Rustic and Vintage: Wedding in Krašograd, Zagreb

Rustic and Vintage: Wedding in Zagreb

13/2/2015

             Have you ever seen someone in a crowded place and felt a sudden tingle down your spine, a sense of immediate familiarity? You may feel unsure: have you met them somewhere before, or are you simply destined to know them?

            That was the question, the sensation, that sizzled in the air when Martina and Lin crossed paths one night while they were both out on the town. Lin was arrested by the sight of the lovely young woman, called by both her beauty and the pull of a memory he could not immediately place - and then it came to him: he had seen her a year prior, clad in a white T-shirt, her hair neatly tied up in a ponytail. From that moment on, Lin vowed to not let Martina slip away again, and six years later, they were organizing their wedding.

            There was no pomp or pretension about this wedding, only the couple's authentic selves; Martina and Lin chose to have the ceremony and the party at the same location, so the day flowed naturally, relaxed and easy.

            Their rustic, vintage-inspired wedding took place largely in the open air, the sun shining on the bride's joyous face, the gentle breeze whispering its blessings. Everywhere around there was the touch of love, for Martina had planned and decorated the entire wedding herself, with the aid of her dear friends. Her deft hands had adorned the candle sticks and vases with pretty ribbons, and her cheerful nature could clearly be seen in the way the photo booth was decorated like a cozy living room, complete with a sweets table full of cookies and candies. Martina even chose to eschew formal shoes for her favorite footwear - sneakers - opting for a beautiful pair of custom-made, prettily-decorated sneakers from shoe designer Shuz.

            The black and white photos from this shoot are, I feel, evocative of another time, of dreams and memories - the perfect complement to the finale of the ceremony, whereupon a very special memory was honored.As the lights dimmed down, everyone lit up sparklers to represent the shimmering light that was all around them, but not seen: the loving spirit of Martina's mother, and all the joyful memories associated with her.
Such is the true magic of marriage: it binds families across the years, transcending time and change.