Helen & Tyson - Washington, D.C. Wedding Photography

Helen and Tyson have a pretty special story, and I feel so profoundly grateful to have been a small part of it on their wedding day. They met in Washington, DC, where both of them work, but soon found out that long ago in their pasts, they both had spent time in Iraq: Tyson as a marine, and Helen long before that as a Kurdish refugee child. Discovering their shared passion for helping people, and a keen sense of the power of love bringing their cultures together, they got engaged when Tyson surprised Helen with a proposal on stage at a Maz Jobrani show at the Kennedy Center.

Helen and Tyson’s wedding featured many of the elements that make their story unique; it was hosted at the American Pharmacists Association where Helen works and where the terrace offers stunning views of the city that brought them together. Helen’s makeup and hair were done by a friend of hers, Perry Warren. The ceremony included special readings from family members and friends, and a beautiful traditional “sofreh”, a table laden with sweets, flowers, and symbols of the couple’s faith and lives, prepared by a dear friend of Helen’s. During their ceremony, Tyson took Helen’s ring from atop an open bible to place on her finger, and Helen took Tyson’s ring from atop an open Qur’an to place on his. the two of them walked into their reception along with helen’s beloved dog lily, and they were gifted a surprise instrumental solo by another dear friend during the reception.

The radiant blue sky and perfect weather helped perfect this beautiful day, and certainly made this photographer very happy! Helen and Tyson, thank you again and again for letting me capture how i saw you guys - I hope these photos bring you joy for years and years to come <3