Nada and Mina were married at St Mark Coptic Orthodox Church in Fairfax, Virginia. The ceremony was similar to many I have photographed in the past but included some elements and traditions which I had not seen before. For starters, the couple met one another at the door and walked up the aisle together and were greeted by two priests and a handful of deacons. A little while into the ceremony they were dressed in beautiful robes and then were crowned.
I read a bit about the significance of the crowning and, and as I understand it, the new kingdom of their home is being established to which they will both commit to sacrifice, love and take care of one another with wisdom and integrity.
The entire day was a rush and a blur of activity. And then, after some really fun toasts, the dancing started and I did my best to stay in the mix and not get run over. A big thanks to Brendan Hoffman for joining me as a second set of eyes for most of the day. He captured the image of Mina getting ready before the ceremony.