The Skup alone is its own event with horns honking, friends pouring out into the yard and driveway, Rakija flowing freely from heirloom carved flasks, undulating kolos, flags flying, iconic live music.
Before all the craziness begins, I start with our clients at home getting ready. I usually arrive about 2 hours before Skup is set to begin, while hair and makeup are nearing completion.
After everyone is dressed and before guests arrive for Skup we get some portraits of our family together, bridesmaids together, and anything else we can before the party.
Guests begin to arrive and we cover everything from the greetings to the games. We want to showcase as many of your guests as possible as well as all the volunteers helping serve. We know it’s a community effort!
I especially love how multigenerational the Serbian-American weddings are with young and old together in one space.
I love how the whole joy filled morning builds up to this solemn and deeply meaningful Christian Orthodox Wedding Ceremony. Incense, choral music, candle light gleam off the icons.
I want to capture details of the site as well as guests arriving.
As the ceremony opens I’ll move through the space reverently, observant from scene to scene as the centuries old rituals are performed. The blessing of the rings, the hand fasting, the crowning, circling – all so meaningful to document. One of my clients told me that my photos captured “the grace and meaning of the sacrament itself”. That is how I approach it.
It’s an all quiet respite before the kiss, more hugs, flying coins, kids scrambling for coins, and then even more kolo!
At some point either before the ceremony or after, I create epic, timeless, and fun portraits with our couple – usually at and around the church. We aim to catch another location too.
Finally the evening’s reception begins and we cover all the fanfare, toasts, cake cutting, special dances and more.
