Question: How do two PhD students with a deep love for anthropological research and Spanish-speaking countries (her: Ecuador, him: Mexico) have a lush, tropical, fiesta-esque wedding in Richmond VA?

Answer: They celebrate at Havana 59 surrounded by juicy, colorful floral designs by Amanda Burnette and listening to salsa music late into the night!

This was our first Havana 59 wedding and WOW are we spoiled now. When I first met Bryan and Kim, I was blown away by their dedication to education, educational access, immigration reform, and cultural understanding. If you’re curious about the definition of “intersectional” feminism, this is it: sexism and gender discrimination never occur in a vacuum, and all oppressions are interconnected. They both are earning Ph.D.’s in intersectional issues. They both are badasses.

We started the day with a small, family-only vow exchange at the Linden Row Inn. It was raining, so afterward we popped over to the Richmond Public library for some portraits under those big, beautiful, rain-protecting arches! (Photographers take note, this is a great spot for photos when the weather is less than ideal) Then we headed downtown for zesty mojitos, extremely tasty Cuban food, another (quick) ceremony, and some side-splitting toasts and EPIC dancing.

The entire vibe of the day was deliciously colorful and vibrant, from the aesthetic (again, omg, those flowers) to the interactions: it was awesome to watch as Kim and Bryan’s friends from childhood met friends from college, Richmond friends met friends from Puerto Rico, great aunts met high school friends, and everyone bonded over the rich and profound love that Kim and Bryan have for everyone in their orbit. They are clearly steadfast, thoughtful friends and we were honored to get to document the beauty that they bring to the world!