We met these two for an engagement shoot in Zion National Park almost a year before their wedding. From the first moment we met we knew we loved them both! Anissa and Omar have a subtle way of making space for everyone through love and respect. We were really moved by the way that they showed up for each other too, offering kindness and support, it was instantly clear that what these two shared was really special. Overall, an amazing shoot in the Utah desert and we were stoked to see them again close to a year out for their wedding.
One year later it was time to party in Zion! One of the best things about kind, loving, respectful and supportive people is that the people they choose to surround themselves with usually share the same qualities. This was certainly true for this crew! The couple got ready for their wedding in Adobe houses at Lazalu Zion Retreat. The bride was surrounded by both friends and family, sipping champagne while hair and makeup did their thing. They were blasting music and having a chill day in their rustic cabin at Lazalu.
The fellas were on the other side of the property doing their thing too. Putting on cufflinks, offering advice, and tossing back a drink or two in preparation for the wedding ceremony. After snapping plenty of candid photos capturing both scenes as they played out, it was time for the first look. One of the best parts of a Lazalu wedding is that it gives us quick access to some of our favorite places to shoot in Zion National Park. So a quick drive to a quiet meadow and we were able to set the stage for our bride and groom to share a first look and have a quiet moment together. We love the emotion of a first look and having the dramatic background of massive sandstone spires and deep canyon walls of the Utah desert as a backdrop makes the perfect scene for the moment. We also love how the first look makes the whole thing feel real for the couple. Seeing your partner all done up in wedding attire helps everything sink in like “We are really doing this!”
Just like that, it was time to head back and walk down the aisle!
A stroll across a field to the site of the ceremony where chairs were set and the space was adorned in flowers set up against a jaw dropping background of sandstone cliffs and blue skies. Lazalu never disappoints! After a beautiful and heartfelt bilingual ceremony, our newly wed couple was flying high and overjoyed. An open bar with drinks already mixed and a charcuterie spread was waiting for everyone in the shade of the grove. Cocktail hour! Meanwhile the center of the grove was getting the final finishing touches from the incredible team at Forevermore Events, making sure that everything was flawless before the guests were invited in. The seating chart was a shot of tequila, letting you know what type of energy you were expected to bring with you!
Outdoor dining nestled inside the shelter of a grove of scrub oak just feels special! Dinner was filled with delicious food and heartfelt speeches. These guys had so much love and support from their families and their chosen families, it made for many amazing moments and we were absolutely loving it. It is always a goal of ours to capture how the day feels, so that our couple can go back and relive all of the small exchanges that happened throughout the day, and this wedding had all of it.
Now that everyone was well fed it was time to light up the dance floor and party! Tequila was flowing and the music was pumping, nothing like some Latin grooves to get a party going. This wedding was an absolute blast and we hope our photos did the day justice. Thank you Anissa and Omar! We love you both and and so happy for you!
