Rachel and Ben’s wedding in Tai Kwun, Hong Kong, was incredibly special. They put so much thought and care into creating an experience their guests would love. It was particularly wonderful for us, however, because we were able to be there not only as photographers, but also as family. 

Rachel is Julia’s cousin, so to photograph the love that she and Ben share, as well as the outpouring of support from friends and family all weekend, was a true honor.  

A Hong Kong Wedding Weekend – Day 1

Rachel and Ben planned an amazing four-day-long wedding celebration for their guests in Hong Kong. The first day kicked off with their ceremony and official signing of papers on the family’s yacht. 

They invited a small group of immediate family to join them on the yacht while they exchanged their vows. Then after cruising around the bay for a bit, we met the rest of the guests for a welcome dinner at a local restaurant on Lamma Island. Their guests (150 total!) flew in from all over the world to join them in Hong Kong for the celebration.      

[You can see more from the ceremony on the yacht in this post.]

The weekend couldn’t have started off in a more meaningful way. It was so heartwarming to see Rachel and Ben surrounded by so much love from around the world. This really set the tone for the rest of the weekend.    

Day 2 – Reception Day in Tai Kwun

For Rachel and Ben’s second day of celebrations, they hosted an intimate family dinner at Prince and the Peacock in Hong Kong. Rachel’s best friend and her sister’s boyfriend were the MCs throughout the weekend, and as dinner began they introduced the couple. 

Then Ben’s best man and Rachel’s father gave hilarious and heartfelt speeches as everyone dined. The speeches are one of our favorite moments at any wedding, because we love hearing all the sweet stories your loved ones share. However, our family connection made this moment at Rachel and Ben’s wedding even more special.       

Since we were invited as family, Rachel and Ben wanted us to enjoy the parties each night. So they hired a separate event photographer to capture both the welcome dinner party on night one and the festivities at Prince and the Peacock on night two. We photographed the getting-ready portion of both days, the ceremony with family on the yacht, and the formal family photos and couples portraits. 

All of the images from the party in this post were shot on film for fun, as Chris carried around a pocket point-and-shoot camera throughout the weekend. 

About Tai Kwun

The Prince and the Peacock is in Tai Kwun, which is Hong Kong’s former central police station and jail that’s now filled with restaurants and exhibits. It’s incredibly charming and was the perfect setting for Rachel and Ben’s wedding.  

The architecture of Tai Kwun also made the best backdrop for their portraits and family photos. We loved the juxtaposition of Rachel and Ben in their formal wedding attire against the old brick walls of the former police compound. We captured some artful shots on the stairs and especially loved how Rachel’s train cascaded down the steps. 

These portraits turned out to be some of our favorites from the day– we love being able to capture the timeless beauty of your day through the details like this.        

After dinner, the rest of the guests joined us at Magistracy, where the party continued until the early hours of the morning. 

They had a live band playing for guests to dance to, and each room of the restaurant had fun little surprise-and-delight moments to keep everyone entertained all night. 

Rachel and Ben even wrote personal notes to each guest, which were delivered throughout the evening. They put so much intention into planning an event that not only celebrated their love, but was an exceptional experience for everyone. Every moment throughout the whole weekend was thoughtfully planned.  

Hong Kong Wedding Photography

We were so honored that Rachel and Ben asked us to photograph their wedding weekend in Hong Kong. It was such a joy to celebrate them, and an even greater honor to preserve these memories so they can relive them for years to come. 

While we’re based in Southern California, we actually travel to Hong Kong often. So if you are planning a wedding or celebration in Asia, we would love to photograph it for you! 

Our approach is to capture your day naturally as it unfolds, giving you authentic, artistic, documentary-style photos. If this resonates, reach out to us through our inquiry form, and we’ll be in touch to hear all about your vision. 

Thank you to these wonderful vendors:
Planner: Hugo Belloy
Dress: Phillipa Lepley
Hair: Adam Embleton Perea
Makeup: Leticia Bishop