It’s so fitting that the first international wedding I had the honour of photographing was in Brussels, the capital of Europe. My wife has extended family living in this beautiful city and we always make a point to stop in for a day or two whenever we are in Europe. This time however, I was in Brussels to photograph a wedding and I was beyond excited. This city has everything you need for the perfect wedding – beautiful chateaus (aka castles) scattered throughout the city, neighbourhoods that look like they belong in a fairy tale, and of course the endless selection of Belgian beers! 

The outdoor ceremony was set to take place in the garden of a beautiful chateau located just outside Brussels. Unfortunately, just as the ceremony was about to begin, the rain came pouring down and we had to make our way inside the chateau. While the interior was stunning, the dim lighting created a big challenge. With some adjustments, including an off camera speed light, I made it work and the outcome was incredible.   You can look at some of the photographs of the bride walking down the aisle to have an idea of what I am talking about.

After the ceremony, I took the couple to an old monastery for the photoshoot. By this time, the rain had stopped and created the dramatic “after-rain” light that I love so much. I was in an awe of this location. The monastery had beautiful arches, old doors, bridges and gardens full of flowers – a photographer’s dream and the perfect backdrop to show off this stunning couple. The bride and the groom required minimal direction and moved with ease through the photoshoot.

We headed back to the reception venue after the shoot and I will never forget the unlimited Brazilian desserts that the bride and groom spoiled everyone with. What an incredible wedding that made me realize how lucky I am to be able to do what I do!”