ANNABELLE HOTEL CYPRUS: A UNIQUE WEDDING STORY

Tracey and Will’s  beautiful late afternoon outdoor ceremony at the magnificent Annabelle Hotel in Paphos came with an a little surprise of photographing a heavily pregnant bride in summer time Cyprus heat!

 

DESTINATION WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER CYPRUS

As a leading destination wedding photographer, I can be booked 18 months in advance for a wedding, with this in mind, Tracey and Will had no idea that I would be photographing ‘the 3 of them’ when they booked me a year in advance to photograph their destination wedding at the Annabelle hotel in Cyprus.

In the lead up to the wedding, the fun and playful couple left out one little detail from the planning conversations in England and relieved their ‘little surprise’ once I landed in Cyprus in the days leading up to the wedding.

Initially, Tracey was apprehensive about including the fact she was pregnant in the wedding photos and asked if it would be possible to photograph her in a creative way and hide the fact she was heavily pregnant. I suggested ‘that the truth is more valuable than a staged picture.’ And in the years to come when she talks about the wedding she will make reference to the fact she was pregnant.

MEMORIES ARE THE BEST MOMENTS TO CAPTURE

Having never photographed a ‘heavily pregnant bride’ before, it’s fair to say that I was humbled by the trust and freedom Tracey and Will give me to photograph their Paphos wedding and a little excited about the challenge.

Sitting in the luxury bridal suite at the Annabelle Hotel the day before the wedding; Will, Tracey and myself all agreed that we would embrace the pregnancy when it came to the photography and showcase their ‘real story’ when it came to the bride and groom portraits. A decision I was very happy about and one that gives this collection of wedding images a totally different perspective and a real uniqueness to their story.

SPONTANEOUS PREGNANCY SHOOT

On the morning of the wedding, I arrived early at the Annabelle hotel for the bridal preparations and found Tracey was alone in the bridal suite. I suggested that we could utilise the time and take a few impromptu ‘pregnancy portraits’ before anyone arrived. I stated that only the two of us would see the pictures, they didn’t need to be included in the wedding album and if she didn’t like them or didn’t feel comfortable, I would delete them.

Wedding photography is a delicate job. We are invited into people’s lives and at times into situations that require tact and good judgment. Trust between client and photographer is crucial. My best photographs come out of honest emotions, not my direction or pose and I believe real stories are more powerful than forced sentimentality.

Using a simple bed sheet and natural window light we created a few relaxed but personal portraits. I showed Tracey the images on the back of the camera and with a big smile on her face she said: “WOW Wes, I trust you, just photograph me and the day honestly and creatively as you see it.”

WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY INSPIRATION

My greatest gift as a photographer is my ability to see the picture in my mind before I even press the shutter. I can visualise the light, the tones, and the composition. Subconsciously, I am inspired by the world of fashion, cinema and art.

Whilst photographing Tracey’s bridal preparations I was inspired to use the big bay window of the bridal suite at the Annabelle hotel. For some reason, it made me think of the famous David Hockney painting ‘Mr and Mrs Clark and Percy.’ Once Tracey was fully ready, I simply directed her to the window and took some classic portraits.

WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY ANNABELLE HOTEL

Tracey wore a stunning bespoke wedding dress from Liverpool designer Kirsty Doyle and the boy’s looked cool in the September heat in grey waistcoats, pants and crisp white shirts.

They had a late afternoon outdoor wedding ceremony on the grounds of the Annabelle hotel with complementary views overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. It was a beautiful, simple and honest ceremony with lost of tender moments and genuine belly laughs.

As the sun set, we took a short stroll down to the beachfront, which provided an opportunity to create some unique and personal portraits of the couple.  This also provided them with a moment to relax and reflect on the day as the sun went down.

ABOUT ANNABELLE HOTEL

The Annabelle hotel is one of the most iconic hotels in the Mediterranean – situated in Paphos, Cyprus, this beautiful wedding venue has been leading the way in the Cypriot hospitality scene for over three decades.

With its sub-tropical seafront gardens, airy interiors and located just a short walk from historic Paphos harbour; it’s clear to see why Tracey and Will fell in love with this luxurious hotel and tasteful location for their dream of a destination wedding ceromony in Cyprus.

PAPHOS WEDDING PLANNER

When planning a destination wedding in Cyprus, Tracey and Will said that one of the best decisions they made was booking an independent wedding planner and coordinator. They chose Louise Burrell from L’Amour Cyprus Weddings and not only did this help the day run smoothly, but it also gave them the flexibility and freedom they required in planning the day to their taste, budget, style and desire.

A lot of ‘in-house’ hotel wedding planners insist you have their ‘recommended suppliers’ and sometimes stick a tariff on the wedding planning service if you don’t go with their recommendation. With this in mind, there are many befits of planning the wedding yourself or using an independent planner. For more information check out the destination wedding photographer guide.

STORYBOOK WEDDING ALBUM

Due to the trust and freedom Tracey and Will gave me, we were able to produce an excellent collection of unique and timeless images, photographs that not only have a wow factor but more importantly they will trigger memories for years to come.

After the wedding and back home in the UK, the couple received an online wedding gallery that they could share with their guests and we produced a stunning storybook wedding album that William, Tracey and baby Amber Rose will treasure for a long time.

WEDDING SLIDESHOW FROM ANNABELLE HOTEL

Below is a wedding photography highlights showreel from Tracey and Will’s Paphos wedding. You can also view a larger selection of images from this wedding in our

Annabelle Hotel wedding gallery.

UK DESTINATION WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER CYPRUS

Planning a wedding at the Annabelle hotel Cyprus or anywhere else in the world and want to the security of having a leading UK based wedding photographer fly out to your destination? visit our destination wedding photography info page or Contact Me my passport is ready.