Izanami Wedding Rehearsal Dinner | Erika + Mike

Mike and Erika had a beautiful spring wedding, and I had the pleasure of photographing their rehearsal dinner at Izanami, in Santa Fe. The small gathering included friends and family who traveled from all over the world to share this special moment with them. Photographing the evening felt like watching a romantic movie. There were so many cute, funny, and emotional moments throughout the night.

The rehearsal took place at Izanami’s outdoor pavilion, which was beautifully decorated, making for the perfect intimate evening. Izanami is an upscale Japanese restaurant that sits on the mountains surrounding Santa Fe. The restaurant is part of Ten Thousand Waves, a world renowned spa that attracts visitors from around the world. The atmosphere combines the best of the Santa Fe mountains, Japanese architecture, and a relaxing atmosphere. Both Erika and Mike are avid travelers, and have a special place in their heart for Japanese culture. This setting made for the perfect opportunity for them to include small Japanese details through the location, the food, and the amazing selection of Sake.

Evening events are always an exciting challenge to photograph. This particular evening, with amazing intimate lighting, spacious seating area, and beautiful decorative details, made it easy to capture images that uniquely capture the cheerful, glowy, loving atmosphere. I feel like the final photographs show the loving sparks growing, as Erika, Mike, and all of their loved ones prepared for a beautiful desert wedding the next day. I am really looking forward to photographing future events at this location, and can only hope for another couple as amazing as Mike & Erika.