JESS & SALAAM // Part I – At the courthouse & Palo Santo
Jessica & Salaam inquired in February of 2023 with one of the most clear visions I’ve ever read in an inquiry form. They knew they were not showy people, so they wanted their neighborhood elopement to reflect their authentic selves.
Over the course of planning, though, they felt their hearts tugged toward including their close family & friends in their celebration somehow. SO, they decided to have a courthouse wedding in the morning on 10.10.23, then meet up again with everyone in Brooklyn for an intimate dinner reception.
Here’s the story of their 10/10 celebration:
Since the courthouse requires you state the typical vows, Jessica & Salaam opted to meet in this picturesque FiDi spot before their ceremony for a private first look & their personal vows.
Before *the* moment, Salaam excitedly perfected his handkerchief, then I set him in his spot & communicated with Jess that they were a go for the big reveal.
After they soaked in the moment, in each other’s arms,
they walked across the street where they were greeted by their mothers, Jess’s brother, & a few close friends at the city clerk’s office. Hugs, laughter, & excitement were captured as they all prepped for the entrance into the building & waited for their number to be called inside.
& just like that, it was their time to walk up to the window & sign their marriage license.
Originally, no one besides myself would’ve been at this courthouse wedding to witness all the beauty & commitment. But in the evolution of their planning, incorporating family & friends meant that they still got to have a non-showy wedding, but also let Salaam’s mom act as the witness to their union. How special!
The marriage rooms may look a little bit like a preschool classroom,
which can be a negative for some people, but what I found in Jess, Salaam, & their friends is that they had a childlike joy going into the legal ceremony. An understanding that life is beautiful by the side of the one you love, no matter the things you may face. It made me emotional during the ceremony, which is all of 2 minutes.
The spirit of joy continued into waterworks,
& so much excitement inside the building & out onto the pavement.
This couple. This love. Unmatched.
With the courthouse celebration coming to an end, it was time for a break for a few hours
Before reuniting at Palo Santo in Brooklyn for dinner.
When I arrived to the restaurant I was immediately overwhelmed with the feeling of pure romance.
Jess did an INCREDIBLE job of putting together stunning details & arrangements. All of it fused perfectly with the exposed brick & low light of Palo Santo to cultivate the utmost romance for the night.
One of my favorite photos from the night
was this quiet moment of Salaam & Jess lighting the candles for their dinner. Finding moments to partner together in creating something beautiful for your wedding day is such an example of marriage, it made my heart melt.
Once all was set up, it was time for friends from all life circles
like Jess’s friends from high school in Atlanta & Salaam’s friends he’s known for 10+ years, & their joint friends they’ve come to call family in recent years, to all join them in communing over good food, drink, & laughter.
You may notice a familiar face in the photos below. Jess & Salaam have such a heart for hospitality & inclusivity that they invited my fiancé (now husband) to join us at dinner. He wasn’t even shooting any film photography for this event, but Jess & Salaam had the kindness to welcome him & myself like we were just friends there, just as much as anyone else. Words cannot express the gratitude I have for these two. Our friendships only grew after this & at their BedStuy elopement session which you can read all about in Part II of their love story.
As the night came to a close,
we made sure to set aside time for group photos. These are some of my favorite group photos I’ve ever taken. So many people view this as a stressful or mundane part of your wedding day, but let Jess, Salaam, & their people be an example it does not have to be that way! Letting your personality & love for your people shine is what makes group photos special, & each & every one of them leaned into that authenticity.
To finish out the celebration,
we took time to cut & consume the stunning cake one of Jess’s friends made for them. Pure joy. That is the only way to describe this night, including this moment at the cake cutting.
