If I could choose one wedding from this year that perfectly shows why I love intimate weddings so much, it would be this one, because I love weddings with a lot of heart. Amanda and Nicolas’s day was so full of love and overwhelming emotions. When Amanda reached out to me it was only about a month away from her wedding date and she explained that she had pretty much forgotten to do a lot of the wedding planning after the loss of her grandfather. She expressed how heartbroken she was to not have him there and what a wonderful man he was, he had been like a father to her.

After talking with her over the phone and hearing more of her love story with Nicolas and her sweet grieving heart I knew I wanted to document her beautiful day. So I hopped on a plane to Fresno California. Their wedding day although mingled with grief over their loss of an irreplaceable family member was still full of joy. The hard times in life have a way of bring loved ones closer together and teaches us to cling to joy all the more. It was clear how much everyone there loved Nicolas and Amanda and wished them all the happiness in the world. I teared up many times during their day as loved ones talked of their love for them, most especially when her grandmother got up and gave a toast.

Intimate weddings like this one allow you to be vulnerable with the ones you love the most and truly celebrate with the people who will always mean the most to you. For this beautiful family it was exactly what they needed and it honestly couldn’t have been more beautiful. They said their vows in a field right outside of Yosemite National Park where nature seemed to show off just for them. I can’t express to in words how touching and beautiful this day but I feel their pictures show what words cannot. Congratulations Nicolas and Amanda! I wish you and your family so much joy and happiness!