MARIAM + SAMEER ENGAGEMENT SESSION AT WASHINGTON OAKS PARK

Happy Wednesday, Friends! We are getting ready for Mariam + Sameer’s 3 day wedding celebration starting TOMORROW! You read that right, 3 days of festivities and celebrations and we CAN’T WAIT!!!! In fact, the party actually started today with Mariam getting her bridal henna tattoo and I, Kristina, got to participate as well and it was so much fun! I love that this job allows us to emerge ourselves into different cultures which gives us a better understand of all the different people in the world.

Mariam and Sameer are both from Pakistan and are going to have a traditional Pakistani wedding full of friends and family, bright colors, hennas, and beautiful outfits.

Since Sameer lives in Chicago, we had to shoot their engagement session during one of his very short (but sweet) trips to Jacksonville. Side note: Mariam and Sameer have seen each other at least once a month during their engagement! So we scheduled their engagement session to be on Sameer’s last trip to Florida before the wedding. And for some reason, Florida decides to send us Hurricane Dorian, but not even Dorian stopped us from getting them some photos together! On the drive to Washington Oaks, it was POURING and Jerico and I were a little concerned that it wasn’t going to stop but we knew we HAD to shoot today, Sameer flies back home the next day, we had no other choice. Luckily for us, the skies cleared up and the sun came out. You wouldn't even believe that a hurricane was on its way with such amazing weather.

Mariam wore a beautiful traditional Pakistani shalwar kameez to her engagement session and as soon as she pulled out that stunning red veil both Jerico and I squealed in excitement. That red veil gave such a beautiful and rich color pop to her outfit.

Mariam and Sameer, thank you for being so patient with all of our questions and explaining everything to us. I can’t thank you enough for including me in henna night, you are the sweetest! We are so excited for you and Sameer. We are sad that you will be off to Chicago on Sunday, but we’ll be sure to make ALOT of memories with you in the next 3 days!! Get some rest ( I still havnt’t figured out how you’re going to sleep with your henna) and we’ll see you tomorrow!!!