Beryl & Simon

It was just enough time to be congratulated by her parents before Beryl was suddenly dragged away in front of the whole cheering wedding party by a bunch of shouting guys. Instinctively I ran after her and joined the group in a military troop vehicle that was already bursting at the seams. The next seven minutes were bumpy like hell as we speeded through the fields to make it on time. For what, Beryl and I asked as we were the only non-insiders, and soon that question should get answered as we saw a helicopter waiting for us on a field that the guys just mowed before. Beryl was jumping for joy but since only 30 seconds were left till takeoff (at that moment I started to understand all the rush), we had to run again and only a few moments later we already oversaw the entire Rhine Valley as well as the self built teepee wedding venue. Welcome to the local tradition called “kidnapping of the bride”, but definitely brought to another level by Beryl’s and Simon’s friends. And as for all traditions, when brought to the 21st century and done the right way, they definitely deserve a place at the wedding day. However, back to the beginning of the story.

Liechtenstein is so small that when abroad we always get the same question: “Everybody knows each other, right?” followed by tossing some random names of people living in Liechtenstein. And for most of the time, I actually know these people because yet again, Liechtenstein is that small. So when I got a message from Simon who wanted to gift his girlfriend Beryl a couple shoot, I immediately knew who he was talking about. Funnily, Beryl and I were coincidentally on holidays together back when we were kids, since my parents were friends with her best friends family and together we drove to the Netherlands. However, we haven’t seen each other in at least 15 years. Fast forward. About a year later I got the next message, this time from Beryl. At that moment they already moved to London and were engaged. So the couple session in Switzerland changed to an engagement shoot London. What followed, were two amazing days with them in England full of talking, laughing, eating and drinking, and occasionally shooting photos. We got along with each other so incredibly well, it immediately felt like we all knew each other pretty much for ever.