bride and groom embrace in front of a subway train — a newlywed couple embracing in front of a subway train in Toulouse

When you think of peak Covid lockdown, you might get flashbacks to endless Zoom quizzes, or that new hobby that’s now long forgotten, stuffed under your bed.

When we think of Covid lockdown, we’re reminded of the passionate, special burning determination that #LOVEISNOTCANCELLED. We saw so many gorgeous, badass, wonderful and creative examples of how love must go on, even with the piles of restrictions set on us.

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The groom is buttoning up the bride's dress in a bedroom setting.

This shoot is an exact example of just that; Love in the midst of a time where celebrating love almost felt impossible, or illegal!

From getting ready together, to dancing in the middle of the train station; Every moment from this concept felt so close, personal and like a run-away-in-the-middle-of-the-night-to-wed story.

This love story takes place in three steps.

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The groom walks ahead of the bride down indoor stone steps. The light is low, but enough to see their faces. There are some lush green monstera plants in the stairwell.

The City

In a time where people are restricted to their households and daily walks, we wanted to be in the city where there was even a slight sense of hustle and bustle. To be around people, slow-dance shamelessly, demonstrate a love that is so alive even in a time where everything feels “muted”.

The bride and groom's torsos. The groom wears a light grey suit with a wine red tie. The bride's top is a deep plunge V neck, all black, with red, pink and green embroidered flowers all over it.

The bride and groom ballroom dance in the middle of a train station

Using the space of the city, spots that we’d usually rush past on our way to work, and rewriting how they can make us feel - that was a big motivator. Using the space around us, no matter what it was, and making it a place where love blooms.

couple kissing on train — A newlywed couple sitting opposite each other on a subway train and sharing a kiss.

newlywed couple on an underground escalator — A stunning portrait of a newlywed couple facing one another on a long escalator in the subway in Toulouse

newlywed couple walking through the streets of Toulouse — A stylish newlywed couple walking hand in hand through the streets of Toulouse. There are building and a blue sky with fluffy clouds in the background.

newlywed couple embracing on bridge in Toulouse — a newlywed couple on a bridge in Toulouse. The groom is embracing the bride who is throwing her head back in pure happiness. She holds a beautiful deep red, textured bouquet bu her side.

The House

In Toulouse, South of France where the shoot is set, there was an evening curfew, meaning that hotels and restaurants were closed. Instead, it was set to take place on the couple’s private balcony at home.

Adorned with candlesticks, dried blooms, and fairy lights, although at home it created an entirely different atmosphere. The intimacy of the setup was better than any restaurant scenario.

The dark browns, reds and oranges of the flowers are a nod to Emma’s floral embroidered dress. The flowers in glass bubbles act as a symbol for the household bubbles thousands of people around the world were restricted to. In this case, Emma and Sing being in their own romantic bubble, blocked out from the world, enjoying solely each other.

Dried flowers in a glass bubble ornament

A close up of dried flowers & ribbons hanging from the balcony ceiling. They're mixed in amongst the fairy lights that are strung across the length of the ceiling.

The bride sitting on the groom's lap, with their foreheads together. In the background are a line of lit & melted candle sticks in mismatched candelabras

The Desert

Wide open spaces, the sky as the landscape, and freedom. Driving from France into Spain to catch the dawn lights of the Bardenas Reales and dance in the desert.

Emma's dress is blue-grey, the colour of the sky. The same sky we watched for days, weeks and months from our windows at home. It was an escape, to feel like we were part of that very sky in the badlands.

The groom reaches out his hand toward the bride. The light is low and only their silhouettes are visible. The sky is a moody blue-grey backdrop behind them

A close up of the bride's skirt, which is blue-grey, the same colour as the sky.

The real couple, Emma and Sing, are professional dancers. They were specifically chosen with their skills to add that sense of freedom, carefree joy, and real love. Dancing in public, only noticing each other, to create their own invisible bubble in the middle of a crowd, a private location, or a desert.

The couple stand in a gap in the mountain, holding each other.

The groom holds his bride up mid-dance. Her skirt is flowing freely behind her.

The groom swings the bride around in dance, they're both laughing. The bride's hair and skirt are both flowing behind her mid-movement.

No matter how small the celebration, or what restrictions are alive at the time, love can never be cancelled. When things feel impossible, there will always be bandits of love to show us exactly how love must go on.