A wedding in Venice Part-4

     Pete's eyes filled and jaw dropped the moment he saw Lauren walk toward him. This was it. The moment they had both planned and waited for. Eyes glazed with love, they stared at the monsignor who through the interpreter, was going to bless them husband & wife. We were free to walk round the proceedings and photograph anywhere we wanted. But it was dark. Very dark! 3200 ISO 1/50 sec @ f2.8 was typical. We could have used flash but that would have killed the atmosphere. No leave the flash off and allow the natural ambience to come through.

      Walking backward down an aisle is a dodgy stunt at the best of times, especially in England's dark churches, but this was darker and adding to that the Basilica was full to the rafters with tourists! In true biblical style the crowd parted and we could walk un-hindered to the main doors. The square was full when we emerged into the bright sunshine. Three to four thousand tourists became wedding gatecrashers. It was amazing!

 

     For the few guests that were there, the formals were a breeze and we could pick a quite location and fire away. The crowds were watching. They wanted to congratulate the couple and have their picture taken with them.

     'Can you dance' I asked Pete. Dance? What here? Now? Everyone is watching and you can tell your friends back in the UK, you had your first dance in St Mark's square in front of hundreds of people! So they danced...well tripped, stumbled and held on to each other but the crowd were laughing and cheering.

  Time to move on, a walk through the square to the hired Gondola's with macho Italian's sporting stripped shirts and sunglasses. As the three gondola's picked there way through the myriad of canal's, you couldn't help but here "'O sole mio" resound from the picturesque architecture. I persuaded Pete & Lauren to forget I was there with the view of shooting a natural as possible till our emergence on the Grand Canal and the Rialto Bridge which was stunning.

     In the final part tomorrow it's the reception, the food, cake and the party.

Remember to click on the images for a larger version.

Thanks, John