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Distance travelled: Lauren and Richard

True testament to the bride and groom, an overwhelming 103 of Richard and Lauren’s closest friends and family caught flights to attend their wedding. The total distance travelled by plane: 685,396km. Factor in the return trip and that figure increases to just under 1.4 million kms. For some context, 1.4 million km will get you to the moon and back, twice.

Since I’ve already stolen from Richard’s speech, I see no reason to stop now. Richard’s words follow, carrying you from the first time he saw Lauren, to “the best decision of his life” (asking her to marry him). As for the second best decision of his life (agreeing on a big wedding), I hope my photographs capture its essence.

“Just over 15 years ago, on 18 November 2002, a beautiful small town girl from Harare attended an 18th birthday party she was not invited to. She walked up to a very busy bar, squeezed her way to the front. She immediately caught the eye of the barmen and ordered a drink all the while ignoring the young man to her right. The young man, who happened to be the host of the party was affronted by this not only because she pushed in front him, but also because she was not invited to the party.

Never to shy away from an argument, the young man puffed out his chest and was about to share a piece of his mind but was disarmed by the young women’s sparkling blue eyes and the remarkable dimples in her smile. The young man quickly collected his thoughts and decided to take a more measured approach into the conversation. Little did he know, that this decision was the start of an unbreakable bond that would change the trajectory of his life.

Over the course of the next four months, the young man and young woman spent most of their waking lives together. As each day passed, they fell a little bit further down the slippery slope to love. Until one day, which happened to be 14 February (valentines day), the young man realised that he was in trouble. The realisation took place on rocky outcrop just north of Harare called Domboshawa, after a bottle of champagne watching the sunset the young man knew that he had fallen hopelessly in love with the young woman.

14 years later, in July 2016, after every obstacle life could possibly throw at them, the young man made a decision to embark on a journey half way across the planet to ask the young woman to spend the rest of her life with him. The journey was plagued with more obstacles including missed flights, a coastal traffic jam affecting a 200km stretch of road on the Croatian coast, the strongest winds the Adriatic sea has experienced in 80 years, lost luggage and a panic attack in a sea plane not much bigger than this wine barrel. Against all the odds, the young man and the young woman both made it to their destination. On a balmy evening in Dubrovnik, whilst being serenaded by a pianist playing Guns N Roses November Rain, the young man asked the girl of his dreams to be his wife.”

Second shooter: Shannon Dane

Florist: Mignon Fricker

Priest: Patrick Boucher

Make up artist: Helga Bridal

Dress: Robyn Roberts

Bridesmaids dresses: Show Me Your MuMu


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