The air was full of the typical Washington DC bustle. Horns and sirens made their calls intermittently in the distance. Vehicles and pedestrians moved back and forth in front of Big Bear Cafe and their Victorian guest house next door. A tiny bird landed on an installation in the garden, a reminder to me to pay attention to the small stories I would encounter at this wedding.

I started my time by looking for the details. The pointed rowhomes, the new spring buds on the trees, the sound of feet moving by on the sidewalk. A motorcyclist said hello as he paused at the stoplight. These were the starting point, a reminder for all the senses of what this day was like in the city.

It was a joy to step through the yellow door of the guest house. I was excited to document their story and felt instantly welcomed by Nazhin and her family. From our first conversation Jason and Nazhin told me how this day was about unifying their families, bonding with their guests, and simply being together. They didn’t want the timeline, the details, or even photography to get in the way. Instead, they wanted their images to be a true reflection of their experience. Jason shared that after so much planning and work to get everything ready “it hit me that I had to let go of the plan and just focus on Nazhin and the kids and stay present.” I was so glad to hear him have that moment of clarity and peace before everything got started.

I always encourage my couples that it’s not just about having pretty images. That’s easy. What’s much more important is how you experience the day. If your experience is present, unhurried, and genuine, then the images will reflect that and set the tone for how you’ll remember it for the rest of your life.

For Jason and Nazhin, having their wedding at Big Bear Cafe was the perfect choice. Rustic, quaint, and surprisingly tranquil, it was ideal for their 50 guests to connect well. It was a wedding centered around connection, renewing friendships, intentional conversations, and togetherness. I especially loved the family-style dinner around long rectangular tables. The air was full of laugher, jokes, stories, and the smell of good food being passed from one loving hand to the next.

When I met them for their reveal weeks later Jason shared that he will always feel “a fullness in my heart, being supported by the amazing community we’ve built — it felt like everyone was really invested in holding us in that space.

Thank you for everyone, J+N, and your friends and family, for inviting me in and asking me to play a part in that space.