With my wedding fast approaching, I’m so thankful for photos like these from Dave Ainley Photography. They capture the joy of the day so perfectly, and remind me of just what a wedding is all about. Plus, bride Lauren has the most incredible smile! She and her groom, Nikolai, planned their Spokane wedding in just over six months, creating a celebration that honored both of their families and heritage.

From Lauren: One thing we had to take into consideration for our wedding and ceremony was the blending of cultures, since Nick’s family is Russian. Both of us come from a strong Christian background – the church we were married in was built in the early 1900′s, and for many years was called Grace Baptist. When Nick and his family moved to America in 1989, they attended Grace Baptist church for 11 years. The congregation slowly disintegrated and about 5 years ago, the church I have gone to for 13 years, Christ the Redeemer, merged with them, and eventually bought the building. It was very special for us both to have a strong connection to the church we were married in. Not to mention, the building is beautiful!

One of my favorite moments was standing on the stage with Nick, looking around at all the pews full of people, realizing how many people were there who I cared about. I’m so glad I took a minute to look around me, because the day went so fast that there were a lot of details I don’t even remember. Nick and I were so filled with joy the whole day long, and we really haven’t had an unhappy moment together since.

Photography: Dave Ainley Photography

Venue: Christ the Redeemer Church in Spokane, Washington

Bride’s dress / veil: Bridal Collections / Jade Rose Designs

Bridesmaid dresses: Zara

Groom’s suit: vintage Harrod’s

Flowers: Just Roses

Happiest wishes to Lauren and Nikolai – thank you so much for sharing your wedding day with us! And a big thank you to Jill and Dave Ainley who shared these beautiful photos of their friends. You can see plenty more from Lauren and Nikolai’s wedding over on the Apple Brides blog, as well as a couple shots from their adorable engagement session over on Dave Ainley’s blog.