Burningman Wedding
As 7 time burner one thing I know for sure is that every year at Burningman is different. A journey to the playa is one where you can expect the unexpected, do your best to prepare for it, and try to have a good time no matter what happens. This year was certainly one for the record books with the news-worthy rainstorms that left us stuck in some very sticky clay mud and rendered our much anticipated effigies canceled or delayed. Most of us were stuck right where we wanted to be and had memorable and enriching experiences connecting with our camps and neighbors in a way that felt like the old days at Burningman. In fact, less crowds and idyllic weather meant the whole week was reminiscent of my first burn in 2011, and in the spirit of a past version of myself I reconnected with a feeling of raw freedom and authenticity that my life today was craving.
Sometime before the burn my fiancé suggested we photograph some weddings together this year, contributing our creativity in accordance with the Burningman principles of gifting and decommodification. I posted on Reddit and connected with Jamie and Jesse, who had built the art installation “Flutter” with their campmates at The Hivemind. Flutter was a butterfly that they built especially for their wedding ceremony with a platform reading “You make my heart flutter.” As the ceremony unfolded I noticed those words under the bride’s feet while they exchanged their vows, and other thoughtful details such as how each wing of the butterfly seemed to sprout out of their back when they stood on their altar.
Their wedding was full of thoughtful whimsical details like this. They both made their wedding clothes. The groom quilted a mountain on the back of his suit jacket representing the mountains of Black Rock City. The best man wore a bee suit and the maid of honor dressed as a literal flower. Both bride and groom has flowers and bees woven into their matching braids. We walked some blocks from their camp to the art installation and gathered a crowd of supporters along the way.
In classic BRC style, a dust storm started right as the ceremony began. I was worried I’d get dust in my camera body or lens, but I had to capture the moment and hoped I had sealed it up adequately. The sky was overcast with dust and it made for a beautifully soft light during the celebration.
Photographing this wedding was definitely one of my big highlights this year, and I’m so glad we did it! I loved offering something that I find so meaningful to strangers, and dropping into this special moment with them. While certain photoshoots wax and wane in their relevance, your wedding photos are with you for a lifetime, and it makes me smile knowing these pictures will hold s special place in their life.
