Today I have another Southern Indiana love story to share with you all! But this one has a bit of a twist! Sarah and Emmanuel met at the University of Southern Indiana. Sarah was on the cheer team and Emmanuel was on the basketball team. Sounds pretty normal so far, right? Well, the really cool thing about this couple is that Emmanuel is actually from Nigeria! They actually got married in December 2018 and waited until July 2019 to have their official ceremony. This is different than most of my couples that I shoot. In a way, I think it actually takes some of the pressure off and allows everyone to relax and have a good time!

Emmanuel’s sisters and their families traveled all the way from Nigeria for the wedding and his host mom, Shona, was also very involved throughout. The ceremony took place at Providence Mennonite Church in Montgomery, Indiana. This happens to be the same church where Sarah’s parents were married, which I absolutely love. They had their reception at Montgomery Ruritan Club. But before the reception, Sarah and Emmanuel changed out of their American wedding outfits and into Nigerian wedding attire. This was completely new to me and I love how the photos turned out! One of the best photos (in my opinion) shows Emmanuel’s sisters helping Sarah get dressed. It’s the perfect symbol of how this marriage brought two families from different worlds together and truly captures their love and acceptance of each other. 

Something that makes this couple so unique is not only that they have already been married six months, but also that Emmanuel is currently going through the process of getting his American citizenship. If you aren’t aware, this is a major and very long process. I really admire how much this couple has already gone through together and have absolutely no doubt that it will make their relationship so much stronger! Knowing all of this and watching them laugh and dance together at their wedding reception just make it all that much more special and was no doubt my favorite part of the day!

Of course I have to share the sweet stuff with you! I mean, what would one of my blog posts be without it? When asked what each loved most about the other, Sarah said “I love his kindness and the way the Lord’s goodness and love shines through his smile.” Emmanuel said, “She is respectful, caring, helpful, and also charming!” When asked what they want to remember about this season of life 20 years from now, they said, “The love we have for each other and also understanding each other better. We want to remember the happiness we feel while being surrounded by friends and family. This is the most important day of our lives and we don’t want to forget a single detail!” 

I just love these two and their unique and special relationship! One final detail (and fun fact), their wedding hashtag was #WeSaidAudu, a cute play on Emmanuel’s last name. 

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Kalli is a playful, laidback, adventurous wedding and senior portrait photographer based out of Southern Indiana. She loves incorporating a documentary style into her work with movement and flow. With every session, her goal is to capture those raw and genuine moments that come from just being yourself.

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