After a long week of rain across Iowa, everyone had their eyes on the radar for Aliyah and Grayson’s Earlham, Iowa wedding.
Their wedding took place at a beautiful country church just outside the Des Moines metro. The church’s tall white roofline gave us gorgeous architectural elements for their wedding portraits, and thankfully, we didn’t have to travel far throughout the day.
And somehow, God gave us exactly what we needed: Not a single drop of rain fell until the moment after they drove away in their getaway car.
I’ll take that kind of timing every time!!
Getting Started…
Aliyah and Grayson chose not to see each other before their wedding, which meant we approached the day a little differently than I do for most of my couples. Thankfully, everything—from getting ready to the ceremony to the reception—was happening in the same church building. No traveling between locations. No racing from one place to another. Just a wedding day centered around the people they love. We started with the details and wedding party portraits, getting Grayson and the men outside first and then bringing Aliyah and her girls up for their portraits.
Then came one of my favorite moments of the day: Aliyah’s first look with her dad.
Her in-laws were there to witness it, and her sisters watched from inside the church doors. There was something incredibly sweet about having so many members of their families present, yet respecting their space, for that moment.
The love and wisdom of their parents was evident throughout the day. Aliyah and Grayson are surrounded by people who genuinely want to see their marriage thrive, and it was beautiful to witness.
A Christian Wedding Ceremony Centered on Christ
The ceremony itself included several moments I had never experienced at a wedding before, and they made the meaning of the day especially beautiful.
The wedding party processed in first, but then the doors closed. Only after everyone was settled did the doors open again for Aliyah and her dad to walk down the aisle together.
Before they entered, though, their pastor shared a short message about the significance of the colors they were wearing. Grayson’s black suit was explained as a symbol of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross and the groom’s willingness to sacrificially love and serve his wife. Aliyah’s white dress represented spiritual purity and being clothed in Christ’s righteousness.
Then the doors opened, Aliyah and her dad walked down the aisle, and she was given away.
Instead of a unity candle or signing a marriage certificate as part of the service, their families gathered around Aliyah and Grayson to pray over their marriage.
That’s when the tears came.
It was such a beautiful picture of what surrounded them that day—not just a room full of people watching them get married, but family members actively praying for and supporting the covenant they were beginning together.
And honestly, it was one of those wedding ceremonies where you could feel that everyone in the room understood that this wasn’t simply a beautiful day.
It was the beginning of a marriage they were committing to live out together, with Christ at the center.
Family Formals, Wedding Party and Flipping the Sanctuary…
While we used the sanctuary for family formals, friends were flipping it behind me and turning it into a beautiful reception area. We vacated the front of the sanctuary just in time to take the wedding party outside while the finishing touches were placed on the stage for them.
And because it was hot and humid outside, we weren’t interested in making anyone melt for their Iowa wedding portraits. 😂
There’s a certain kind of gentle authority that comes with photographing a wedding day. You have to be willing to confidently direct a room full of people while still making everyone feel cared for. Thankfully, this wedding party was completely on board with the mission:
Celebrate Aliyah and Grayson. Get the photos. Get back to the AC.
It worked.
And I loved seeing how many of the people standing beside them were family—siblings, in-laws and relatives all gathered together to support them as they began this new chapter.
A Little Unexpected Sunshine
After a beautiful reception and dinner, dessert came out and I happened to look through the windows.
There was SUN.
After a week of rain and a day of watching the radar, I wasn’t going to ignore that invitation. I grabbed my second shooter, Tessa, and brainstormed five quick portrait ideas we hadn’t tried yet. Then we brought Aliyah and Grayson back outside.
Aliyah had put her hair up. Her veil was off. Her train was bustled. Grayson had ditched his jacket.
They looked completely different from the portraits we’d taken earlier in the day. And the timing?
Perfect.
Because almost as soon as we got outside, we could see the rain clouds gathering again in the distance. The clouds were dropping low enough that they seemed to touch the ground.
So we worked quickly.
A few more portraits.
A completely different look.
A little unexpected adventure.
And then Grayson looked at Aliyah and said:
“How about we leave early?”
So that’s what we did. We loaded their car, rallied the reception guests, handed out streamers and lined everyone up for their send-off.
And then they drove away. One minute later, the rain started. I don’t think we could have timed it better if we’d tried!!
Everyone was cheering. Everyone was thrilled for them. And Aliyah and Grayson got to leave surrounded by the people who had spent the day celebrating the beginning of their marriage. They’ll take a couple of days away before heading back home, where Grayson will begin a heavy equipment training program and Aliyah will continue serving as a CNA.
For me, this wedding carried an extra layer of meaning: it was such a blessing to photograph the wedding of a former student and now get to watch her begin this next chapter of her life.
Aliyah and Grayson, thank you for letting me be part of it!
Your Earlham, Iowa wedding was full of family, faith, teamwork, laughter, a little weather drama, a surprise window of sunshine and a whole lot of love.
Take care,
Carrie
Vendors of Note:
Dress: David’s Bridal
Florist: Costco Flowers, arranged by mothers of the bride and groom
Ceremony & Reception venue: Crossroad Church, Earlham, Iowa
Catering: Cathy Godwin, friend of the families
Bridesmaids Dresses: Azazie.com
Groomsmen & Groom’s suit: Dillards
