Joceline and I had the pleasure of meeting this lovely couple, Rachel and Ryan, while capturing some beautiful moments at another wedding. I couldn’t contain my joy when we found out that Ryan’s nephew, whose wedding we photographed last October, had recommended us to them after being impressed by his own wedding photos. It’s heartwarming to see our work leading to such wonderful connections. And we were so excited to be photographing at a new to us wedding location at the Kiva Club in Peoria at Vistancia.
Now, let me tell you about Rachel and Ryan’s special day at the Kiva Club in Vistancia, Peoria, AZ. It was truly one of a kind and a departure from their family’s wedding last October. Rachel went all out with a pink-themed wedding, and it just so happened to be the year the Barbie movie came out. Can you believe it? She looked absolutely stunning, and many guests couldn’t help but draw comparisons to Barbie herself. Rachel’s beauty and elegance were off the charts, and she even mentioned planning to dress up as Barbie for Halloween a few times. It was a day filled with love and a touch of magic, no doubt!
Oh, friends, there was a delightful mix of humor and unexpected twists in the plans for this wedding day. Ryan and Rachel had a bit of a playful debate about the “first look” tradition. Initially, Ryan was all for keeping it traditional, but Rachel, being the prankster, set up a faux first look to tease him. Yet, something interesting happened during the planning process – Ryan started to warm up to the idea of a first look.
Come the big day, he was actually quite excited about seeing Rachel before the ceremony. But here’s where it gets fun: when the moment finally arrived, it turned out to be his best man donning a wedding dress instead of Rachel. The prank was on point, but it ended up backfiring a bit. Ryan, surprisingly, really did want that genuine “first look” with his bride.
To make matters even more amusing, Rachel then went ahead and had a first look with her Uncle, who played a significant role in raising her. And guess what? That made Ryan a tad jealous! It’s one of those situations where he originally wanted to stick to tradition, but when the unexpected unfolded, he found himself wishing he had that special moment with Rachel before the ceremony. Love, laughter, and a little bit of wedding-day surprise. The bride was watching the whole thing take place too – you can see in the photos below she was on her knees making sure not to be seen during the whole thing.
Putting the humor aside, this couple’s journey to their wedding day was a ten-year adventure in the making. Surrounded by their loved ones who had come all the way from California to be with them, it truly was a magical day and evening.
Their ceremony and reception were adorned with breathtaking roses, and we were blessed with the most stunning golden hour and sunset for those enchanting bride and groom photos. But let me tell you, the first dance was nothing short of pure magic. I’ll let you experience the beauty and joy for yourself through the wedding photos I’ve shared below. Enjoy the love and laughter captured in each frame!
