I’ve already met Ivana and Dragan when I photographed their engagement, so when they invited me to do their wedding photo shoot, I had an idea that it would be a relaxed and easy-going day at work for me. There were only 19 guests – the families and a few close friends. Another thing that guaranteed a relaxed atmosphere was the fact that there was no strict protocol or tight schedule to stick to. It was a church wedding, but everything up to the ceremony was improvised.
They all stayed in an old stone house, refurbished to accommodate modern taste and requirements, perfect for a sense of privacy and coziness. Everything was done casually – from the first morning coffee and breakfast, to the preparations, dressing, makeup and finally going to the nearby church. It was a great day for me, as a wedding photographer. Wherever I looked, I saw scenes of joy and closeness. Just point and click! You can feel the spontaneity and the laid-back atmosphere radiating from the pre-wedding photos.
And even though the ceremony was in a church, the young couple and their guests brought the laid-back mood there, too. Sometimes these church weddings can get protracted and feel like someone hit the pause button, but this was different. It was short, at moments emotional, and ultimately wonderful. I managed to get some spectacular shots from the beautiful Istrian church, most notably of people being overwhelmed with emotions.
After going through the obligatory shower of confetti, the newlywed couple was ready to pose for some wedding photos. With the gorgeous Istria landscape in the background, and Ivana and Dragan being themselves – spontaneous and beautiful – the entire shoot took barely half an hour. And these are the best wedding photos – the ones that are created spontaneously and without much pose. I mean, everyone was so relaxed and having such a great time that at one point the children even started playing soccer. Sure enough, the grownups soon joined them. Who won? Well, they all did, because everyone was having so much fun that nobody bothered to keep the score!
Photos by Croatia wedding photographer Damir Plavotić
