Paulien and Roel are a lovely couple, and I had a wonderful time finding pretty angles in and around their lovely home, and they chose a lovely local church for their ceremony, with a lovely theme - “The Little Prince” - and their wedding day was just truly lovely all around.

But perhaps even more than usual, everything at the first wedding I’ve photographed in the age of the corona virus seemed so much sweeter and vibrant because it was by no means certain that it would happen at all. In the Netherlands, virtually all large gatherings - including weddings - were not allowed at all for several months this spring, and for a while, it looked like Paulien and Roel’s wedding would have to be postponed, too. But gradually, more and more events were allowed to be held again, and their early August ceremony at the Pelstergasthuiskerk was thankfully able to proceed.

Before we arrived at the church, I got to take some portraits of the bride and groom in their beautiful home - which also used to be a church! They had this spectacular spiral staircase that I made Paulien walk up and down a bunch of times because I couldn’t get enough of it. Then we travelled in style in a vintage Volvo to the vast fields of the Onlanden just to the south of the city for a few shots with their sweet ride and the bridge where Roel used to bike into town from the village where he grew up.

At the ceremony inside the church, which is connected to one of Groningen’s many characteristic “gasthuizen” - almshouses - the guests were very well spread out throughout the green, curving pews, and although there were no customary Dutch cheek kisses in the moments after the couple said “I do”, it was still a moving and beautiful occasion to be a part of: my favourite detail was their rings, which depicted the snake that swallowed an elephant/hat from “The Little Prince”.

Between the ceremony and the reception, Roel and Paulien were able to sneak away for a couple more portraits in the intimate courtyard just as the light was getting truly magical. It felt downright miraculous to witness these two people getting to have their special day surrounded by so much love. Thank you for having me!

Almost a year ago, Elger and I were in the still very much summer-y North Carolina for my sister's wedding, and it looks as if attending/photographing a close family member's wedding in the first weeks in September has become an annual tradition.

Elger's father and my future father-in-law, Hans, had a short but sweet wedding ceremony at the city hall on the island of Terschelling, which has been a special destination for the family for generations. Hans first remembers visiting the idyllic island when he was four years old with his parents, and there are photos of Elger building an igloo on the beach with his dad from around the same age. Elger's brother studied and lives on the island, and it was the location of one of mine and Elger's first dates back in 2005. So, for all of us, it is a place full of meaning, happiness and a sense of being home away from home - the sort of place that so deeply relaxes you that you sleep sounder and dream deeper than on any given day. Elger and I were the only guests and both served as witnesses for the ceremony, and then, along with Billy - the family's inquisitive and energetic springer spaniel - we took a long, barefoot walk on the beach on one of the last summery, sunny days on the island.

Congratulations, Hans and Carla!