Of the over one hundred weddings that I’ve shot during my photography career, there is always one thing that makes a couple stand out; they laugh. They laugh through the weather, they laugh through the fatigue, and they laugh through unexpected road closures that stand between us and our destination. They laugh because – through it all – they recognize that, no matter what happens, it’s still one of the best days of their lives.

 And that always stands out above all else.

Julia and Raouf get it. They get that there’s a difference between a wedding and a marriage. They get that cars get stuck and time runs out and the afternoon sun gets hot. They get it. And yet, they dance.

The details can be nice and the food can taste good and the dress can take your breath away. But it’s always the laughter that you’re going to remember most.

I’m going to remember this one for a very long time…

(And big thanks to Jessica Jiang for second shooting with me!!)