We are wedding photographers based in Charleston, SC. This was our first time photographing a wedding in Mongolia.
When we arrived at the Terelj Hotel in Mongolia’s capital city late at night, we were greeted warmly at the front door by a polite but tired Nomin and Batka. They had been working all week getting the hotel, which they own, ready for what was dubbed the “wedding of the decade” in Mongolia. The following four days, all we could do was marvel at the pastoral beauty surrounding us and the utter graciousness of our hosts.
The wedding day itself was the biggest and most elaborate celebration we have ever seen, with Mongolia’s best entertainers and celebrities on hand to toast the new couple. It was a big treat for us to witness a traditional Mongolian ceremony in the beginning of the day, and also to see the closeness and affection among Nomin and Batka and their family members, including their adorable young twin sons. It was also our longest wedding day ever, with 21 hours of straight shooting. But with so many unique and interesting things to photograph all day, we hardly noticed the time.
Nomin and Batka, thank you for bringing us across the world to celebrate with you. We can’t wait to get back to Mongolia someday. You gave us an experience we will never forget.