Rachel and Andrew’s Love Story
Some love stories require a matchmaker. For Rachel and Andrew, that matchmaker was Andrew’s sister Anise. As coworkers at the same company, Anise knew that Rachel would compliment her brother perfectly. Anise plotted for years on how to introduce her cute coworker to her brother. Everything finally fell into place at Anise’s birthday party. Rachel and Andrew hit it off at the party and the rest is history. I guess Anise’s birthday wish did come true!
Months later, Rachel and Andrew found themselves pursuing life opportunities in the Midwest. In April 2019 they began to prepare for their next adventure. In the midst of moving boxes and building an IKEA TV stand, Andrew innocently asked for a glass of wine. Rachel reached for the wine bottle on the counter to find a ring sitting on top of the cork. Right then and there Andrew dropped down on one knee and asked Rachel to be his adventure partner for life.
Wedding Ceremony Details
Not wasting any time, Rachel and Andrew planned their Raleigh wedding in three months. It is possible! Originally, they wanted to plan a surprise wedding, but the secret was too much for them to bear. Instead they opted for a peaceful wedding ceremony in St. Mark’s Chapel at Mordecai Historic Park. The small size of St. Mark’s Chapel made the ceremony feel even more cozy and romantic.
Once they booked the venue and Heba Salama Photography, everything else fell into place. Rachel and Andrew wanted their wedding to be classic, with the charm and elegance of a southern wedding. Their wedding colors included cornflower blue, navy, mauve, and mulberry. The bride and groom kindly requested that their family members follow the wedding color palette with their attire. Which made for beautiful family portraits by Heba Salama Photography! Do you see a resemblance between the groom and the wedding officiant? That’s Andrew’s father!
Candid Moments of Love Captured on Camera by Heba Salama Photography
If you are seeking a photographer who is equal parts professional and fun, make sure to call Heba Salama Photography. Heba specializes in natural light and creative wedding portraiture. Bride Rachel could not say enough kind things about Heba,
“She was such a blast to work with and captured every essence of joy felt during the most perfect day. She is not just a seasoned professional, but a true artist.”
A wedding is one of those few times in life when all of your family comes together. This is such a valuable moment to take family photos. We love the family portraits that Heba captured of Rachel and Andrew’s family. Precious memories and mementos!
“I love today, and today loves me. We won’t waste each other.”
Those were the words written on Rachel’s fortune cookie at her Brewery Bhavana wedding reception dinner. The bride and groom selected Brewery Bhavana as a symbolic celebration of Rachel’s Chinese heritage. In fact, their rehearsal dinner was the first time Rachel and Andrew’s parents met! Brewery Bhavana offered a delicious meal and an intimate environment to encourage great conversation. And for dessert, Andrew’s mom’s baked her beloved coconut cake and banana pudding. Yum!
Rachel and Andrew will never forget their intimate Raleigh, NC wedding. Some priceless advice from the bride,
“Make your wedding about yourselves, not about what everyone else wants. Choosing to have a small wedding was not easy, I was your stereotypical sorority girl at NC State so the shock and awe of foregoing a big wedding was hard for many of my friends (and even extended family) to swallow. Truthfully, as I grew up this was not something I would have thought I would do, but when I met the love of my life I couldn’t have imagined getting married in any other way — it was an absolutely perfect day.”
Planning a wedding and marriage is all about compromise. In 2020 Rachel and Andrew are planning a party with their extended friends and family to celebrate their marriage!
