Real Wedding: Līva and Jānis – by Zanda Photography

Categories: Weddings-Real Wedding: Līva and Jānis - by Zanda Photography

Tell us a little about yourselves, what you do, what you love, what is unique about you and your relationship…

We first got to know each other through our online blogs. We exchanged a couple of letters and decided to meet. The first date was quite extreme. It was early spring, the weather was bitterly cold and roads were partly covered with ice, but nevertheless we decided to go for a bike ride because both of us enjoyed cycling. We quickly fell for each other and after about one year of dating we started living together.

The relationship has not always been easy. We are two completely different persons – Janis is an engineer by education, always rational and down to earth, while Līva is an artist, guided by emotions and sometimes floating a few inches above the ground. But despite all the differences and disagreements the bonds that hold us together has always proved to be stronger.

After a 6 year trial we decided it is a time to tie the knot. Even though we had spoken about the potential time for the wedding, the actual proposal came as a surprise. We both love classical music and regularly attend symphonic music concerts. One evening while we were finishing our dinner before going to a concert hall, Janis handed Līva the magic little black box and asked if she would like to become his wife.Categories: Weddings-Real Wedding: Līva and Jānis - by Zanda Photography Categories: Weddings-Real Wedding: Līva and Jānis - by Zanda Photography Categories: Weddings-Real Wedding: Līva and Jānis - by Zanda Photography Categories: Weddings-Real Wedding: Līva and Jānis - by Zanda Photography Categories: Weddings-Real Wedding: Līva and Jānis - by Zanda PhotographyCategories: Weddings-Real Wedding: Līva and Jānis - by Zanda PhotographyCategories: Weddings-Real Wedding: Līva and Jānis - by Zanda PhotographyCategories: Weddings-Real Wedding: Līva and Jānis - by Zanda Photography

Tell us about your special day, was there a specific theme or style? Tell us a little about the setting, the styling and some of your favourite details…

We knew we did not want large ceremony with a lot of guests. We wanted this day to be just about the two of us. We decided to get married during the summer because we both like nature and summer is the season when the beauty of Latvian nature reveals its full glory. We knew we wanted to capture the splendour of nature in our wedding photos so we choose to have a banquet in the forest after the wedding.

We were lucky to have a wedding ceremony early in the morning because it was an extraordinarily hot summer day. After the ceremony we had a short photo-shoot in the city. We choose to feature a bicycle in this photo-shoot as a symbol of our first date as well as our joint biking trips that had strengthened our relationship. After the photo-shoot we had time to refresh ourselves and get ready for a trip to forest. We found a perfect place for a picnic in the forest near the town in which Līva grew up. It was just the four of us and the photographer. It was the perfect place and the perfect company to celebrate our love while watching the sunset.

Categories: Weddings-Real Wedding: Līva and Jānis - by Zanda Photography Categories: Weddings-Real Wedding: Līva and Jānis - by Zanda Photography Categories: Weddings-Real Wedding: Līva and Jānis - by Zanda Photography Categories: Weddings-Real Wedding: Līva and Jānis - by Zanda Photography Categories: Weddings-Real Wedding: Līva and Jānis - by Zanda Photography Categories: Weddings-Real Wedding: Līva and Jānis - by Zanda Photography Categories: Weddings-Real Wedding: Līva and Jānis - by Zanda Photography Categories: Weddings-Real Wedding: Līva and Jānis - by Zanda Photography Categories: Weddings-Real Wedding: Līva and Jānis - by Zanda Photography Categories: Weddings-Real Wedding: Līva and Jānis - by Zanda Photography

Tell us about your main outfits:

We wanted our outfits to be simple yet classy. Līva had her dress custom made by her friend’s mother. She did not have to regret her choice – the dress was super comfortable since it was made specifically for her. Līva had bought the shoes beforehand, long before she knew how the dress would look once it was completed. Alas, when the dress was ready she concluded that the shoes did not match and she had to buy new ones.

Jānis initially wanted to go for a classical blue suit but after some convincing he agreed to wear a more unconventional suit color.

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What were some of the most memorable/unique moments from the day?

We had a somewhat humorous surprise when we took the bicycle out of the car for the photo-shoot in the city and realised that the chain had fallen off. Of course no one was ready to get their hands dirty in order to fix it. So at the beginning we had to pretend we were cycling through the city during the photo-shoot. Luckily, towards the end of the photo-shoot the chain magically fell into place and we could take real photos in motion.

The most romantic moment of the day was the sunset in the forest. We were a little tired but the beauty of the sunbeams threading through the trees was overwhelming. This was a perfect ending for our wedding day and a perfect start of our life as husband and wife.

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Any advice for other couples planning to spend the rest of their lives together?

Motivate each other to be a better person. At times honesty might hurt, but in the long term the tough love is the best kind of love you can give.

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Photographer: Zanda Photograhpy, Flora: Lakstos, Cake: Mr. Biskvits,  Main outfit/s: groom: Monton, Bride: made by bride’s friend’s mother, Rings:  Goldlight, Shoes: bride: New look, Groom: Este,  Hair: Astrida Kozlovska,  Ceremony location: Riga Wedding Registry Office with a beautiful glass house covered in green plants, Reception location: forest