Real Couples // Redwoods Sanctuary: Scott + Anali
/Redwoods, glass globes, air plants, honey, a Persian girl in a pink dress, and an American boy in a blue suit. This was our vision. We are both architects by training, and designing public spaces is a passion we share. Having made it through architecture school together, we knew we'd make it through anything. Even planning a wedding! We were very deliberate with the design of each part of the event. We didn’t know how everything would turn out exactly, but one thing was for sure, we wanted an intimate, family-oriented wedding that left behind certain traditions and religious mannerisms.
Both of our parents walked each of us down the aisle, Anali’s brother officiated the ceremony, Scott’s sister was his best person, and our best friends and cousins occupied the rest of the wedding party. Nadya, Anali’s youngest cousin, sang to a beautifully played cello by a dear friend Daniel while we all walked. There standing under the glass globes hung from the redwood trees and filled with symbolic Persian elements, we said our vows. The burdens of running late, the possibility of rain starting again at any second, our soaked feet, and the cold breeze were so far gone from the modest sanctuary we created in the woods. We felt such intimacy with our family and friends; without a doubt this was the best day we’d had together by far!
At our reception, every detail from the mismatched vintage plates, to the handmade centerpieces with our names in Farsi and English etched on the sides, to the light-falls from the terrace above were crafted with a personal touch by us in collaboration with our friends at Jack & Diane Boutique and Objects Made. The stresses of it all washed off so quickly as we danced the night away and made lovely new memories.
Words by Scott Wilburn and Anali Gharakhani, Photos by Christina Richards Photography, Event Design by Jack & Diane Boutique
Christina Richards is a documentary wedding and portrait photographer. She is inspired by the fleeting, honest moments of life. Christina loves exploring the wild and urban spaces that surround her. She often takes along one of her many film cameras with the hope of finding magic in everyday life.
