Kseniya & Mara /family backyard wedding/
If a wedding day begins and ends with a jump in a lake, then I’d say you enjoyed it to the fullest. That’s exactly what this beautiful day felt like, full of enjoyment.
Kseniya and Mara. Two people from two different countries and two different paths of life. Two young souls ready to commit to love one another and grow along side each other. Celebrating with friends and family from all around the world in Mara’s backyard.
I may have teared up several times during the ceremony and during the speeches. Okay, let’s be honest, I was a mess as I watched Kseniya’s parents and family give their little girl to a guy they can’t even fully communicate with through the language barrier. I have watched my parents do the same. I could relate to all those emotions of goodbyes and new beginnings. I could understand the joy of starting a life with your love and the pain of parting with your culture, your family, your familiarity and stepping into the unknown.
Mara & Kseniya, thank you for welcoming us in and letting us capture this special day! We had SO MUCH FUN with you two and we are excited for all that’s ahead for you.
Mirjam & Thomas
From the first moments Mirjam reached out to me through email, I knew we were in for something special. Her sweetness and kindness was so present in her words, and I could not wait to meet her and Thomas. They traveled all the way from Graz, Austria to meet us in Prague for their pre-wedding shoot. We spent hours walking through the streets and running around fields outside of Prague, we had a spontaneous picnic together, we prayed, and we shared our hearts. We knew we got two very dear friends that day, and we couldn’t wait to capture their wedding.
I have never experienced such calm and peaceful preparations and rest of the day. And I don’t think that’s just because I didn’t speak the language.
We arrived to Mirjam and Thomas’ new little home where Mirjam’s sister worked on finishing a beautiful wedding cake. Then we took a walk through the town to an epic hair salon, took a tram back, and then Thomas joined us.
I cannot imagine a more beautiful wedding morning than the bride getting ready with her sister’s help in one room while her groom plays worship in the other room of their soon to be shared new home.
They kept surprising us with how simply their day would unfold. After their first look we drove up to the hills and forests to take pictures, and to keep the tradition, have a picnic! Yes, these two simply took the time in their day to sit in a meadow just with us and have a little picnic. <3
I didn’t understand a word of the ceremony, but all I knew was that it was God-filled, bringing praise and glory back to the One who orchestrated their union. It was beautiful, and meaningful. Their families, their friends, loved-ones, joining them in celebrating their love, and the One who is Love. Their families prayed over them, then Mirjam & Thomas surprised everyone by playing a song together, and at the end danced down the aisle to “Oh Happy Day”.
They danced the night away barefoot with their friends, and said their goodbyes as everyone circled around with sparklers!
Mirjam & Thomas, thank you for welcoming us in and letting us into your lives, and your beautiful day. Capturing your day was a gift!
M & Z / camp wedding in the hills./
When I met Martina & Zdenek in spring for an engagement session I felt like I just met my life-long friends. Obviously, I could not wait for their wedding day to come in July.
From a sunny morning, crazy pouring rain right before ceremony, sunshine for the ceremony up on the hill, pouring rain during the reception, to an epic sunset in the meadow. Through all of it they smiled, and enjoyed the day to the fullest.
The wedding took place up in the hills behind where I grew up with a reception at a scout camp. Everyone had to hike up to a little field up on a hill for a beautiful ceremony. I held back tears as the bride walked up the hill with her dad to the sound of their friends playing violins.
One of my favorite moments was when the groom grabbed a violin during the reception, and surprised his bride by playing two songs with his friends. They have been together for seven years, but he had never played for her until their wedding day, and naturally there were tears and so many emotions.
To top the already incredible day, we drove out to the hills and caught the most beautiful sunset. And then everyone just danced the night away, only taking a break to watch the moon eclipse that took place that night.
Jaja & Josh /rainy intimate wedding./
Besides the shared name and nationalities in our relationship (and being goofy), Jaja & Josh have a lot in common with Joshua & I, so capturing their day was such a gift to us!
Their wedding was simple, intimate, with a reception in Jaja's family's backyard. The day started hot and sunny but the garden party quickly turned into pouring rain and strong wind, which they embraced with singing and dancing. The moment Josh decided to grab the guitar as others were holding up the tent under the weight of the rain was one of my most favorite wedding moments of all times. Singing "My Lighthouse" with the biggest smiles on their face I couldn't help but smile big too. Knowing far too well that marriage and life together as one is unpredictable, and often pouring rain instead of a sunshine, I was glad to see that these two knew how to embrace the "discomforts" life throws at them as the blessings in disguise that they are.
Jaja & Josh have big hearts that give, they have such beautiful connection with one another, and we are so thankful to know them and to see what's to come for them as they begin their journey in marriage.
Here's a glimpse into their beautiful and fun wedding day.
Daniela & Martin /wedding./
I met Daniela & Martin only about a week before their wedding, when their photographer had to cancel last minute and gave them my contact. But somehow this unfortunate situations turned out to be such a blessing. We just got along so well and connected so easily when we met and took their engagement pictures. They were so easy going and fun to be around that I couldn't wait for their wedding day.
Every little detail was so beautiful and delicate. There was no rush or hurry in the morning as everyone got ready and decorations were being finished. I have never seen a wedding with so many friends willing to help, and the bride being able to trust them completely to fulfill her vision, while she enjoyed the morning. Everyone was so friendly to us, making us feel right at home, and welcomed. The whole beautiful day was carried in such a fun atmosphere and we were having fun. Josh even had a little dance party with the bride.
But most of all, I loved capturing the connection these two had. It's something you don't see everyday. They were so genuine and sweet, and the love they had for one another only reflected in the friendships we saw. I was holding back tears when their friends circled around them and sang to them. It was beautiful! I am so thankful we got to capture this special day.
Agi & Dan /wedding portraits in the mountains./
Two weeks after their wedding they came to visit me again. They put on their beautiful wedding attire (that incredible dress made by Sara Prostejovska) and they danced on the mountaintops and in the fields.
Agi & Dan /Prague wedding./
I've known Agi through instagram for quite some time as one of those people that you know you would get along with so well in real life. I felt like we were friends before we even met in June when she and Dan came to visit me in my land of hills and forests to have their engagement pictures taken. Knowing they were adventurous I took them on a hike to a waterfall where they jumped barefoot over the rocks, and then up to the hills where they frolicked in fields full of wildflowers. Their tender love was so obvious and so easy to capture. And their personalities just simply fun to be around.
They were going to get married in a month, and they just wanted something simple and laid-back, and they weren't even going to hire a photographer (to my disappointment). But then I sent them the gallery of their pictures and they were so excited that they asked me to come to the wedding as well!
YES, I am so, so glad they did.
Their wedding really was simple and laid-back. But also beautiful, focused on the important part of the wedding day, the commitment of the two. From the nice and slow morning, having breakfast at Agi's apartment with her girlfriends, to the families and friends rejoicing with them at the church as they said yes to a forever side by side. And because I simply couldn't let such a beautiful bride have only a couple of quick portraits from the rooftop and attic of the church since there was no time for more, I convinced them to come visit me again, to put on their wedding attire and dance on the mountaintops with me two weeks later.
