Anyone familiar with my wedding portfolio will be aware that I love to take photos which include a dramatic sky as the backdrop and my latest assignment was no different, except that in this instance you could say I was literally within the setting itself – surrounded on all sides by the most dramatic skies imaginable.
It all started when I met Gilyana and Dan from Chicago, USA, who had planned to get married in Zermatt, Switzerland. I thought it would be great to get some photos of them with the iconic Matterhorn included, but I didn’t really expect that the couple would be willing to go 10,000 ft up into the clouds for photos on their wedding day. How wrong was I? Not only were Gilyana and Dan prepared to go up after the wedding, they were happy to do so before the ceremony. It seemed there were no limits and this couple was as keen as me to get some stunning images of their big day.
I arrived in Zermatt the day before the wedding, with my good friend Chris Seals. As a destination wedding photographer, I’m fortunate to have photographed weddings in some beautiful parts of the world, including at the Sydney Opera House in Australia, as well as in Italy, Malta, Belgium, and the Caribbean; but travelling across Switzerland and up into the mountains was something I’ll never forget. There is something unforgettably beautiful about Zermatt.
I met the couple for the first time in the lobby of the Grand Hotel Zermatterhof, the setting for the ceremony and reception the next day. The sun was out so we agreed to take a wander around outside, and I was able to get some delightful photos of Gilyana and Dan relaxed and messing around in the glorious mountain setting. As predicted, the weather the following day was not so good; however, after the bridal prep and before the ceremony itself, the intrepid couple were keen to head back into the mountains for more photos. It started to rain when we got to the top and the Matterhorn was shrouded in cloud, but we still managed to get some cool shots.
After the ceremony, and a fun ride around town in an elegant carriage – with me clinging on the back – we decided to go higher, up 10,000 ft into Gornergrat. I’ll never forget the slow train ride up the side of the mountain, although everything was still grey and cloudy. Just as I was beginning to give up hope, the train broke through into dazzling blue skies, revealing a view to die for! When I show people the photos we took during that all-too brief break in the clouds, the natural reaction is to assume the results were achieved through Photoshop wizardry or filters, but nothing could be further from the truth. These are authentic images, taken in one of the most stunning locations I’ve been lucky enough to work in. I’ll leave the photos to tell the rest of the story.
I’m so grateful to Gilyana and Dan for inviting me to be their Zermatt wedding photographer, and to Chris Seals for coming along and helping out. It was a truly magical day and not just because of the beautiful location!
If you’re planning a wedding in Zermatt and looking for a wedding photographer please do get in touch.
