Wedding photographer Dworek Victoria, Ujanowice

A wedding in the Beskid Wyspowy mountains, with everything that comes with it: gates on the road, a folk band in traditional dress, a red carpet outside the venue and fireworks before ten in the evening. The church ceremony in Tęgoborze, the reception at Dworek Victoria in Ujanowice: twenty minutes apart.

Morning in two houses

The couple got ready separately, in two villages. That is the usual arrangement in the countryside and it asks for only one thing: travel time counted honestly. The rest is calm: the dress, the earrings, a glass with the bridesmaid, the parents' blessing.

Fastening the wedding dress, a close-up of hands by the window — Fastening the wedding dress: close-up of hands by the window

Bride and bridesmaid toasting with champagne in dressing gowns — Bride and bridesmaid raising a toast in satin robes

Wedding gates. You cannot plan them, you can be ready

On the groom's way to collect the bride, the neighbours put up gates: they block the road and let the car through only after a toast. I knew about it from the questionnaire filled in before the wedding, so I drove ahead and was in place before the car stopped. Had I found out on the spot, all that would remain are pictures shot through a windscreen.

Wedding gate on a country road, the band stopping the couple's car, a Polish custom — Wedding gate on a country road, folk band stopping the couple's car

This is exactly the kind of information I ask about before the job. A gate lasts five minutes: either you are standing there, or you are not.

Church and the way out

Inside the church I work quietly, with a long lens and no flash in anyone's face. The pictures should look as if nobody had been there.

Newlyweds leaving the church in a shower of colourful confetti — Bride and groom leaving the church in a shower of colourful confetti

We took the group picture of all the guests straight away, on the steps, before anyone wandered off. With a hundred and something people it is a two-minute job, but somebody has to call them together, and it is better that it is the best man rather than the photographer.

Group photograph of all the guests in front of the stone church — Group photo of all the guests in front of the stone church

The welcome, and a view you will not get in a city

A folk band and a red carpet were waiting outside Dworek Victoria. The venue stands high, with a terrace open onto the valley, so the portraits and the pictures with guests were taken right there, with no separate trip. A place like that saves an hour in the schedule.

Bride tossing petals as the couple enter the hall on the red carpet — Bride throwing petals as the couple walk the red carpet into the venue

Newlyweds with their guests on a terrace overlooking the Beskid hills — Bride and groom with guests on a terrace overlooking the Beskid hills

The band at the tables

The musicians walked between the tables and played straight into people's ears. It is rewarding material, because it happens close to the guests and creates reactions on its own. You just have to stay out of the way and be on the right side of the table.

Musicians in highlander costume playing for guests at the wedding table — Musicians in highland dress playing for guests at the wedding table

The first dance in haze

Heavy low haze and sparkler fountains look spectacular, but they eat light and hide feet. I shoot from two sides (once for faces, once for silhouettes against the light), and aim for the moment the haze drops below the waist.

First dance of the newlyweds in fog, between fountains of sparks — First dance in haze, between fountains of sparks

Sparklers and fireworks

Before ten the guests came out with sparklers, and the fireworks followed. With attractions like these one thing matters: placing the couple so the firelight falls on their faces instead of only glowing behind their backs.