Ania and Igor's elegant wedding in Poland, WERANDA HOME captured on film
I met Ania in 2018 in Shanghai when I was living there for five months. We became good friends quickly, traveled around Bali for two weeks, and I knew I had found a friend who I could always count on, no matter where we were in the world.
In 2022, she came to visit me in Budapest, and then in the fall of 2023, I got a selfie from her saying that her boyfriend, Igor, had proposed. It was such a special feeling when something like this happens to your friend, and I was so happy for her.
As a wedding photographer, I always get a little nervous when my friends start planning their weddings, hoping the date they pick won’t already be taken. Ania and Igor’s wedding was on an August Thursday, and I knew I had to be there no matter what.
So, on August 7th, 2024, I traveled to Warsaw and then took a train to Poznań, where Ania and Igor live and where the wedding took place. It was such a lovely few days, especially since I got to meet up with one of her Italian friends (now with her husband and child), who I had spent New Year’s Eve with in Shanghai.
It always feels a bit strange when I’m not a photographer but a guest at a wedding. I wanted to give Ania and Igor a personal gift for their wedding, something that would be a beautiful memory for them. So, I decided to bring my film camera and capture their day with it. Later, I printed the photos, put them in an album, and mailed it to them as a surprise in Poland.
Their wedding was magical. The church ceremony was held in a beautifully restored church, with live singing adding to the atmosphere. The late lunch took place in another city, at Weranda Home. The decorations were simple and elegant, just like Ania and her dress (which her dad helped her choose).
Every moment of the day was so special. My surprise worked out great; after the wedding, I put together the album, and Ania and Igor were so happy with it. Since then, I’ve gotten messages from Ania saying how often they look through it and how wonderful it feels to relive their big day through the photos.
