Naela & Andrew Down By The River Side

This was one of the rare weddings that Marcel and I did not shoot together. Instead, I had our talented assistant Devon with me. We had not met Naela before her wedding day in Chico but knew the groom's family from Katie & Jamie's wedding a couple of years ago. Turns out Naela, who is Egyptian, is a world class golfer, probably one of the top women golfers on the entire African continent! The spring day threatened rain but thankfully never delivered. The wedding and reception were at a gorgeous private estate in a canyon, right on the Butte river in Chico. There was a historic covered bridge only minutes from the estate where I took the bride and bridesmaids to do some pre-wedding photos. The ceremony took place on a lush green lawn right at the river's edge. Part of the ceremony included the bride and grooms family taking turns blending waters from the Nile River and the local Butte River flowing only a few feet from us. This act was symbolic of the fusing of Neala's Egyptian culture with Andrew's American roots. There were emotional speeches, good food and wine and plenty of dancing at this memorable event.