For as long as I can remember photography and travel have always been two of my favourite things. So when Dawn and Jim asked me to travel from London to Cyprus to photograph their wedding it was like a dream come true.
Dawn loves to travel too, so it was no surprise she chose to get married abroad in the Cyprian coastal city of Pathos. A place she has visited several times before on girly holidays, but this holiday would be extra special as she would arrive as a Miss but return home as a Mrs to her teenage sweetheart Jim.
The King Evelthon Hotel, with it’s white washed walls and Mediterranean decor, where Dawn and Jim were staying in Cyprus, was the perfect setting for the preparations of their wedding day. Dawn spent the morning applying the finishing touches to her personally styled bridal look with the help of her bridesmaids and Mum, Eileen. All of the wedding parties attire were sourced and brought over from the UK including Dawn’s beautiful dress and veil from Francesca. My favourite accessory of the day, other than Dawns stunning antique engagement ring from Craddocks, was the engraved bracelet gifted to Dawn from her dear friend Katy.
Dawn and Jim had planned a fun and relaxed day for Jim’s two children Beth and James, as well as Dawn and Jim’s direct family, starting with the transportation to the local Town Hall in the style of a traditional village bus.
I think it’s fair to say Cyprian civil wedding ceremonies are very different from UK civil wedding ceremonies. I have been photographing weddings for six years now and have never witnessed such as speedy procedure. If anything it was informal – just as Dawn and Jim wanted. Before you knew it Dawn’s brother Alastair had given her away and Jim was reminding the registrar about the exchanging of rings.
We then took shelter in the shade from the early afternoon sun to capture some bridal and couple portraits. You know you are onto a winner when the local flora perfectly compliments the weddings colour scheme. We were in purple heaven.
The newlyweds spent the remainder of the afternoon at Rimini’s, Dawn’s favourite local restaurant, with their 14 guests and myself who were spoilt by the very friendly restauranteur and his attentive staff. After we had all eaten more than enough Alastair read out the cards from friends, family and colleagues back in the UK who unfortunately couldn’t share Dawn and Jim’s special day in person, which I thought was a lovely gesture.
It was then time to add just a little more fun before the day came to an end…
A favourite quote of mine is:
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” Mark Twain
And this is exactly what Dawn, Jim and their newly combined family did upon the elegant M/S Christ. Adonis, being a 19.5 m wooden motor sail boat. It was a lot of fun to say the least, particularly watching those “trying” to gain their sea-legs and I love how the bridesmaids styled out the wind and waves.
It truly was a very memorable way to end an unforgettable day.
Thank you Dawn and Jim for offering me this amazing opportunity and for all your kindness and generosity.
All images retouched by Photographer’s Edit.
