The decorations and clothing and details of Vai and Mark’s wedding added a fun and meaningful flair, but it was people like Mark’s mom and Vai’s high school friends who (in this case) traveled thousands of miles to be there that made the week what it was. Talking to everyone and learning how they met Vai back when she was seventeen & sassy or how one summer they hiked Half Dome with Mark helped us understand these two that much better.

We had the honor of spending five days with these people. Five days!!! There may have been a bit of a language barrier at times, but that didn’t matter. Laughter & joy is universal, right? We can’t stress how much of an honor it was to be invited into their circle of the ones they love most.

Here’s a peek at some of the fun stuff Mark & Vai planned for their favorites – a little welcoming dinner, a colorful Hawaiian luau, an über competitive field day & even traditional Indian holi. The entire week was a celebration of love & culture but most evident was how much Vai and Mark cherish these people. We’ve never seen a bride & groom put so much effort into making sure their family & friends were enjoying themselves.

Since we knew we’d be shooting so much, we also packed our film cameras just for fun & a change of pace. Here’s a few from those: