Romantic destination wedding from Bratislava and Vienna
Here is something for lowers of romance, Europe old continent architecture and scenic looking wedding pictures with a fashion touch in them. Some of you might remember the last year engagement shoot when Paul flew from Vancouver to surprise and propose to Dominika during Christmas.
14 months later the big day came and since these guys were not in front of my camera for the first time they new what to expect. They also new that to have time to create way more creative images then usually for them on the wedding day would be really hard and they would not enjoy the family and friends who flew for this event from multiple countries so we set a plan for photography accordingly to that.
I suggested that we split the coverage to couple days. And it was a great idea because on the wedding day the rain showed up in the morning and we would not manage everything we wanted if it was only a one day coverage.
Here is a selection of the images in no particular order from the wedding day and creative portrait session from Vienna afterwards.
Just a bit of a twist to details. The brides parents had couple amazing creatures running around their house so I took the advantage of that. Do not ask how we did the flying dress shot, not an easy set up I can tell.
Just before leaving for the ceremony, all three sisters with mom and flower girl hugging with grandma who got sick just before the wedding.
A simple bridal party and family formals before and after the ceremony. Overcast days are absolutely great for this during hot summer months.
One of the last portrait of the bride before we head to the church. Timeless and pure in nature.
After a full mass wedding ceremony couple hit the highway and we drove to a private venue close to mountain range of Karpaty. The great entrance was watched by tens of deers freely running around in the nearby woods.
Evening filled with traditions, fun, dancing, amazing food not even talking about drinks variety and gents smoking Cuban Cohibas when the dusk took over the sky… simply relaxed easy going evening with amazing people.
One could ask how to define a perfect wedding. In my opinion there is not such a thing. Weddings are celebrations of love, new life, beginning and at the same time the end of something else. When you see people enjoying themselves, laugh being exchanged with happy tears, super quiet ceremony followed by a roof is on the fire party time.. you can start to call it a perfect one. At least for some people which for the other might be not. I talked to guests around me and heard words like, this is amazing evening, or no kidding open bar and this food, am I dreaming 🙂 or girlfriends laughing with the bride and rocking the place while guys were up to ‘guys things’. You start to feel the vibe of the evening and for me it had amazing atmosphere. The dance floor was shaking till 5AM in the morning and little kids went to bed past 2AM. Can you imagine? These folks know how to party, and I have not noticed anyone badly drunk or misbehaving and believe thee was a lot of boost around for free.
The second buffet dinner was served from 1AM till the late morning and once even the bride and groom could not dance anymore the party was over. I survived till 4.30AM before my hands and legs gave up on me and I simply hit the bed in my room and woke up for a very late breakfast with the rest of the family next morning. Wow. I want it again 🙂
Yet if you think that was it then get ready. As I mentioned after a day of the rest which all of us needed, we drove to nearby Vienna, city of Princess Sisi, Franz Joseph, Maria Theresia and you name it. The Royal town with all its beauty was our destination for bride and groom creative portrait session. And where else to start it if not at Schoenbrunn Palace – the most visit sightseeing in Vienna.
You can spend literally the whole day just here and you must be fool does not create anything interesting for your clients.
Specially if you have a couple such Paul and Dominika. Amazing looking, down to earth easygoing and specially willing to listne to suggestions what is gong to look great and what is not worth to waste time at regarding the pictures we were after.
To get dirty sometimes makes a huge difference how the final image is going to look. People love unique angles, they love tough shots together with the simple ones, but if you asked them which one is which they cannot tel the difference. They hire me to create an amazing memories for them once the last glass of champagne is drunk what is left are these two dimensional treasures called photographs!
It was a long evening plus dusk shoot and our feet were burning. At some point the groom got so hungry we hit the McDonald in hurry no to miss a good light around us.
We simply decided to go and go as long our feet were working and my brain was still capable to come up with new and new ideas for them. They had blast, and were shocked what we managed within one evening and yet excitement kept them going till almost midnight 🙂
Can you feel the shivers running down your spine when you get in your imagination under their skin? A hunger after different looking pictures. That is my client, that is the adrenalin rush wihch pulls me in with my camera and I do not stop until the couple does not stop… And believe me these guys had enough energy but at some point you simply have to admit… We have plenty 🙂
And we had plenty as you can see. And this is barely a selection of half of the images which I am planning to use to build their wedding album with. We had so many great moments with the bridal party, people dancing, crying, children screaming to my lenses etc…
If there is thank you to be said then Paul and Dominika, THANK YOU for allowing me to create your memories for you and your future family. I was very happy to work with you and can not wait to present you the whole story in near weeks to come.
I wish you a wonderful joyride through the life, be yourself and go after what you want and you know what, you will get it.
All the best from
Jozef
Vancouver Destination wedding photographer