So, I’m going to begin where the evening ended:
A poutine food truck stops in front of the Carnegie Institute for Science and dozens of wedding guests — in suits, tuxedos, and elegant dresses — line up outside ordering poutine, a Canadian fast-food dish. I found myself doing a double-take or four looking at the truck, the Carnegie, and the classy guests and realizing, “Oh, this is really happening.”
I’ve seen couples incorporate their own comfort foods, provide great BBQ, and other casual foods into their wedding’s cuisine. Each time, the caterers do a great job presenting these dishes in a manner that matches the usual classiness of a wedding. Nope, not this time. This was a straight-up food truck serving hot poutine in paper trays with plastic forks. The juxtaposition was awesome and Ashely, the bride, couldn’t be happier when it arrived, “This is my heritage. I’m Canadian and I gots to have me some poutine.”
Of course I photographed it! My first exposure to poutine was Epic Meal Time’s ‘Angry French Canadian’ episode. And poutine in real life didn’t disappoint.
Another unique feature of their wedding was that in lieu of the usual First Dance, Father-Daughter Dance, and Mother-Son Dance they had a Chinese Lion Dance. During this intricate dance meant to bestow blessings upon the newlyweds and chase away spirits who wish to destroy happiness. This was a first for me and was really, really cool.
This wasn’t the only coolness of Ashley and Amar’s Carnegie Institute for Science wedding. While photographing the groom, Amar, and his brother/best man, Raj, I found out that we have a lot in common: Amar practiced BJJ and his brother, Raj, is a BJJ blackbelt. Both brothers had stories about re-enacting various WWF moves and breaking furniture as a result. Finally, Amar and his wife, Ashley, were lawyers; a field I was studying before switching to photography.
So, yeah we hit it off and hit it off well. Let’s just say that towards the end of their classy wedding at the Carnegie Institute for Science, Raj jokingly challenged me to sparring match. I told him, “I’d totally do it, but seeing the best man and the wedding photographer in a classy place like this grappling might take the spotlight from the bride and groom.”
The floor was carpeted and cushy enough for it.
Working with Raye of Gillette Portrait Arts was a sheer pleasure and I look forward to helping her with her next wedding.