The best stories writes life itself…
You know Chris and Shannon from their surprise Proposal in Venice I posted last year (Venice). When they asked me to photograph their wedding in the Outer Banks I just had to do it! Let’s face it: how many beach weddings do you get in Switzerland? Shannon was the absolut DIY Bride (Do it yourself) Everything was selfmade by the bride and groom. They even made their own wine for the guests as a welcome present. Oh I was excited! With 60 of their closest family and friends they rented two gorgeous houses in Corolla. They welcomed us so wonderful and made us feel home the minute we stepped over that door. Everything was ready for that thursday afternoon when the ceremony should take place. Everybody was of help making it complete. All seemed to be perfect until the weather drowned our plan so brutal…
As the Carolinas are known for their tropical heavy rain showers you might better prepare for an indoor wedding just to be safe. But not my couple. They’re brave and said ” we went all the way, we go through with it”. And so it happened, while beautiful bride Shannon walked down the aisle with her parents, the rain came, and it poored so heavy that everybody fled down to shelter. While many brides would have been dissapointed, Shannon laughed, wet to her bones, disbelief what just happened!
They actually got married that day. So personal and private under that shelter, wet, cold and so close with their loved ones like never before. As soon as they kissed, the rain stopped and on the beach the wild horses passing by. It was for sure not the best photography I ever did those 1o minutes, standing on this little chair soaking wet, with the water floating from the roof down my back – but one I will never forget and I am so glad I was there to catch it.
I learnd two things that day: both me and my cameras really are waterproof and even the most unlikely event will be a joy, if your family and loved ones are close to you. There is no greater love. It was not a common beach ceremony and defenetly not a wedding I expected to find when I travelled to the US. But sometimes the unplannable creates something so unique. That moment down there, was magical. For all of them. Noone will ever forget this wedding, those 10 minutes. I never saw a couple so cheerful, a ceremony master so wet and happy, a mothers tears mixing up with the rainwater in her face, when Chris&Shannon said I do…
A following morning we met again at the beach. Just Chris, Shannon and us. Again in their wedding outfits to photograph a trash the dress shooting at 5.30 in the morning, kissing the sun hello.
The morning after we met at 5.30 am for a “trash the dress” shooting down at the beach. We wanted to catch the morning sun and make some romantic beach photos. It was an early wake up – but so worth. The Photos are so super-special and the light was just breathtaking!
Location: Hemingway & Fitzgerald Houses, Corolla, Outer Banks, North Carolina, Flowers: Sugar Snap Events http://sugarsnapevents.com/ Caterer: Enchanted Cuisine http://enchanted-cuisine.com/ Hair: Bombshell Studios http://www.bombshellsstudio.com/ Chair/Table Rental: Ocean Atlantic Event Rentals http://www.oarevent.com/