Olisa + Alaina

Intimate Buffalo, New York Wedding

A church wedding and an intimate dinner after with family only.

They invited us to join their family bbq the night before, as guests not photographers. We were greeted with the warmest hugs and got the strangest feeling that we knew each other already rather than meeting in person for the first time. Quickly, we learned that’s just how Olisa + Alaina are, they’ll make you feel like family, make you smile real big for no reason at all and get excited for life. ⁠
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A small wedding with family only in her hometown of Buffalo, New York—where the limo driver was an old family friend and the church they were getting married at was one she went to as a kid. The ceremony before the big destination celebration, so that her elderly grandmother could join. The joining of two close knit, big families of two completely different backgrounds, Alaina Sicilian and Olisa Nigerian. But after spending two evenings with them, hearing all the stories, sharing laughs and tears, the love and respect pulsing through was strong and loud and we just wanted to be part of it.

Their families thought we were crazy for flying in from Los Angeles to photograph this, we thought Olisa + Alaina were crazy for asking us to. But we are so happy they did. 

Photography: Joe+Kathrina
Location: Buffalo, NY
Church: St. Louis Roman Catholic Church
Dinner Venue: The Garret Club
Veil: Madison Chamberlain
Florals: Wildroot Floral
Hair: Styled by Liz K
Makeup: Brittney Hazel Grady