Through Wish Upon a Wedding, I had the honor of being part of an incredible vendor team and capturing a lovely and intimate Asian wedding in Fort Lauderdale that was as heartfelt as it was beautiful.
Kindness, generosity, and love have a way of shining even in the toughest moments and that’s precisely what Wish Upon a Wedding is in the business of celebrating.
For those who are not familiar, this nonprofit organization helps couples who are facing serious/terminal illnesses or or life-changing challenges by granting them the wedding of their dreams; they grant “wedding wishes” to couples who may not otherwise get the opportunity to celebrate a wedding or vow renewal, even.
Josy and Chris’ Story
Josy has ameloblastoma, which is an aggressive illness that creates tumors on her face. She recently had surgery to remove her entire bottom jaw and teeth and had two more surgeries coming after the wedding. With all the medical expenses involved, she and Chris were in no position to spend on a wedding, so they turned to Wish Upon a Wedding and applied to have their dream wedding granted.
Their vision was an intimate garden wedding that honored her heritage and held only the people closest to them.
The Wedding Details
The couple integrated her Japanese culture by wearing traditional wedding kimonos and shoes and their ceremony + reception space were both lightly decorated with cherry blossoms.
The incredible vendor team that made all of this happen:
Planner: Danielle from Ohana Events
Florals: Trends Floral Decor
Wedding videography: Go Daria Films
Venue: Living Sculpture Sanctuary
Hair and makeup: Glammed Up By Gabby
Wedding Cake: Sweet Guilt by Angelica
DJ and flower wall: Sound Event DJs
My experience as their wedding photographer.
Being alongside Josy and Chris throughout their wedding day was truly so special and I’m forever grateful we connected. The emotional moments between them + their friends and family was so genuine and beautiful to be surrounded by. The beauty of their traditional Japanese wedding attire and ceremonial elements was truly a gift to witness and photograph. One of my favorite images and moments of the day was when Josy’s mother and stepfather walked her down the aisle; being in that moment, I could truly feel how emotional this was for everyone present.
The Impact of Wish Upon a Wedding.
Being part of this day, of Josy and Chris’ wedding vendor team was a gift of an experience to me and it reminded why I love what I do. Seeing a newlywed couple enjoy and fully immerse themselves in their wedding day despite the massive challenges they are dealing with was incredibly moving and inspiring. WuW granted them more than the wedding of their dreams, it also created space for them to focus on their love, their journey as a couple, and the joy that it is to be surrounded by close friends and family.
As a wedding photographer, this opportunity to give to J & C’s celebration was a powerful reminder of how meaningful photographs can be in preserving memories that people will cherish for years to come.
An Intimate Asian Wedding in Fort Lauderdale | Wedding Photographer