For my friend Ana’s wedding to her husband, Draco, I traveled to the groom’s hometown of Hermosillo, Mexico. It was a day filled with details that were meaningful to both of their families, along with personal touches that beautifully represented the couple’s journey together. Ana honored her mother by wearing her high-collar lace wedding gown, first for a civil ceremony in the morning, and then for a religious ceremony in the afternoon. For the reception, Ana changed into a red and orange bridal kimono she and her father had stumbled upon at a garage sale in Japan, which also happened to be the country where she and Draco had their first date. The kimono was a wonderful tribute to her family’s love of travel, while also bringing her story with Draco full circle.

Ana and Draco’s celebration was like no other wedding I had ever photographed. Instead of hiding away before the ceremony like many American brides, both Ana and Draco stood outside the church to greet their guests as they arrived. Event planner Maag designed an elegant motif inspired by Delft blue and white china for the reception at Villa Toscana, and they created an atmosphere where children were as much a part of the celebration as the adults. You could sense the significance this day held for their families and their heritage.