When I first met Sydney and Jordan, I knew their story wasn’t ordinary, so it only makes sense that their wedding day wouldn’t be either.
After their stylish downtown Phoenix engagement session (complete with bar cocktails, Uno cards, and an elevator adventure), we reunited again.
This time in the red rocks of Sedona for their destination micro-wedding.
And it. Was. Perfect.
As two US Air Force pilots, Sydney and Jordan’s entire relationship has been long-distance. From New York to Georgia, Texas to New Mexico, South Dakota to Korea… they’ve covered more miles together (and apart) than most couples do in a lifetime. So to see them finally say “I do” in the same place, at the same time, with their closest family surrounding them? It was emotional, beautiful, and so well-earned.
This wasn’t a 200-guest affair. There was no strict timeline. It was quiet and intentional, just the way they wanted it… a real celebration of their love story, without distractions. These are the kinds of weddings I live for.
Let’s talk about Cathedral Rock for a second. That stunning Sedona backdrop was one Sydney and Jordan had to have in their couple photos and trust me, I was right there with them.
But here’s the thing. When you’re a photographer who’s trained to chase golden hour and soft shadows, shooting in full midday sun can feel a little… rebellious. 😅
Did I break some “photography rules” to make those shots happen? Yep.
Was it worth it? 1000%.
The light may have been bold, but so were the colors…the red rocks lit up in the most vibrant way, and Sydney and Jordan absolutely popped against that landscape. Those photos feel alive and real and so them.
Instead of a big bridal party, Sydney and Jordan were surrounded by the people who matter most, their immediate families. And I loved that choice. The energy was relaxed and personal, with everyone fully present and genuinely happy to be there. Before the first look, I got to capture some of the sweetest moments of the day: the clinking of glasses, shared laughter, and happy nerves all around. It wasn’t overly posed or planned. Just real, joyful time together before something big.
There’s something special about choosing simplicity about letting the people closest to you take center stage. It reminded me that love doesn’t need a huge stage to feel big. Sometimes, it just needs a small group of people, a few glasses raised, and two people who know exactly what they want their day to be about.
Before the ceremony, Sydney and Jordan chose to share a quiet first look and it was one of my favorite moments of the day. It’s cool that I get to be there capturing things like this and no one else does. Its something I will never take for granted as an Arizona wedding photographer. Jordan’s reaction to seeing Sydney in her dress was pure joy. He couldn’t stop smiling, and his energy was contagious. It wasn’t just that he loved how she looked…it was how fully present he was in that moment, soaking in every second of finally getting to marry her.
But what made this moment even more special was the private reading they shared. Separate from their vows, this was a moment for just the two of them with personal words exchanged without the pressure of anyone around. It was quiet, intentional, and one of those pauses in time that you could feel in your chest. These two have weathered so much time apart, and this space they created for one another before the ceremony was beautiful to witness.
The ceremony itself was intimate and heartfelt. Just their immediate family, a few tears, a few laughs, and all the love.
There was no pressure to perform. No crowd to impress. Just two people who have waited years for this moment, standing side by side in one of the most beautiful places in Arizona, finally becoming husband and wife.
And between the vows and the photos, we captured so many organic, unscripted moments. I’ll be sharing a few of my favorites below, but it was so hard to pick.
Not every wedding needs to be big to be meaningful. Sometimes all it takes is a beautiful backdrop, the people who matter most, and a photographer who’s willing to break a few rules to make the magic happen.