Elizabeth and Raunaq’s wedding is remembered for the people. Held at Los Angeles’ iconic California Club, their celebration brought together a family rooted in Pasadena and a family from London, and by the end of the night, new friendships had formed on the dance floor. We spoke with Elizabeth’s mother, Mrs. Williamson, about what she relives when she looks back at the photographs.
What She Relives
When asked about the best part of the weekend, Mrs. Williamson didn’t point to a single detail. She pointed to the relationships.
“I wanted my daughter’s relationships with her family and friends to be at the forefront of everything. When I look back, that’s what I relive. All the moments with her bridesmaids, seeing her have a picture with each one of them, her cousins, her father, her brothers. That whole get-ready time is so incredibly special.”
It’s also why she chose John Cain Photography in the first place. She followed the studio on Instagram long before the wedding and flew the team in from Texas.
“John and I were speaking the same language. He talked about wanting to show the legacy, and how important family is. I’d see his photos and think, he captures the things that are important to me, the moments between father and daughter, mother and daughter.”
Her daughter’s two grandmothers were there too, and she treasures the photographs of them enjoying the day.
“You just can’t replace those.”
Zipping Up the Dress
The team made sure to capture one of the day’s quietest moments, Mrs. Williamson helping Elizabeth into her gown, with her sister and a close friend by her side.
“It sounds hokey, but it’s a magical moment. Everything goes through your mind at the same time. She was a little baby, and then all of a sudden she’s getting married and you’re helping her with her wedding gown. It’s very emotional.”
A Walk Down the Aisle
One photograph stands above the rest for her: Elizabeth and her father walking down the aisle together.
“One of my favorite photos of the entire wedding is of my husband and Elizabeth walking down the aisle. They’re both glowing. I couldn’t see as much in the moment as I can in the photos, so the photos helped me. You wish you could make time stand still.”
When They Knew
Mrs. Williamson first met Raunaq at Elizabeth’s 30th birthday party in Austin, shortly after he flew in from London to visit.
“I remember the way they looked at each other. I’d never seen her look so comfortable and happy with someone. I thought, maybe this is her person.”
She’d once given her daughter some advice about love.
“Elizabeth used to say her friends would get boyfriends and she’d never see them anymore. I told her, when you meet your person, you’ll understand why. After they started dating, she said, okay, I get it now.”
Two Cultures, Authentically Celebrated
Elizabeth is from Pasadena, and Raunaq’s family brought a rich and diverse background to the celebration. His mother is Sikh, and his father is a proud Scot. Both wanted to honor their heritage on the wedding day.
“His mother wears her sari often in London, and she asked if I’d mind if she wore it. I said, I would love for you to. Her husband is a proud Scot, and he asked if he could wear his family’s tartan. It almost felt too perfect, and it was all authentic. They looked amazing.”
Because the families practice a wide variety of religions, the couple chose a non-denominational ceremony on purpose.
Transforming the California Club
Many guests had attended events at the California Club over the years, so Mrs. Williamson wanted this one to feel entirely new.
“I said, I need to make that ballroom feel so different than it’s ever looked before. I wanted people to walk in and say, oh wow, this is totally different.”
The photographs captured that transformation without overwhelming the story. She had asked for the room to be documented, but not at the expense of the people in it. Recently, a stranger at a luncheon at the club saw a few of the images on her phone.
“The first thing out of her mouth was, oh my God, these are so beautiful. Your photographer is amazing.”
A Celebration Everyone Felt
Throughout the weekend, the energy in the room carried well beyond the family. Many of the guests from London were attending their first American wedding, and Mrs. Williamson loved watching them take it all in.
“One of the best things I heard after the wedding was that it was the most fun wedding anyone had ever been to. One friend told me, I have twelve new best friends and I met them on the dance floor!”
Speeches followed a family rule: keep them short and sweet.
“Everyone spoke so articulately, and everyone shared their speeches with the family. We’re saving them because they were so good. You could feel the love.”
The After Party
Once the formal portion of the night wrapped, a surprise waited in the next room: dancers with disco ball heads, a fun way to get guests moving from one space to the next. A college friend of Mrs. Williamson’s handled the music, and it was absolutely perfect.
“I found those disco ball dancers because I wanted to throw something different in there. It was a fun little touch.”
Elizabeth and Raunaq’s family cut loose on the dance floor, and they stayed for the entire night.
A Team Everyone Already Knew
An unexpected delight on the wedding day was how many familiar faces turned up behind the camera. Two of Elizabeth’s bridesmaids already knew Matt through his work.
“Matt would say, go get these people, and she’d go. They were like a built-in extra team. It was hysterical. All I kept thinking was, I made the right choice.”
What She Hopes They Remember
Asked what she hopes Elizabeth and Raunaq carry with them for years to come, Mrs. Williamson answered without hesitation.
“I think they’ll remember their families coming together. We meshed so naturally and got along so well. There was no drama, just pure joy. And I think they’ll remember walking back up the aisle as husband and wife.”
