Emmy + Nikheel

Okay, this is going to be a long one. Words are not adequate for describing how much I love Emmy + Nikheel, along with their families and friends.

I have known Emmy for years. She is quite the humanitarian locally, and I have worked alongside her a few times. Her work to help young, single mothers is what spoke volumes to me immediately. Emmy is the most thoughtful, generous, and considerate person I think I have ever met in my whole life. She is as down to earth as you could ask for, and somehow makes every single person around her feel comfortable and seen.

When I saw Nikheel pop up in photos on social media, I knew in my heart that Emmy had found her person. I knew before I even met him that he must be the most precious person, and indeed, he is. Emmy is such a shining star to all that know her, and she touches everyone’s life in such a big way, so I knew without a doubt that Nikheel must be the same kind of salt of the earth. Nikheel is everything any of us could have wished for Emmy to end up with, and more.

This wedding was nothing short of spectacular. E + N wanted to blend their two cultures, and as Nikheel’s mother said it best, it was an '“Indian-hippie” wedding. E + N are very eclectic, intelligent, and cool people and they have a lot of ranging interests. They wanted their wedding to be all about them and their love and who they are together. I will probably never have another wedding quite like this one in my career, and I will always be grateful for the honor of photographing this one. E + N’s wedding was set with the beautiful, 10 acre WalkerWorld Organic Artist Retreat as the backdrop. Please understand, this was the absolute MOST insanely cool venue possible— it was like having a wedding in a giant tree house owned by The Great Gatsby. I’m NOT kidding. E + N’s siblings are very close and special to them, so they had them perform the opening song and officiate the ceremony.

This wedding was very unique, eclectic, and untraditional in all the best ways possible. E + N were very intentional about making the whole day fun, exciting, and full of surprises. There was Henna being done on site for the wedding guests, half of which came in stunning drapes and pieces made of the most equisite fabrics, as a nod to the Indian culture. Later in the night, there was fire throwing, music, and dancing on the dance floor carefully placed in front of the giant illuminated “FAMILY” sign.

This wedding felt like a cross between the excitement of a music festival, with the intimacy of a good old fashioned field-party. The 10 acre property was covered in friendly, welcoming faces.

Every single photo I took from this wedding is just to die for. When I pulled up the wedding photos later the next day to edit some sneak peeks, I truly felt butterflies like never before, because I knew this wedding matched my photography style and what I am about so deeply that I had just had the trajectory of my career changed literally overnight. These wedding photos are so expressive and so full of absolute pure joy, because that, my friends, was what the night was about. Two indescribably good people finding each other in the sea of other people, shining for each other like beacons in the night, here in Wilmington, NC.

This wedding felt like we all got to experience the love between E + N, and we got to live one day in their shoes, and appreciate all the treasures in life that they cherish. It really was the most magical day.