking on when the timeline flows smoothly, and this one really did.
Riku got ready upstairs with his groomsmen, while Ali and her friends filled the lower floor with that joyful hum of getting ready. Curling hair. Adjusting veils. Giving compliments. Just soaking in the moment.
Their ceremony was one of the most moving I’ve witnessed. Riku’s father officiated, weaving in Scripture and reflections about the two of them. Afterward, the day just unfolded. Pizza on the deck. Speeches full of heart. A live performance from Ali herself. And dancing that carried us into the night.
