Some weddings have a color palette. Nili & Tatem's had all of them. Their day at Paikka in Saint Paul was full of marigolds, mariachi, and more family than the courtyard could hold, and Eden and I spent most of it trying to keep up. The ceremony was built around Mexican tradition. Las arras came first, then el lazo, and somewhere in between a ring ended up on the wrong hand. Nobody minded, least of all the couple. From there it was mariachi against the dark brick, tacos from a truck, and a Catrina guarding the bar like it was her job. By the end of the night the whole courtyard was dancing under the string lights. Honestly, I'm not sure the old water tower has seen anything like it.
( September 2026 )
film + Digital
Color in Saint Paul |
Nili & Tatem's Paikka Wedding
marigolds, coins,
and
pop art
( the ceremony )
Every detail pointed back to where Tatem comes from. Cempasúchil, dahlias, and calla lilies filled every arrangement, papel picado hung along the bar, and las arras sat in a small heart-shaped box: thirteen gold coins that stand for a promise to share everything.
For portraits, we didn't have to look far. We found Paikka's pop-art flower wall and the rest speaks for itself.
boots on
lights low
Later, the two of them slipped into the photo booth for a minute alone, and I caught them through the curtain. An ice cream truck pulled up for anyone who still had room. We finished in the courtyard with Tatem in a short dress, hat in hand, and Nili's tie loosened, under a crescent moon. Yes, it was real. Would I make that up?
Once the dancing started, it didn't really stop. Tatem danced with her dad to "Mi Piquito de Oro," then traded her heels for white boots and a cowboy hat and didn't look back. Everyone joined in for la víbora de la mar, the Mexican flag came out, and the courtyard turned into one big dance floor under the string lights.