Hello 2021! 2020 was a year that I think most of us would rather forget at this point. However, I had some of the most amazing weddings and sessions last year as many of my wonderful clients pivoted and did something “a little different” than what they had planned. All of the smaller, more intimate weddings and celebrations I got to capture were that much more special to witness and document. Let me share with you a bit about Nadia and Joshua. Nadia reached out to me last year hoping to have her Tena’im celebration captured. In a very basic way, let me explain a bit about Tena’im. Traditionally, the Tena’im ceremony is a celebration of the intention of new people to become united in marriage at a later time. Essentially, it’s like an engagement! Being in COVID times, Nadia and Joshua gathered Joshua’s immediate family and Nadia’s cousin at Joshua’s family’s home in Cape Neddick, Maine for the ceremony and for them to witness the actual proposal! They also included family from around the world via Zoom to participate in the festivities. Keep scrolling to see some more images from their day…

During the ceremony, Joshua surprised Nadia with her engagement ring. They had worked on creating it together, but today was the first day that she was able to wear it and show off it’s beauty! The Tena’im had very personal touches of both of them layered throughout the ceremony. One thing that is meaningful for both of them is music. Joshua, being a musician, worked with Nadia on developing a song that they performed together for their family and friends. These same family members and friends then took time to deliver heartfelt blessings and messages to Nadia and Joshua. The entire ceremony was full of love and kindness. It was such a beautiful thing to witness in the midst of a pandemic that has been keeping everyone apart for so long.

Following their beautiful ceremony, Joshua and Nadia got to have some fun taking portraits around his family’s property as well as along the southern coast of Maine. Having a ceremony in the middle of the afternoon in the summer proved to have some GORGEOUS light. These two had a cute Vespa that we got to play with before heading to the rocky beach right down the road. There was so much sunshine to accompany the crashing of the waves. These two are so madly in love with each other that it was such an honor to capture the first step in their new lives together. I hope I can capture more celebrations like this in the future xoxo