Wedding Date: May 22nd 2026

There's a particular energy some couples carry into a room before they even say a word, and Sisay and Rich had it in spades from the very first moment I saw them together. Their first look happened in the lounge, right in front of a crackling fire, the whole space done up in this sleek, modern styling that felt effortlessly chic. Rich stood there in a custom baseball cap and an off-white suit, somehow managing to look both laid-back and impeccably put together at once, and when Sisay walked in, her dress accented with bursts of bright, colorful florals against the neutral backdrop, I don't think either of them could stop smiling. You could tell instantly, these two are absolutely crazy about each other.

We spent some time exploring the venue together, just the two of them soaking it in before the day picked up speed, and once their wedding party joined in, the whole energy of the space shifted into something even more electric. Every single person showed up dressed bold and bright, color everywhere, personality everywhere. There was nothing boring about this crew, not for one single second, and I found myself constantly trying to keep up with how much fun was unfolding in front of my lens.

The ceremony took place outdoors in the courtyard, and if I'm being honest, I don't think I've photographed a ceremony with quite that much laughter running through it. Guests were grinning ear to ear, giggling through the vows, completely swept up in the joy radiating off Sisay and Rich. When it came time to walk back up the aisle as newlyweds, they didn't so much walk as they danced, full of pure delight, like the aisle itself couldn't contain how happy they were.

And then came the entrance to the reception hall, and I'm still thinking about it. Indoor sparklers lit up on either side of them as they walked in, casting this glowing, celebratory tunnel of light. Toasts followed, sweet and hilarious in equal measure, the whole room cracking up more than once. Sisay and Rich gave a thank-you toast of their own before heading straight into their first dance, and that's when things got genuinely magical. Fog rolled across the dance floor mid-dance, wrapping around them like something out of a dream, and just when I thought the moment couldn't get any more surreal, more sparkler-like bursts shot up into the air, glittering and cascading down around them. Genuinely one of the most epic first dances I've ever had the privilege of photographing.

Later, we slipped outside for a quick moment in the rain to show off Sisay's second look, a shorter, playful dress paired with perfectly styled sneakers. Rain falling, lights glowing behind them, a day that started by a quiet fire and ended in sparklers and fog, completely magical from start to finish.

Vendors: Minneapolis Event Centers (venue), Ambient Entertainment (DJ/emcee), Haute House Studio (florist), The Undone Updo(hair and makeup)