When Two Families Become One
There are some weddings that feel like a celebration of two people, and then there are weddings that feel like the beginning of something much bigger. Leonie and Alex’s wedding was very much the latter - a wonderful coming together of two people, two families, and all the stories, friendships and traditions that they brought with them.
Leonie and Alex’s story began at university, where they met through the Mountaineering Club. It seems fitting that their relationship started in a place built around adventure, friendship and a willingness to step outside your comfort zone. From those early university days, their relationship grew into the partnership that brought everyone together to celebrate their wedding day.
What made the day particularly interesting for me was that it was the first wedding I had attended where the couple chose to do a first look, private vows and their portraits before the ceremony. It was a completely different approach to the traditional wedding timeline, and it gave the day a really distinctive feeling.
A First Look Before the Ceremony
Traditionally, the first time a couple sees each other on their wedding day is as one of them walks down the aisle. There is something undeniably magical about that moment - the anticipation, the emotion and the reaction of seeing each other for the first time surrounded by friends and family.
Leonie and Alex chose to do things differently.
Their first look gave them the opportunity to see each other privately before the ceremony, without dozens of eyes watching and without the pressure of having to immediately continue into the formalities of the day. They were able to take a breath, take in the moment and simply be together.
There are some real advantages to doing things this way. The biggest is time. Rather than spending a significant part of the period between the ceremony and reception taking family and couple portraits, many of those photographs can be completed beforehand. Once the ceremony is finished, the couple can get straight into celebrating with their guests.
It can also make the day feel less rushed. Weddings can move incredibly quickly, and having some private time together beforehand creates a little breathing space. For couples who are nervous about being the centre of attention, a first look can also provide a chance to settle their nerves before walking into a room full of people.
And then there are the private vows.
Rather than sharing their vows for the first time in front of everyone, Leonie and Alex had that moment for themselves. There is something incredibly intimate about being able to say those words without an audience. It can allow a couple to be more vulnerable, emotional and personal than they might feel comfortable being in front of a crowd.
But What Do You Give Up?
Of course, there is a trade-off.
The traditional aisle reveal is one of those iconic wedding moments that many couples have dreamed about for years. Choosing a first look means that the first sight of each other isn't quite the same dramatic reveal in front of all your loved ones.
There is also something special about the shared experience of vows. When the promises are made during the ceremony, everyone present becomes a witness to that commitment. Private vows create intimacy, but public vows create a collective moment that the whole room gets to experience.
Neither approach is better—it simply depends on what matters most to the couple.
For Leonie and Alex, the private approach seemed to fit beautifully. Their wedding wasn't just about putting on a spectacular ceremony; it was about making space for the relationship at the heart of it.
Making Time for the People Who Matter
The other thing I found particularly interesting was how much this approach changed the rhythm of the day.
With portraits taking place before the ceremony, the couple could spend more of the post-ceremony time with their guests. And ultimately, isn't that one of the best things about a wedding? You have brought together people from different parts of your lives - family, old friends, new friends, colleagues and everyone in between and you actually want to enjoy being with them.
That is where the idea of merging families becomes so important.
A wedding isn't simply two people saying, "I do." It is two families meeting, or becoming closer, and two sets of histories beginning to intertwine. There are parents meeting new in-laws, siblings gaining new brothers and sisters, grandparents welcoming another branch into the family, and friends becoming part of a much larger circle.
Watching Leonie and Alex surrounded by the people they love made that sense of togetherness particularly clear. The wedding was a celebration of where they had come from, but also of the family they are building together.
Perhaps that is what made the day feel so special. The first look, the private vows and the portraits before the ceremony all placed the emphasis on the two of them - but the rest of the day opened that story outwards, bringing everyone else into it.
From meeting through the university Mountaineering Club to standing together on their wedding day, Leonie and Alex have already shared plenty of adventure. Their wedding felt like the beginning of another chapter - one where two lives become one, and two families become something a little bigger.
And sometimes, the most memorable weddings are the ones that aren't afraid to do things a little differently.
Planning Your Own Wedding?
If you’re planning your own wedding and are looking for someone to capture all those moments - from the big, emotional moments to the little details you might otherwise miss - I’d love to hear from you. Every wedding is different, and I’m all about creating photographs that tell the story of your day naturally and authentically. Whether you’re planning a traditional ceremony, a first look and private vows, or something completely unique, get in touch and let’s chat about how we can capture your wedding in a way that feels completely you.
