Sophia & Yiannis

In this world it is so easy for us to be distracted by the stuff that means the least.

The people in the remote mountain villages of Cyprus are beautifully immune from such distractions. Here life is simple, perfectly geared towards what matters most. This manifests in song, dance, delicious food & wine, traditions that span millenia and a love for each other that runs deep.

Despite Sophia & Janis residing in the city they frequent the mountains to spend time with their family and enjoy simple pleasures such as collecting wildflowers and tending to their veggie garden. It may sound too quaint to be true, but I assure you it is. Sophia & Janis were born in the mountains and it’s here where their spirit remains.

Their wedding to me captures the poetry of their peaceful existence and the warm love they have for each other. I am grateful for the gift of capturing this story and the wisdom it imparted.

Please enjoy.

(2019 AIPP Album of the Year)

FEATURED BY HELLO MAY

← CLICK TO PLAY SOUNDTRACK FOR THE FULL EXPERIENCE

Natasa & Nigel

Where do I begin?

The first thing that you need to know is that Nigel is an old high school buddy of mine. I love him like a brother so it’s a shame that I don’t see much of him these days. He’s a journalist and spends a lot of his time based in Ramallah where he writes stories on the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. Of all places, that is where these two met. Originally from Cyprus, Natasa worked in Palestine at the time they met, teaching Greek to some of the local children. They are both good people and spend their time doing good in the world. I really admire that about them.

Natasa grew up in the small Cypriot mountain village of Farmakas. It’s a special place. People are happy there. You get the sense that everything revolves around friends and family. The lives that the they live today would not be that much different to the generations before them. The people are deeply connected to their culture and traditions, which made Natasa and Nigel’s wedding that extra bit special.

The wedding took place in the ancient village of Fikardou, a short drive from Natasa’s village. Fikardou is a UNESCO world heritage listed site and said to be over 500 years old. Just a few people live their now who run the local tavern. I’m sure one day it will have a Starbucks and gift shop selling t-shirts and snow domes. For now, it’s the real deal. When you walk the abandoned streets, it really does feel like you’ve traveled back in time. The wedding was the first one there in recent times. For all we know, the last wedding in the village was literally hundreds of years ago. That’s pretty cool don’t you think?

I could go on, but that’s probably enough words. I’ll let the photos take it from here…

Featured on Junebug Weddings

← CLICK ME FOR SOUNDTRACK