Zahra + Bijan’s Backyard Micro-Wedding 10.10.2020
“My favorite daughter is getting married today,” Zahra’s father said to me when I approached him for his first look with her. It was minutes before the ceremony. Normally, when dads say this, it’s their ONLY daughter but he actually has 2 other daughters! I’m sure it was a joke but he glowed with pride all day. He obviously didn’t take the marriage of his “favorite daughter” lightly. When it was time to give her away at the end of the aisle and the officiant asked, “who gives this woman in marriage today?” he proudly announced “I do!” Everyone giggled and I think someone said, “you’re supposed to say her mother and I do.” He just said, “What? She’s MY daughter!” Priceless. Now I know where Zahra gets her infectious smile and joyful spirit.
This most gorgeous of October fall days was most definitely a re-work of the original plan. 10.10.2020 was the most popular date to get married in 2020. Zahra and Bijan, knowing this was going to be their date, appropriately planned far in advance. I feel like I’ve known them forever since she was “the girl in the red dress” for their epic Philadelphia engagement session back in spring 2019. I could go on and on about the supposed-tos for this day but at the end of the day, it was a lovely celebration of Zahra and Bijan’s love for each other and the joining of their beautiful families who so generously invited us into their home and their family traditions. I was only shooting for 2 hours but ultimately, I think I was able to capture the spirit and joy of the day.
In attendance for this day was only parents and siblings. I was the only vendor present and EVERYONE came together to make this day happen. It breaks my heart that I won’t be able to shoot their big celebration with family and friends next year but such is the craziness of this year. I am so glad I could see them officially get married and take these photos for them to memorialize this beautiful day. The more and more backyard weddings I shoot, the more and more I enjoy them. SO much joy and comfortability between everyone present. Just wonderful.
Zahra and Bijan, thank you for inviting me and Isaac into this most intimate of days for you and your family. I loved seeing all the traditions, smelling the amazing food (totally kicking myself for not having a plate before I left) and watching you all dance and sing together to music that was so so so fun. Congratulations on your marriage and I can’t wait to continue to watch your lives grow together from this day forward. I hope you LOVE this sample of photos from the day and because I know how hard it is to wait, there is a surprise waiting for you in your inbox RIGHT NOW so go check if you haven’t already seen. XO - Megan
