Studio Ostendo operates in multiple creative fields including photography, design, and education.
After living in four different cities among the two of them, Sam and Vivek knew that planning a destination wedding in Utah would be an amazing way to bring their loved ones from different walks of life together for their wedding. To create an intimate, experience-based celebration, they hosted their family and friends at their Airbnb wedding at an modern mansion on the border of Idaho and Utah overlooking Bear Lake.
We first met Sam and Vivek in Chicago before we moved out to Idaho. We photographed their engagement session there, and found out they were planning a destination wedding out west the following summer! To help Sam and Vivek pull off the multicultural wedding of their dreams across the country from where they lived, they brought in Ruby from Red Canyon Events to handle all the planning and logistics so they and their guests could enjoy a few days together during the wedding festivities. The team from Savory n Sweets came out from the Boise area to provide meals and cater all the wedding events—from brunch charcuterie to a delicious family style meal—they knocked it out of the park.
Sam and Vivek’s Airbnb wedding celebrated the fusion of their heritages, with touches of Filipino and Indian tradition weaving both sides together, from their combined seven outfit changes to a beautiful ceremony officiated by Vivek’s brother and more.
On the night guests arrived, Sam and Vivek hosted a welcome dinner that featured Mehndi and Merienda (Filipino for snacks). Guests enjoyed cocktails on the lawn overlooking Bear Lake together to kick off the wedding.
The following morning, Vivek’s family began the brunch wedding with a baraat while Sam put the finishing touches on her first outfit of the day, a traditional Lehenga. Surrounded by loved ones, Vivek made his way down the long Airbnb driveway to the ceremony site on the lawn. Sam and Vivek’s wedding ceremony tied together pieces of Indian and Filipino cultural traditions. Throughout the ceremony, Vivek’s brother shared the significance of each element with the guests as he officiated. Following the ceremony, Sam and Vivek enjoyed brunch charcuterie with guests before enjoying Bear Lake with friends for the afternoon.
Later that evening, guests reconvened on the lawn. Welcomed by sweeping banquet tables and stunning sunset views, they shared a family-style meal together before dancing the night away under the stars.
The wedding festivities ended with one last day on Bear Lake before heading home. After the wedding, Sam and Vivek shared that amongst so many special moments, the best part was having their favorite people there. Their Airbnb wedding allowed them to spend quality time with their closest family and friends, and it was the perfect way for them to celebrate!
Sam & Vivek's wedding was also featured on Rocky Mountain Bride! See the wedding feature on their blog here!
Wedding photography is my heartbeat. For me, it holds the perfect tension between creativity and authenticity, observation and connection. In front of my camera clients transform to friends, and behind it you'll usually find me tearing up, cheering you on, or holding my breath because of the raw goodness of the moment at hand.
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