“What God has joined together, let no one separate.” — Matthew 19:6
For Hannah and Matthew, love is a story beautifully orchestrated by God, one step, one season, and one answered prayer at a time. Their wedding in Paris was more than a celebration of two people choosing each other; it was a gathering of faith, friendship, commitment, and the people who had become part of their journey. After all, their love story had always been about more than the two of them. It was about building a relationship centered on God and choosing to walk through life together, with Him at the heart of it all.
The wedding day began in a charming, two-storey old house in Paris, where preparations were underway and excitement filled every corner. There was something beautiful about witnessing everyone come together for the big day. Amid the little details, the anticipation, and the conversations, Hannah and Matthew were about to begin a new chapter of the love story we had first witnessed during their pre-wedding session in the City of Love. Back then, we photographed them wandering through train stations, walking along Parisian streets, and taking in the sunset. They were young, happy, carefree, and hopeful for all that the future held. Their pre-wedding photographs spoke of friendship, a love that keeps choosing each other, and a relationship grounded in faith. Now, we were there to document the day they would make that commitment before God and the people who mattered most.
Although theirs was a Christian wedding, the celebration was unmistakably Parisian in its setting. We travelled to Parc de Belleville to meet their entourage for the couple’s first look. Hannah and Matthew had been serving with CCF for quite some time, and one of the reasons they chose to celebrate their wedding in Paris was that they felt at home with these people. Their presence made the occasion even more meaningful. At around 4:30 in the afternoon, we began taking portraits in the park, which was relatively quiet as the day slowly approached sunset. The European daylight seemed to linger a little longer, almost as though the city itself was making room for their celebration.
Laughter echoed through the park as their friends gathered around them. A few passersby looked on curiously, wondering what was happening, while we found joy in photographing the couple in the middle of it all. Nothing felt overly staged. There was simply a bride and groom, their favorite people, and a beautiful afternoon in Paris. These were the kinds of moments I loved most: when a place reveals its natural character, and the couple's personalities become part of the scenery. The rawness of the surroundings, the unplanned interactions, and the genuine happiness of the people present gave the photographs a life of their own.
It was almost six in the evening when we left the park, yet the streets were still bright with daylight. As Hannah and Matthew walked towards their reception, I took the opportunity to photograph them along the way, with Parisian buildings serving as our backdrop. It was my first time documenting a wedding this way in a major European city, and the experience was something I would always remember. I have always loved it when the character of a place meets the mood of the people in front of my camera. I love how ordinary streets can become part of a couple's extraordinary story, how strangers pause out of curiosity, and how a love story unfolds naturally amid the rhythm of a living city. Paris was not merely a beautiful destination for their wedding; it became part of the memory itself.
This wedding was also special because I had my sister photographing alongside me. We had worked together on family and couple sessions before, but photographing a wedding together was a new experience for us. I took the main angles with my 24–70mm lens, while she documented the side angles with her 85mm lens. We each had our own perspective, watching the same celebration unfold from different vantage points. Beyond the photographs, it was meaningful to share this experience with my sister, working together to preserve a day that Hannah and Matthew, along with their families and friends, would look back on for years to come.
As the celebration continued, the wedding's playful palette of pastel shades reflected the couple's joyful personalities. The colors felt spontaneous yet fitting, much like the happiness that carried through the reception. There were conversations, laughter, and the warmth that comes from being with people who have walked alongside you through different seasons of life. It was a day of celebration, but beneath all the beautiful details was something much deeper: the gratitude of two people who had prayed for this blessing and were now living it.
Looking back, Hannah and Matthew's wedding will always be one for the books for me. Paris offered its beautiful streets, its timeless architecture, and its lingering European daylight, but what made the day truly unforgettable was the love shared between the couple and the community that stood with them. Their pre-wedding session captured two people looking forward to a future together; their wedding showed us the beginning of that future, with promises made, prayers answered, and loved ones witnessing their commitment.
Perhaps this is what makes a God-centered love story so beautiful. It is not simply about finding the person you want to spend your life with, but about choosing to build that life with God at the center, allowing faith to guide your decisions, strengthen your commitment, and carry you through every season. For Hannah and Matthew, Paris was the setting, their friends and family were witnesses, and their marriage was the promise. Their story reminds us that the most meaningful celebrations are not only about the day itself, but about the faith that brought two people to that moment and the grace that will sustain them in the years ahead.
May their marriage continue to be a life of choosing each other, growing in faith, and serving the Lord together. And may every chapter still to come reflect the same truth that began their journey: that when love is surrendered to God, even the most beautiful city in the world becomes only a glimpse of His goodness.
Hannah and Matthew, may the Lord who brought your paths together continue to be the foundation of your marriage, the keeper of your promises, and the author of every chapter yet to unfold. May your love always point back to Him, for the most beautiful love stories are those written by God and lived for His glory.
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