The day I get to shoot another wedding as meaningful as this…… Well, I knew it would be with every time I spoke to Rebecca and Joel on the telephone. When I was reminded where we met ten years ago, I immediately knew the energy between us was going to be perfect.

With every Jewish wedding, incredible rituals happen, starting with the Tisch. A gathering of the bride and her closest women or the groom and all his merry men. They join in prayer and celebrate with song and dance typically in separate rooms. It's an intimate time that starts the religious aspect of the marriage. I don't know if this is usual but for Rebecca and Joel, they were creating their micro wedding during the constraints of a pandemic where time was limited as were the guests so the men and women joined together. I was due to arrive at the latter half of the gathering. I arrived to find a huge communal garden where Rebecca lived. All the guests were sitting on rugs socially distanced and singing loudly with percussion instruments in almost everyone's hand. My whole body began to tingle with excitement and I could not help but to take pictures ten to the dozen. Every single person was beaming with delight. Rebecca sang deeply and led her people with incredible passion. There along with their 30 chosen friends, were many others around then world watching and enjoying every moment, fashionably transmitted via Zoom nobody more so than her parents in Canada.

The singing then led to Joel’s arrival and into the Bedeken. This is where the groom lifts the veil of his soon to be wife and checks it is indeed her. With that, the Jewish marriage certificate is signed by all parties and their ceremony is soon to begin.

Only on this occasion, the Chuppah was a ten minute walk away. We travelled in a long line of merriment around the streets of Hampstead Garden Suburb. Just how Rebecca and Joel had envisioned. The music surrounding the happy procession. Once we got to the venue, the most seamless exchange of guests transitioned before my eyes. One set said their goodbyes whilst another would greet them at their Chuppah. As the couple made their way through the stunning grounds, the sound of the shofar brought in all things new and the solo singing voice of a best friend brought the energy to a grounding calm. Everything was perfect.

I can honestly say I struggled to remain in work mode as I listened to every word that was said. Between Rebecca and Joel, the Rabbi, their respective parents and the 7 blessings from selected friends, I felt like I had understood their entire relationship and journey over the few hours I witnessed the marriage of Joel and Rebecca. In this crazy socially distant world in which we now live, I could not have felt closer. Every word was heartfelt and full of love.

I could carry on singing their prayers but you're not here to read my words.... let’s instead, save some room for the glorious images I proudly shot…..