Mélanie & Johan | Laughter in the rain

The clouds were hanging thick and ominous over the lake but inland in Signy it was a little brighter and the spirits were high. When I arrived Mélanie and her girls had just got back from the hairdresser and there was a great debate raging about her gorgeous fishtail braid. While I scouted around and photographed all the bridal details, Sarah and Myriam decided to redesign Mélanie’s hair. Normally this would have been a stressful moment but Mélanie’s easy-going nature and older-sister level-headedness just meant that laughter was everywhere. I think we re-braided her hair three times before finally getting out the door!
In the meantime the boys were enjoying a nerve-settling glass of whiskey (photographed by my assistant Lukasz) before setting out in that incredible jeep to collect the beautiful bride. In Signy we weren’t as lucky with the weather as we’d hoped and just in time for the bridal portraits the skies darkened over and it began to rain. Spirits undampened we grabbed a few umbrella shots and headed to the Château de Nyon for the main event.

The ceremony was full of kind words from Mélanie and Johan’s friends and family, the guests even spilled into two rooms so many wanted to witness their union. As the groom served up a small apéro from the back of the Jeep afterwards we hid from the pouring rain and toasted ‘un mariage pleuvieux, un mariage heureux!’.

Earlier in the day Mélanie and her sister Sarah had decorated the reception room at the Domaine de Collex and all the tables with mementos from the couple’s many travels. Everything in Mélanie’s favourite colour purple! There were so many personal touches that made their day extra special. As well as a mobile photo booth complete with frame and silly props, the couple were presented with balloons to release, a film by Mélanie’s mother and a version of the twelve months of marriage that included an umbrella!

After a first dance to Purple Rain performed by Mélanie’s step-father’s band The Riffers, the party got into full swing and we left them to rock it out.

Mélanie and Johan, I am sure that your life together will be filled with enormous amounts of laughter and joy, thank you for letting me share in your special day.