Y&D
Never stop traveling with this Zanzibar destination wedding
Exotic location
A big part of my business (and my life) takes place in faraway places. I’ve already written about how much I love traveling and covering destination weddings, but I have to say that this particular international affair in Zanzibar was so beautiful and unique.
International Influence
Y. and D. are a truly international couple – hailing from a tropical French island and Africa respectively, but with a handful of worldwide ‘homes’ in their past, they now live between European capitals. I was lucky enough to shoot their official marriage ceremony in France last year before they asked me to tag along on their African wedding celebration. Having grown up as citizens of the world, it is no surprise that their guest list included friends and families from every corner of the globe. Gathering all these different nationalities, languages and cultures together on the small paradise island of Zanzibar was really an international adventure.
Indian tradition in Africa
Although I’ve shot weddings in India, this was my first traditional Hindu wedding following the codes of an Indian wedding. It was so colorful, festive and full of meaning! Each of the different rituals had their own ceremony, vibe, and even outfit. If you check out my images, they might look more Indian than Tanzanian – but that just played into the beautiful blending of their cultural heritage.
Lost baggage
I did run into a bit of trouble when the airline lost my bags and all I had with me were the clothes on my back… along with all my camera gear. With the help of some generous family members and a local market, I was able to get through a few humid days of jet lag, but I learned my lesson and will make sure to always carry some essentials in my carry on!
Y. and D., thank you for your trust and allowing me to document your big day. Your families were wonderful and it was a blessing to see so much love and happiness during this week in Tanzania.
Make Up Artist and Hairstylist: Allison Depriestre
Wedding Reception: Park Hyatt Zanzibar
Sebastien Bicard is a travel wedding and portrait photographer based in California. He specializes in international travel and intimate weddings worldwide.
