Mikaela & Dara

Once upon a time, I photographed a very intimate wedding in Saguaro National Park. I recalled each guest so well; as they were all so nice and welcoming. One guest, in particular, I remembered because she kept crying beautifully, holding hands with the guest next to her. It was all very sweet.

A few years later, that same guest (Mikaela) reached out to me about her own wedding. That really made me feel good. It’s not always that you get to reconnect with the friends and family of a previous client.

As Mikaela noted, I don’t often photograph traditional weddings, since I am primarily an elopement photographer. But she adored the photos I took for the previous wedding she attended and wondered if I’d be open to capturing her special day. My answer was, “Yes, yes, yes!”

The Sacramento Backyard Wedding Was More Like an Estate Wedding

Mikaela and her husband-to-be, Dara, told me they were getting married in a backyard in Sacramento. At first, I wondered how all 130 of their guests would fit into a backyard, but when I arrived, I was astonished by what I saw—a large, alluring estate with green grasses. The large property had more than enough room for everyone and all the planned activities.

First things first, I captured some getting-ready photos. I love this part of the day, because everyone is filled with nervous energy. From the delightful moment of the bride’s niece and father hanging out together in the garden, to the bridesmaids scrambling to and fro, helping the bride get ready for the ceremony. This whole time, I snapped pics of the wedding dress, jewelry, and details—helping to tell a story of the wedding day, start to finish.

Mikaela & Dara celebrated their love and commitment with a Persian wedding ceremony officiated by Mikael’s grandpa. Specifically, they incorporated two Persian rituals into their ceremony.

The first was a sugar rubbing, where the maids of honor and the best man rub two large sugar cones on the bride and groom’s heads, symbolizing the sweetness of their marriage. The second was a ribbon-tying ceremony, performed by the best man. Adding to the magic of the day, the ribbon was sent to the couple from Dara's grandparents in their hometown of Khoy, Iran. This ritual symbolizes welcoming Mikael into the family and household.

It was a stunning ceremony. The couple’s vows recounted lots of positive memories—like Mikaela & Dara hanging out in the attic together, listening to music. It was so touching to hear how those early years of their lives led them to this moment. It was just so sweet and moving. As often is the case, the ceremony went by in a flash of emotion and romance.

Post-ceremony, I was sure to get all the family and friends photo combinations. It can be a little tough keeping so many guests rotating in and out of pictures with the couple—but everyone was so lovely and cheerful, it was fun to be a part of. We snapped these photos at a local park, close enough to walk to. The heat of the Sacramento sun was pleasantly blocked by the shade from the park’s trees.

As evening rolled around, it was time for the reception. All the nervous energy of the day had melted into casual conversations, laughter, food, drinks, and dancing.

This heavenly day wasn’t over, of course. For bigger weddings, I always try to steal my couple away for a few minutes. It helps the realization sink in, and opens space for whatever the couple is feeling. I took Mikaela & Dara to a nearby park, where I could photograph the two of them in their own moment together.

From there, we returned to the party with a dress change. That was a smart move, because this couple loved to dance! Seriously, Mikaela & Dara were sweating by the end of the night, giving the dance floor their all.

All in all, this was a heavenly day. Wrapping up the festivities, our newlyweds got into their new car (a gift from the family)—and their guests surrounded them with sparklers. Way to end a wedding day with a bang, you two!