They say that the rush of first love always holds a special place in one’s heart. Well, this is certainly true when I fell in love with Morocco after shooting my first wedding in Marrakech. Although I’ve done numerous other weddings in Marrakech since – all of which have been wonderfully spectacular in their own way – Amy and Aziz’s wedding at Kasbah Agafay has a special place in my heart.
I love working in Marrakech, where I shoot weddings with good friend and business partner Alan Keohane, owner of Still Images (www.still-images.net). Alan has lived and worked in Morocco for over 15 years and has produced two stunning books, “Berbers of Morocco” and “Bedouin, Nomads of the Desert”. Alan is Morocco’s leading fashion and architectural photographer and has photographed just about every one of Morocco’s top hotels and riads.
Amy and Aziz were an absolutely wonderful couple to work with (as well as being very photogenic) and to have an old fortress in the desert as the wedding venue was a photographer’s dream. Kasbah Agafay, about 20 miles outside of Marrakech, was once a mighty fortress, but it fell into disrepair, until it was bought up by the very entrepreneurial Abel Daomoussi, who spared no expense in restoring this wonderful building. It is now listed in travel guides as one of the 50 Best Small Hotels in the world.
As a first taste of a Moroccan wedding, I couldn’t have asked for more. There were beautiful young ladies showering us with rose petals; men balancing huge pewter urns on their heads; Berber singers and dancers joyously performing throughout the day; men on camelback shooting their thundering loud ancient rifles; and my favourite, white doves released into the air at the close of the wedding ceremony.
Every Moroccan wedding has a unique flavour and character, but I have to admit that Amy and Aziz’s will always have a special place in my heart.
Dearest John
Az and I do not know how to thank you for doing such a fantastic job at our Marrakech wedding! We knew when we first met up that you would be able to take the unobtrusive and creative kind of shots that we wanted and you have far exceeded our expectations! You really did feel like one of the family.
Lots of Love,
Amy and Az
xxx
