A Viennese Styled Shoot inspired by Ovid’s Metamorphoses at the SPANISH RIDING SCHOOL
As seen on
Burnett’s Boards | Hochzeitswahn | Fly Away Bride | Weddings Abroad Guide | Weddywood | WedMag
Since it’s Oscar time, I’ve been thinking about my “Best-of” 2015. This shooting is definitely getting a “High Emotion Oscar” for the most touching inspirational story (though it didn’t have to wait as long as Leonardo Di Caprio). So here it is. Enjoy the story.
This wedding editorial is inspired by Ovid’s “Metamorphoses” in an imperial setting in wonderful Vienna, Austria. It is an homage to the transformation one undergoes when falling in love, when two individuals become one.
It is the story of a maiden who is very much alike Narcissus, being passionately in love with her own beauty, pleasures and independence, who turns into a self-confident, charming young lady once she falls in love with her future husband.
And there she was, lingering under this early spring caressing sun, trees leaning towards her maiden beauty. Passionately in love with trees and flowers, and beauty, and beauteously in love with her passions.
Once again, she let the wind whisper poems in her red hair, while dreaming of wandering the world – just the two of them: the beauty and the horse – the maiden and her passion for discovery – the red flowers and the golden magic.
And there she was, lingering under this early spring caressing sun, trees leaning towards her maiden beauty. Passionately in love with trees and flowers, and beauty, and beauteously in love with her passions.
THE PASSION
Ah wretched me! I now begin too late
Ovid, Metamorphoses Book III, Narcissus
To find out all the long-perplex’d deceit;
It is my self I love, my self I see;
(…)
I kindle up the fires by which I burn,
And my own beauties from the well return.
Whom should I court? how utter my complaint?
Enjoyment but produces my restraint,
And too much plenty makes me die for want.
How gladly would I from my self remove!
And at a distance set the thing I love.
THE ENCOUNTER
He then salutes her with a warm embrace;
Ovid, Metamorphoses Book II, Calisto
And, e’re she half had told the morning chase,
With love enflam’d, and eager on his bliss,
Smother’d her words, and stop’d her with a kiss.
THE LOVE
… and searching through the Elysian fields, he found Eurydice
Ovid, Metamorphoses Book XI, The Death of Orpheus
And took her in his arms with leaping heart.
There hand in hand they stroll, the two together;
Sometimes he follows as she walks in front,
Sometimes he goes ahead and gazes back –
No danger now – at his Eurydice.
Something had changed. It was that single moment when she saw him, that the reds started to slowly fade into pure whites, and rich golden shades of passion into noble silver lights of love.
Vendor Dream Team
Photography and Videography: Die Ciuciu’s | Storyline, Planning, Design, Coordination, Florals and Rentals High Emotion Weddings | Indoor venue: Spanish Riding School, Hofburg Vienna | Wedding dress: Romana Couture | Bridal headpieces: Niely Hötsch | Groom’s smoking & bridal shoes: Bridal shop Flossmann | Groom’s bow tie and hankie: STRAUB Vienna | Jewellery: Juwelier Neuwirth | Hair: Daniel Cornea & Adriana Holban | Make-up: Adriana Holban Make-up Artist | Stationery: Eden Paperie | Wedding cake & sweets: We Love Cakes | Special helper: Monika Toth, Perfect Wedding | Starring: Hannelora Ileni-Fagadar & Andrei Fagadar | Guest star: Larry
