For their wedding in Cancun, Mexico, we did a Day After Session and we first started out at the Dreams Cancun Resort which is situated by a stunning rocky beach with a lighthouse, super blue water and pelicans everywhere.

Later we went to one of Cancun’s beautiful cenotes, where Critsey took some of her unbelievable underwater shots (check out her blog!) and Selina and Eric gave it all. See them in the next magazine ads …

I consider myself very lucky and blessed to photograph weddings in so many different places, even on different continents. So it was a special honor for me to document this wedding. It took place in the little town of Oberammergau in Bavaria, Germany. Despite it being small, Oberammergau is the place where the world famous Passionsspiele (Passion Plays) take place annually. Starting in 1634 these plays are performed exclusively by laymen, the inhabitants of Oberammergau.

Dominika and Florian are locals and by chance and luck I got to be their wedding photographer. This wedding was founded in many very old traditions, all the costumes worn are genuine local style. They are the real deal – not cheesy Oktoberfest outfits. You could probably buy a small car for what many of the guests and family wore. Jewelry, some centuries old.

My luck was, being from close to this place, speaking the dialect, knowing the habits. You can’t just walk in and say “hey, I am a great wedding photographer from the USA” to be part of a wedding like this. Come and witness strange habits, cool outfits – and tons of fun!

The beautiful Rokkoko church of St. Peter and Paul (1749)

The house of Dominika’s parents. Some parts are several centuries old.

Dominika’s dad and grandma.

Florian is arriving in a carriage.

He brought Dominika an old necklace.

Florian’s suspenders sport the sign of Oberammergau.

Always part of the game: snuff.

The best man, rehearsing his speach.

No, this is not a backdrop …

Leaving for the ceremony.

St. Peter and Paul.

The altar is decorated for the Erntedankfest, a Thanksgiving holiday on the first Sunday in October.

One of the musicians greets Dominika’s mom.

Boutonnieres

The wedding bands are placed on a silver tablet.

The priest leads the couple, best man and maid of honor into the church.

The musicians. Double-necked guitar and zither.

Old traditions – new stroller.

The old church benches.

“The church cordially asks for a donation to renovate the organ.”

After the ceremony, the couple is greeted by a sack race.

The musicians.

Lederhosen. The real deal.

The sign for the 2010 Passion Plays. The inhabitants of Oberammergau are extremely proud of this. And many of them have acted in them.

The couple takes off to the reception restaurant …

… led by the music.

Stay tuned for part 2 where you will witness how the bride is abducted (no harm there – it’s an old tradition) and Florian has to re-conquer her. Daunting tasks lie ahead …

And I can tell you: it was awesome. New Jersey style, with all the bells and whistles. Mike looked sharp and Jessica was just plain stunning. I started with the guys getting ready at their hotel, and the flasks the groomsmen got as presents were way cool: they came with a little funnel! Of course this had to be tested – along with some flavor testing ;-)

If you want to know what was going on with the girls getting ready, check out Critsey’s blog, she covered the ladies.

After the ceremony at St. Lucy’s in Newark, NJ we went to Lambert Castle in Paterson, NJ. Mike had booked the whole interior for the afternoon to get great shots. Way to go Mike!

The reception was at the (“One and Only”) Westmount Country Club which is plain gorgeous. Please excuse the plethora of food shots, but what would be a NJ wedding without all the food? And yes, flamed sweets. Oh, and check out the live and freshly made Mozzarella. This so made my day!

Mike topped it off with the coolest garter grab we have ever seen. While he was rummaging under Jessica’s dress, what he pulled out was not a garter, but … a cigarette. That rocks.

Jessica and Mike love photography and they were game for anything we did. This was definitely one of  our best weddings in 2009. And now for the pictures!

Of course we will also take the opportunity to visit friends and family and then Critsey will head on to London and Paris for her Couture Boudoir Tour (I’m jealous!).
For me it’s back to the USA on June 11 for Kami and Adam’s wedding that I am really looking forward to.

But not for long and by the time we got to Central Park it was already getting nicer. The two are an intriguing couple and we had fun right away! I am still impressed that we made it to more parts of the Park that I had thought. Usually we don’t get far because we find so many little spots nearby.
We used the opportunity of a cello player in the Park for a little dance and then moved on to Brooklyn Bridge.

Now the weather was wonderful, and on a Saturday afternoon like this Brooklyn Bridge is packed! No worries, we love it and it has become our specialty to get pictures on the bridge that make it look as if there were hardly any or no people at all!
We had such a great time with Sherry & Kevin and we can’t wait to photograph their wedding!

Weather was bright and clear, temperatures were in the high 70s and I was relieved that it was not as hot as Charlotte when I left there (89ºF !).

Cecily got ready at The Wickliffe House where the reception took place as well. The house is owned by Mediterra Catering, who did a great job that day. Cecily and Shannon decided that they would see each other before the ceremony. Not many couples do this, but it is a wonderful and unique moment. I am sure they will never forget it.

After this, everybody walked over to the church, St. Luke’s Chapel, just a few houses down the road. Another thing that I love when couples do it!

The reception was inside of the house as well as outside, where all the dancing and party took place. Shannon had originally planned to have a carriage take them from the reception, but the horse died the night before! Can you believe it?! No horse, so a cat had to jump in – a black Jaguar took the couple into married life …

Since many great moments in Cecily and Shannon’s lives happened on Charleston’s East Bay Street, Shannon got a beautiful painting of the corner of East Bay Street and Faber Street where S.N.O.B. (Slightly North Of Broad) is located. I went there the next day and shot an interpretation of this painting.

Reception Venue: The Wickliffe House
Catering: Mediterra Catering
Planner: Lori Lethco
Ceremony: St. Luke’s Chapel on MSUC campus
Entertainment: ROD DJ Services
Flowers: A New Leaf Studio
Cake: Elaine’s Events
Design & Decor: Carolyn Shepard Design Group

It started with a windy rehearsal and then a scenic evening bus ride to a very intimate reception dinner close to Melbourne, FL.

The wedding day saw some very relaxed girls and “guys being guys”. And – most amazing – a ring bearer who got to carry the real rings on his pillow. Wow, very rare!

The party was a killer, Carolyn Shepard’s beautiful design and Vinny and LeVar with Split Second Sound turned it into a boiling pot!

The two met at University of Florida and it was no wonder that you saw the Gator Chomp (<-thanks for pointing this out, Andy!) a-plenty.

Surprise for Danielle: Andy & the Boyz perform …

Next day we met at the Vero Beach Hotel & Club, where the couple had a gorgeous suite and started a sizzling Day After Shoot. From there we went down Ocean Drive to get some amazing images. Those two are such hot posers!

Thank you guys, you were awesome!!

The Vendors:
Venue: The Club at Pointe West
Officiant: Linda May
Flowers: Carolyn Shepard Design Group
Entertainment: Split Second Sound
Invitations/Stationery: Wedding Paper Divas
Bridal Store: Aurora Bridal
Wedding Gown: Maggie Sottero