THE ABRAICES by THE WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER IN ALENTEJO
Photos of the end of the wedding ceremony, the congratulatory hugs, and the departure for the wedding party
- Pode ler este artigo em Português.
The hug celebration after the wedding ceremony
When a wedding photographer walks out of the church after the wedding ceremony, they enter one of the most emotional moments of the entire day: the sea of hugs that follows. I remember clearly the first time I experienced that moment. It happened at the Church of S. Pedro de Penaferrim, in Sintra. As the newlyweds stepped outside, they were greeted with a shower of rice and petals, a symbolic act of prosperity and celebration.
As a wedding photographer, I watched what happened next with amazement and excitement: a sea of spontaneous, intense, and emotional hugs. It was like being inside a stormy yet comforting ocean, where each wave brought a new expression of love and tenderness. The rice and petals were still in the air, but what stood out most were the smiles, teary eyes, and people embracing to share the moment.
The emotional intensity after the wedding ceremony
There is a striking contrast between the solemnity of the wedding ceremony and the explosion of emotions that follows. Inside the church, the atmosphere is contained, respectful, almost silent. But when the couple walks through the doors, it’s as if all that contained love is suddenly released in a whirlwind of happiness.
Moments a wedding photographer cannot miss:
- Genuine hugs between the groom and wedding guests, sharing old memories and affection.
- The bride’s emotional gaze as she sees family and friends waiting with open arms.
- Wedding photos taken at this moment have a unique energy, full of spontaneity and love.
Why are hugs so important on the wedding day?
The answer is simple: they are the purest and most universal form of affection. They tell the couple, without words, how much they are loved. For me, as a wedding photographer, this is the moment when the most authentic images of the day are captured.
Hugs at weddings represent:
- A ritual of transition between before and after the “I do.”
- A collective declaration of love from the wedding guests to the couple.
- A unique opportunity to capture deeply emotional wedding photographs.
The role of the wedding photographer in these moments
These minutes after the wedding ceremony are often underestimated. But they are precious. This is where true human connection happens, free from formality. The photographer’s task is to observe, anticipate, and be in the right place to capture these meaningful gestures.
More than technique, it takes sensitivity. And that’s why, since that first wedding in Sintra, I have never stopped looking forward to this moment. Because in it lies one of the most beautiful truths of wedding photography: shared love.
Conclusion:
The hugs after the wedding ceremony are more than simple gestures of congratulations. They are moments of deep connection, where stories intertwine and emotions manifest intensely. For any wedding photographer, they are also an endless source of inspiration and images that will remain forever as vivid memories of the wedding day.
Contact me to capture your hugs
If you’re planning your wedding day and want to ensure that all these moments are captured with sensitivity, count on me. As a wedding photographer, I will be attentive to every gesture, smile, and emotion, so that you can relive each moment through your wedding photographs. Contact me today and find out how to immortalise your hugs.
- You can see a full wedding story:
- The photographs were taken outside the Igreja Matriz de Santo António de Reguengos de Monsaraz.
