Zara and Asad’s private estate Nikkah ceremony in Richmond, Virginia was one of those days that stays with you. It was intimate and emotional in the very best way — the kind of wedding where the love in the room is so palpable you can feel it the moment you walk through the door. Zara’s parents welcomed us into their home with such warmth, and from the first frame, it was clear this was going to be a very special day to document.

A Nikkah is the Islamic marriage contract, and at the heart of it is something beautifully simple: consent, witnesses, and vows exchanged in the presence of family. Zara and Asad’s ceremony was held in the most gorgeous private estate — vintage settees, overflowing baskets of flowers, and family filling every corner of the room. There were tears and prayers and real, unscripted moments that I will never forget.

The Details

Elle Loren & Co brought the vision together with a boho Pakistani aesthetic that felt completely personal to Zara and Asad. Kanwal Malik bridal attire, florals by The Moment Events, and rentals from Paisley & Jade gave the ceremony a warmth and softness that translated beautifully on film. Henna by Shazia’s mehndi work was intricate and stunning, and The Artist of Beauty had Zara absolutely glowing.

Portraits at Maymont Botanical Garden

After their private ceremony and family portraits at the estate, we headed to Maymont Botanical Garden in Richmond for their couples session. If you haven’t been to Maymont, it is genuinely one of the most beautiful gardens in Virginia — sweeping grounds, incredible trees, and a quiet that makes you feel like you’ve stepped out of the city entirely. What the photos won’t tell you is that it was over 100 degrees that day, one of the hottest and most humid days of the summer. You’d never know it looking at Zara and Asad — they were completely in their own world.

Photographed on Film

This entire wedding was shot on the Contax 645 alongside the Nikon Z6II, on Kodak Portra 400, processed and scanned by The Find Lab. Film renders South Asian wedding color and textile detail in a way that nothing else does — the reds, the golds, the embroidery, the light through fabric. It’s my favorite thing to photograph, and Zara’s Kanwal Malik bridal look was no exception.

Congratulations, Zara & Asad — I cannot wait to share more from your vibrant Mehndi and your Shaadi. This is just the beginning.

Congratulations Zara & Asad!

Contax 645 • Kodak Portra 400 • Nikon z6ii 

If you’re planning a South Asian wedding, Nikkah ceremony, or multi-day celebration in Richmond, Virginia, the DMV, or beyond — I would love to be your photographer. Get in touch here.

Photographer: Renee Hollingshead

Planner: Elle Loren & Co

Venue: Private Estate & Maymont Gardens

Bridal Attire: Kanwal Malik

Mehndi: Henna by Shazia

Florals: The Moment Events

Makeup: The Artist of Beauty

Rentals: Paisley & Jade

Jewelry: Inaayat Jewels

Film Lab: The Find Lab