Bermuda Wedding: Anna Laura & Jake

As I drove out to St Georges the sky grew black and by the time I arrived at Anna Laura's family property it was pouring. Which alone would have been fine, not ideal for photos, but fine. Worse, however, was that Anna Laura was feeling terribly ill and was really not the amazing, smiling girl I have known for years and certainly in no mood to have her photograph taken. While her mother and sister prepared her gown, undoing dozens of stubborn buttons, Anna Laura looked on while she sipped some syrupy medicine from a champagne glass. With the inclement weather and her feeling so awful, I suggested we do a Trash the Dress session later when we would have more conducive conditions for photographs - they readily agreed.
So a couple weeks later we met at Tom Moore's Jungle to wander around. I just love this image, the tenderness is divine - and her dress, designed by Daniel Faucher Couture Design is just stunning.

And a few from the actual wedding day...

Anna Laura and Jake have been together for ten years, they had a tiny wedding ceremony last Christmas, but this time they wanted to have a great party to celebrate with all their friends. Just before walking out to the ceremony, Anna Laura kisses her son, Tristan.

A quick blessing of their marriage was performed under a tent in her parents' garden.

We took a few photos on the covered porch of her uncle's house, before she went back to bed. Despite feeling frail, she really was such a beautiful bride...

At about 9:30pm, just as Anna Laura's father began his speech, she reappeared. I love Rick's face here, as he first sees his daughter.

And Jake too was very happy to see his bride was feeling better. Local band Home Grown performed and they danced on into the wee hours...

And a few from the Trash the Dress day... which was hot and sunny at the start, but also became rainy - shooting with one hand while holding an umbrella in the other is a true challenge...

Tom Moore's Tavern was built in 1652 and is still in its original state.

The building is surrounded by a nature reserve and cedar forest that is now also overgrown with Surinam Cherry trees. Various pathways lead through the property to several salty lakes and on the east side to the sea. Hmmmm where to go - left or right...

Along the path these plants were covered in graffiti. Inspired by another couple who had inscribed their wedding date from just a week earlier, Jake added theirs.

The reserve also has several caves and grottos that are linked underwater.

And finally a swim - against the advice of her mother and her dress designer. But we decided that her gown was so filthy from a night's dancing and a day trudging through the mud that a swim could really not do too much more...