sami and beans // los angeles queer wedding photographer

i’ve photographed over 100 weddings at this point, but this was the first time it was a wedding of people i consider best friends, the first time i was *in* the wedding, and because of that it made it incredibly significant. it’s hard to put into words what a meaningful celebration this entire weekend was, or what an impact my friendship with sami and beans has meant to me. sami and i became fast friends almost two years ago, when her relationship with beans was still in the dark (to the world). i’ve known and watched them through celebrations, relationship crossroads, job shifts, finally coming out publicly last summer, getting engaged in the fall, and planning a wedding the last few months.  i photographed their engagement session (and one of their proposals!) here. their love for one another is evident the second you see them together. on their own, they are both incredible, strong, intelligent, talented people in their own right, but together they are truly a force to be reckoned with. it was an honor to be asked by sami to stand alongside her as she finally wed her wife, and of COURSE an honor to photograph it. i always approach photography first and foremost as a friend in the room–that’s the only way you can get the most up-close, honest emotion– but this was a whoooole new level of being immersed in a wedding! (huge thanks to the amazing amanda who beautifully photographed all of these group and ceremony photos, and all of the people i tipsily handed my camera off to during the three crazy hours of dancing).  they kicked off the weekend with friday bowling and pizza and toasts with their closest family/friends, started saturday morning with breakfast together, met for their first look and tequila shots in downtown pasadena, walked down the aisle to a poem by arielle, ate tacos and donuts, threw the best dancing reception i’ve ever been to, then escaped to tulum for the last 8 days. IT’S SO FUN WHEN YOUR FRIENDS GET MARRIED!

on a personal note, what stood out the most to me among so many beautiful moments was the people surrounding these two. knowing the fear beans and sami had of losing support from their incredible families, community, church, friends, etc, it was really moving to stand and look out at 200+ familiar faces who were there celebrating them. knowing that many people there had made a conscious decision to come and physically, audibly support these two was really moving. (sad that that is even worth noting in 2017, but it is!!!) love wins!!!!

OKAY WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, I WILL LET THE PICTURES DO THE REST OF THE TALKING:

friday:

saturday: