Frequent viewers of my blog will remember Joe and Michelle’s engagement session from a few short weeks ago. And now, they’re happily married, and their wedding was as full of laughter and excitement as their engagement! The full gallery will be online soon, but until then, here’s a sneak peek!

The guys wore these awesome shirts and flowers, and Michelle was laughing like this all day.

They had the BEST jazz band playing at their reception

There’s a funny story behind this one…

Joe and Michelle, your wedding was truly delightful. I feel honored to have been a part of it!

Here it is!

I mentioned last week that I was going to Australia to shoot some friends’ wedding… and man, was it even better than I expected! For everyone who wants to see the entire wedding, especially Lyle’s family and friends in South Africa, the complete gallery is now online via this link!  In the meantime, here are some of my favorites.

The guys:

The ceremony:

I LOVE it that they wrote their own vows. Evidently Liz loved it too.

Signing the marriage certificate is such a joyful experience, we should really adopt the practice into our American weddings…

Lyle and his new Father-in-Law!

The wedding party really was this fun:

They’re in love.

I also LOVED the sandstone at the University of Queensland when we scouted out locations the day before…

I couldn’t have hired models to look this good…

Lyle and Liz, thank you SO much for flying me all the way to Brisbane to photograph your wedding! It was an absolute joy to spend the day with both of you, and watch you pledge your love and commitment for each other. All the best as you move back to Durban, prepare for seminary in the States, and consider where to go from there. You are an exemplary couple, and I’m excited to see where God leads you!

Okay, here it is! My first international wedding was for my dear friend Kondwani in Malawi! What’s a Malawian wedding look like? Something like this…

They wanted a western ceremony, so they asked Pastor Brian to do it for them. He was ecstatic, as you can see. 🙂

The signing of the Marriage Certificate is an important part of the ceremony.

I totally dig all the groomsmen’s ties.

I forgot to ask if the song they were singing was a traditional wedding song, or just something they made up on the spot. Either way, it was lovely.

Winter is the rainy season in this part of the world, but that didn’t dampen anyone’s spirits in the least.

Patricia is super sweet.

And Kondwani totally made it fun! Aptly, his name means “happiness.”

There were at least twice as many guests at the reception, arriving by all kinds of ways…

Here they come!

There’s a reason everyone was playing with money…

Like a money dance to the extreme: much of the reception is centered around pelekani, the practice of giving money to the bride and groom for their life together. For several hours, people are throwing money on the floor or into baskets, often dancing to the music from the DJs. Everyone who lights a candle, makes a toast, or is involved at all is throwing money the whole time. In case you didn’t bring change, there are cashiers who will break your bills into smaller ones for you. There’s a playful sense of competition, with one half of the room trying to out-give the other half, people bidding on their favorite soft drinks, or giving money when their favorite relative is holding the basket. Even pieces of the wedding cake are auctioned off!

Kondwani and Patricia, if you ever read this, it was an absolute pleasure to be your wedding photographer! Kondi, all those years that I said I’d try to make it to your wedding, I seriously wondered if I would. I’m so glad I could be a part of your marriage’s beginning! Zikomo!!!