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Nikayla Bautista is the founder and lead photographer at Nikayla & Co. Nikayla & Co. offers wedding photography and other services to those who are excited to say "til death do us part".

My associate team and I provide the romantic and joyful experience of a lifetime while serving as your wedding photographer and videographer. Because your best days and loved ones deserve to be remembered intricately over and over.

Meet Nikayla

NATURAL & ELEGANT CATHOLIC WEDDING IN FARGO, ND | CLAIRE & SAM

weddings

SUMMER CATHOLIC WEDDING IN FARGO NORTH DAKOTA AT STS. ANNE & JOACHIM CHURCH AND BEAUTIFUL PINES WHITE VENUE.

Claire and Sam’s day was SO beautiful. Sam was an emotional wreck the entire day and I absolutely loved it. I actually find way more often that the bride has a face of just pure joy the entire day, and the grooms have more emotion – almost a gratefulness and pure awe, whether they’re usually stoic or very emotive. It’s the most wonderful thing to witness.

I know I go on and on about flat lays BUT hear me out. Just look at this one. If you don’t think flat lays are incredible, I’d like to change your mind. There are items that get lost or don’t make it over time. Notes, invitations, jewelry, flowers. There are things that are special, but can’t be worn again. There are pieces that you may actually forget, like what perfume you wore, without a photo to remind you. Claire got Sam this Josh Garrels record as a wedding day gift, and it was the perfect addition to their flat lay, because it also included their first dance song – Heaven’s Knife.

Sam went to a jeweler with a photo of a monstrance and said: “I want an engagement ring that looks like this”.

Claire and her ladies got ready in the upstairs room of Pines White, while Sam and the guys got ready in another building. Both have excellent lighting if you were wondering (which makes a photographer oh so happy).

Just before their first look, Claire read a letter from Sam candidly.

This first look has a funny story. Claire walked up behind Sam and fully intended to tap him on the shoulder to turn him around, but as she was still a few feet away she said “Hi,” and he eagerly turned around, causing laugher all around and Sam to turn back around confused if he did something wrong. Not all first looks have to be timed correctly or perfectly. A first look is still a first look!

The way Sam looks at Claire is truly the way we all want to be looked at.

The venue itself is a lovely backdrop, but also has pretty grasses and trees in the back for even more portraits. A drizzly morning gave us incredibly even lighting, some clear umbrella shots, and a dreamy cinematic look.

SS Anne & Joachim is a lovely Marian colored church with it’s blue ceilings and accents everywhere you look.

After communion, Claire spent time closing her eyes in quiet prayer and Sam “looked at her and loved her.” That’s all I can say. I cried.

Teary sister speeches, happy tears first dances, and lots of babies made up the first part of this reception.

This sunset session was one for the books! A blue sky met golden hour along the horizon’s trees and Sam and Claire sweetly dancing around and swinging on a huge swing together felt as natural as could be.