Such an honour to feature this breath-taking photoshoot, captured by fine art wedding photographers Vanessa and Ivo of Momento Cativo, and inspired by the fascinating work of Portuguese writer Florbela Espanca. Every flawlessly crafted detail embodies a romantic elegance that we find irresistible- from the decadent tablescape, laden with flowers, fruit, wine and candles and wrapped in a palette of vivid reds, berry shades and warm, autumnal hues, to the bride’s sheer red veil and oh-so delicate vintage wedding dress. With these stunning images, the Momento Cativo team creates a wonderfully, passionate vision- one that we could live in forever!
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From Hoje é Especial: Florbela Espanca is a Portuguese female writer, she was one of the first women in Portugal to get high education. She faced many hardships and she coped with them through literature, she lived a passionate life, tormented by deep emotions and turmoils such as the death of family members, divorces, an abortion and subsequent illnesses. She did not survive her last attempt at suicide having died on the day of her 36th birthday. Her work is deeply connected to the natural world, flowers and birds are mentioned constantly representing the frailty of our humanity, the main theme of her poetic work is love, its fatalities, loneliness, despair, seduction, deep lust and a desire to be free.
Our concept was based on this poem of hers, called Ruínas:
Se é sempre Outono o rir das Primaveras,
Castelos, um a um, deixa-os cair…
Que a vida é um constante derruir
De palácios do Reino das Quimeras!
E deixa sobre as ruínas crescer heras,
Deixa-as beijar as pedras e florir!
Que a vida é um contínuo destruir
De palácios do Reino das Quimeras!
Deixa tombar meus rútilos castelos!
Tenho ainda mais sonhos para erguê-los
Mais alto do que as águias pelo ar!
Sonhos que tombam! Derrocada louca!
São como os beijos duma linda boca!
Sonhos!… Deixa-os tombar…Deixa-os tombar.
Florbela Espanca, in “Livro de Sóror Saudade”
It talks about how life keeps throwing our dreams to the ground, how we constantly need to keep strength to build them up again, to find new ones and how there is beauty in that constant motion of picking up the pieces to create again. These ruins seemed to be the perfect place to set a beautiful love story, it puts into contrast how delicate they are in their flesh, their feelings and hopes with the scenery, so rustic and harsh, but so stoic in its perseverance and beauty…
Photography: Momento Cativo | Creative Direction and Styling: Hoje é Especial | Headpieces: Naturae Design {BW Member} | Hair and Makeup: Jenny Make Up Land | Models: Mafalda Banquart and Tiago Jacome | Location: Miranda do Douro, Portugal
