This yacht wedding in Hong Kong holds a very special place in our hearts. Not just because the setting was so beautiful, but because Rachel and Ben are family. When someone you love asks you to capture one of the biggest moments of their life, it’s an incredible honor. 

The entire wedding was such a sweet celebration of Rachel and Ben’s love, and we were so grateful to be a part of it. We’re thrilled to share their images in today’s post. 

An Intimate Yacht Wedding in Hong Kong

Rachel and Ben actually had four days of festivities in Hong Kong for their wedding, with 150 of their friends and family traveling in from around the world to celebrate. The weekend kicked off with their ceremony on the yacht. This was their formal signing of the papers, and they opted to have only family present for this intimate moment. 

For the ceremony itself, Rachel and Ben had the boat anchor in a small private bay where Rachel grew up. You could even see her childhood home from the boat, which made the moment feel even more special. 

As Rachel’s cousin, Julia was asked to sing her rendition of “Yellow” by Coldplay (which is a personal favorite of Ben’s and special to Rachel’s entire family), while Rachel walked down the “aisle” with her father. During the ceremony, both Rachel’s sister and Ben’s sister recited poems that the couple selected. These moments made the ceremony feel deeply personal and intentional. It was clear that every detail was chosen with care, making the entire wedding feel like a truly heartfelt gathering. 

The whole afternoon on the yacht was relaxed yet elegant. Rachel paired her luxe Phillipa Lepley dress with a bouquet of a few simple cala lilies and went barefoot to fit the casual boat vibe. Ben matched her nicely in a linen-toned suit.  

Yacht Wedding Portrait Photos

After the ceremony and signing of the papers, we cruised the bay a bit and took some portrait photos of Rachel and Ben while everyone celebrated, danced, and sipped champagne. 

There was a little drizzle in the forecast all afternoon, but it didn’t put a damper on the day at all, and actually made for gorgeous photos. We always tell our couples not to worry about a little rain, because an overcast sky allows for great lighting and can create the perfect atmosphere for pictures. Regardless of what the weather does, staying connected to the truth that you are celebrating and entering a new chapter of life together will hopefully eliminate any worries. Rain even has a way of bringing an extra layer of romance to any day. 

Back on Land

After cruising around for a bit, we eventually docked at a small local island called Lamma Island. 

There we met the rest of the guests for a welcome dinner at a local restaurant, Rainbow, where they served traditional, local Chinese food. The mood at Rainbow was so lively and joyous. Everyone was thrilled to be celebrating the newlyweds. 

Rachel and Ben’s guests traveled from all over the world to join them in Hong Kong.   

Ben’s family came from England, and Rachel’s from Canada, Australia, and the U.S. It was really special to witness them be surrounded by so much love and on such an international scale.  

From the welcome dinner, everyone spent the rest of the night partying until the wee hours of the morning. It was the perfect way to kick off their Hong Kong wedding weekend in true Rachel & Ben fashion.

Because we were invited as family, Rachel and Ben wanted us to have fun at the party so they hired a separate event photographer to capture the photos at Rainbow. We photographed the getting ready portion of the day, the ceremony, and all portrait photos. The photos shown here at Rainbow were shot just for fun on 35mm film using the Yachica t4, while all other photos were shot digitally on a Fujifilm GFX 100II.

Destination Wedding Photographer

While we’re based in Southern California, we love to travel, and especially love destination weddings. Besides this Hong Kong wedding, we’ve traveled to Sweden, Hawaii, the lakes of Idaho, and more to photograph our couples’ love stories. If you’re planning a destination wedding and searching for a photographer to capture your day authentically, we’d love to hear from you!  

Thank you to these wonderful vendors:
Florals: Jodi Munro
Dress: Danielle Frankel Studio
Hair: Adam Embleton Perea
Makeup: Leticia Bishop