Katherine & Aki

Aug 27

Written By Rachel Bond

Katherine & Aki's Terrain Gardens DelVal Wedding

Some weddings feel like a celebration. Others feel like a meeting point between two worlds.

Katherine and Aki's Terrain Gardens DelVal wedding was both.

Living in Japan, Aki's Japanese heritage and their international life together naturally became part of the celebration, with family and friends traveling from Japan to Pennsylvania to be there.

The Setting

Terrain Gardens DelVal provided a romantic garden setting filled with natural texture and character. Deep green and burgundy florals brought richness to the landscape while keeping the overall design sophisticated and organic.

The property offered plenty of room for both intimate moments and a lively celebration, making it an incredible setting for documentary wedding photography.

The Day

Japanese traditions were woven throughout the celebration, including a sake barrel breaking ceremony, Japanese dancing, and hand fans.

Katherine also wore a gown custom-made in Vietnam, adding another international layer to an already deeply personal day.

But one of the most emotional moments came during Aki's father's speech.

Although he doesn't speak English well, he gave his entire speech 100% in English.

The room was in tears.

It wasn't about perfect words or pronunciation—it was about the effort, love, and intention behind wanting to speak directly to everyone there. It was one of those completely unplanned, incredibly meaningful moments that makes documentary wedding photography so special.

The Vibe

The wedding felt worldly, romantic, colorful, and deeply personal.

The design was beautiful, but the people remained the focus. Japanese traditions, international family, fashion, florals, and the Pennsylvania landscape all came together without feeling forced.

It felt like a true reflection of Katherine and Aki.

The Photography

I photographed the day using both digital and film photography, combining an editorial eye with a documentary approach.

Film brought softness and nostalgia to the imagery, while digital allowed me to capture the movement, energy, and emotion of the day.

Most importantly, I wanted the photographs to preserve not just how the wedding looked, but how it felt.

The tears during the speeches. The dancing. The people traveling across the world to be there. The little moments happening between everything else.

The End

Katherine and Aki's Terrain Gardens DelVal wedding was a celebration that crossed continents, cultures, and languages.

Japan, Vietnam, and Pennsylvania all found their way into one unforgettable day—and the result was a wedding that felt completely, unmistakably theirs.