German weddings are complicated.

To begin with, there are two ceremonies. Even though the government recognizes religion (and collects a “tax” that they give to your designated religion[!]), the German government doesn’t recognize church weddings. So first, the happy couple goes to the local town hall and gets legally “married,” and then they have a follow-up religious service.

And those are typically a few days apart.

The wedding I just shot had its state service on Wednesday; a follow-up party that afternoon; the religious service on Saturday; and a huge blow-out party afterward.

Lighting for the latter half was quite challenging. The religious service started at 4:30 PM, in a deep valley between two mountains, in a wooden building with exposed timbers (brown walls/ceiling/floor). I had along two speedlights and an IR remote, but no brollies/stands/snoots/reflectors/Alien Bees.

This shot is from the party after the state wedding. Clearly I miss my TLRs and Bessas; I kept finding the square 🙂 Now I can’t wait to develop the 15 rolls of 120 from the Mamiya, but that has to wait another week before it can commence…