Brittany and Viliame holding hands on a rocky outcrop above the Fijian highlands under storm clouds, wearing traditional masi
FIJI DESTINATION WEDDING

Brittany & ViliameCrowne Plaza Nadi Bay wedding, Fiji

A few days before their wedding we drove up into the highlands in traditional masi, chased by the storms rolling in off the Pacific.

Britt and Viliame got married in Fiji, Viliame’s home country, and they invited me to come along and shoot their wedding.

As is usually the case, I wanted to take them away from their resort to get some photos somewhere special, a place that truly felt Fijian. I’d been to Fiji many times before and knew some beautiful locations not far from where they were based, and they were happy to let me take them there a few days before their wedding.

The rain gods decided to bring the storms in from the pacific on the week of their wedding, and on the day we planned to go up into the highlands the sky was dark and rain was forecast. But I knew that the weather was fickle, and that up in the highlands the clouds came and went very quickly, and that if we were lucky we could time the photos between rainbursts. And besides, stormy weather was usually more beautiful than clear skies. Britt and Viliame were keen to go ahead, and with an entourage of helpers we drove to the places I remembered, hoping nothing had changed in the years since I was there last.

As it happened, the landscape was just as beautiful, the rain came and went, and the atmosphere was dark and moody - just the way I liked. It wasn’t easy for the two of them and their kids getting ready in their traditional masi clothes, made from tapa cloth, under umbrellas and with curious onlookers stopping to gawk, but they got it done and we got the photos, and everything turned out as we hoped.

And I couldn’t help but feel how lucky I was that I was able to shoot these two beautiful people in such a magical place, surrounded by their friends and family, wrapped in love and keeping to the traditions of the place. It felt very special.

All that was left to do then was to wait until the wedding day.

Storm clouds rolling over the Nausori Highlands, Fiji
Viliame standing on a highland ridge in traditional masi, Nausori Highlands
Brittany on a highland ridge in tapa cloth, Nausori Highlands, Fiji
Brittany and Viliame together on a ridge above the highland valleys, Fiji
The couple and their entourage on a rocky outcrop in the Nausori Highlands
Brittany, Viliame and their children looking out over the Fijian highlands
Brittany and Viliame on the ridgeline beneath heavy cloud, Nausori Highlands
Brittany and Viliame embracing in highland mist, Fiji
Brittany and Viliame kissing on the ridge in traditional masi, FijiThe couple sitting together on a rock above the valley, Fijian highlandsClose portrait of Brittany and Viliame in the Nausori Highlands, Fiji
Black and white portrait of Brittany and Viliame, Nausori HighlandsBrittany and Viliame kissing, close black and white portrait, Fiji
Sunset over the Nausori Highlands valley, Fiji
Viliame walking a stormy hillside in the Fijian highlands
Brittany and Viliame in golden light and dust, Nausori HighlandsThe couple dwarfed by the highland ranges, Fiji
Brittany and Viliame watching the sun set over the highlands, Fiji
Brittany and Viliame walking through highland grass under a wide sky, FijiBrittany and Viliame walking together in masi, Nausori HighlandsA lone figure on a forested highland slope, Fiji
Brittany and Viliame standing in the green highland hills, Fiji
Brittany and Viliame in traditional dress among the hills, Fiji
Brittany and Viliame silhouetted at sunset in the highlands, Fiji

The wedding was at the Crowne Plaza, Nadi Bay, a beautiful ceremony on the front lawn followed by a massive party at the Crown reception. The rain threatened but thankfully never came, so Britt and Viliame were able to have an outdoor ceremony and photos on the beach.

The evening was one big party, with traditional Fijian dancers, conga lines, drinking and feasting and general good vibes and happy times. Congrats guys!!!

Viliame being helped into his masi before the wedding, Nadi BayViliame in masi with a carved pendant before the ceremony, Fiji
Family helping Viliame dress before the ceremony, Crowne Plaza Nadi BayDetail of Viliame's beaded necklace and masi, Nadi BayA quiet moment while Viliame gets ready, Crowne Plaza Nadi Bay
Viliame and his groomsmen with personalised woven fans, Nadi Bay
A woven basketweave wall panel at the Crowne Plaza, Nadi BayCarved wooden paddles displayed at the Crowne Plaza, Nadi Bay
A hanging sign with Brittany's name and tropical flowers, Nadi BayBridesmaids in blush on the resort lawn, Crowne Plaza Nadi BayBridesmaids laughing together before the ceremony, Nadi Bay
The bridal party gathered before the wedding, Crowne Plaza Nadi Bay
Brittany's wedding dress hanging in the room before the ceremony
Brittany getting into her dress by the window, Crowne Plaza Nadi BayFinal adjustments to Brittany's dress before the ceremonyGuests waiting on the lawn before the ceremony, Nadi Bay
Viliame in white walking across the resort lawn, Crowne Plaza Nadi BayViliame heading to the first look, Crowne Plaza Nadi Bay
Brittany walking across the lawn to meet Viliame for their first lookBrittany in a printed robe before changing into her dress, Nadi BayBrittany with her mother before the ceremony, Crowne Plaza Nadi Bay
Brittany holding her daughter before the wedding, Nadi BayBrittany with her children before the ceremony, Crowne Plaza Nadi Bay
Woven wall artworks at the Crowne Plaza, Nadi Bay
Guests seated for the beachfront ceremony at the Crowne Plaza, Nadi Bay
Guests seated on the lawn for the ceremony, Nadi Bay, FijiA reserved sign on a ceremony chair, Crowne Plaza Nadi BayA guest carrying a baby to the ceremony, Nadi Bay
Viliame waiting at the ceremony with a woven fan, Nadi BayViliame at the head of the aisle, Crowne Plaza Nadi BayA groomsman holding a personalised woven fan, Nadi Bay
The wedding procession along woven mats, Crowne Plaza Nadi BayBrittany walking down the aisle at the Crowne Plaza, Nadi Bay
Brittany is welcomed at the front of the aisle by Viliame, Nadi Bay
The beachfront ceremony under palms, Crowne Plaza Nadi Bay
Ceremony beneath the floral arch beside the sea, Nadi Bay, Fiji
Brittany and Viliame at the altar, seen past the guests, Nadi BayExchanging vows beneath the floral arch, Crowne Plaza Nadi Bay
Guests watching the ceremony on the lawn, Crowne Plaza Nadi Bay
The ceremony seen down the aisle, Crowne Plaza Nadi BayGuests gathering after the ceremony, Nadi Bay, Fiji
Guests embracing after the ceremony, Crowne Plaza Nadi BayA warm hug for Brittany after the ceremony, Nadi BayCongratulations after the ceremony, Crowne Plaza Nadi Bay
A guest with a woven fan embracing the couple, Nadi Bay
Viliame embracing a guest after the ceremony, Nadi BayViliame greeting family after the ceremony, Crowne Plaza Nadi Bay
An emotional embrace after the ceremony, Nadi BayA guest wiping away tears after the ceremony, Nadi Bay
Family congratulating the newlyweds, Crowne Plaza Nadi BayGuests hugging after the ceremony, Crowne Plaza Nadi BayBrittany embracing her grandmother after the ceremony, Nadi Bay
The full wedding party and guests on the lawn, Crowne Plaza Nadi Bay
The bridal party on the beach at Nadi Bay, Fiji
A groomsman laughing with his woven fan, Nadi BayBridesmaids with their bouquets, Crowne Plaza Nadi BayViliame with his groomsmen on the beach, Nadi Bay
Brittany and Viliame's first portraits as a married couple, Nadi BayBrittany and Viliame on the beach at Nadi Bay, Fiji
The newlyweds walking the beach at Nadi Bay, Fiji
Brittany and Viliame small against the wide beach at Nadi Bay
Brittany and Viliame in the resort colonnade, Crowne Plaza Nadi BayA quiet moment in the colonnade, Crowne Plaza Nadi Bay
Brittany's train spread out, framed by a window at the Crowne Plaza
Brittany and Viliame embracing at the resort, Nadi BayBrittany's dress and train inside the Crowne Plaza, Nadi Bay
The couple down a resort corridor, Crowne Plaza Nadi BayBrittany and Viliame kissing in a doorway, silhouetted, Nadi BayBrittany greeting a guest before the reception, Nadi Bay
Brittany entering the reception, Crowne Plaza Nadi BayBrittany dancing into the reception, Crowne Plaza Nadi BayThe couple's grand entrance to the reception, Nadi Bay
The reception room at the Crowne Plaza, Nadi Bay, Fiji
A guest listening during the speeches, Nadi BayA guest during the speeches at the reception, Nadi Bay
Speeches at the reception, Crowne Plaza Nadi BayA guest giving a speech at the reception, Nadi Bay
Traditional Fijian dancers performing at the reception, Nadi Bay
Fijian dancers perform for Brittany and Viliame at the reception
Brittany and Viliame's first dance, Crowne Plaza Nadi BayThe first dance at the Crowne Plaza, Nadi Bay, FijiBrittany and Viliame dancing at their reception, Nadi Bay
Live music at the reception, Crowne Plaza Nadi BayBrittany dancing with guests at the reception, Nadi Bay
A traditional Fijian dance performance at the reception, Nadi BayThe dance performance seen across the reception room, Nadi Bay
Brittany and Viliame dancing at the reception, Crowne Plaza Nadi BayGuests dancing at the Crowne Plaza reception, Nadi BayBrittany and Viliame on the dance floor, Nadi Bay
A packed dance floor at the reception, Crowne Plaza Nadi Bay
Guests dancing late into the night, Nadi BayThe dance floor in full swing, Crowne Plaza Nadi BayGuests dancing at the reception, Nadi Bay, Fiji
Guests circling the dance floor at the reception, Nadi BayGuests cheering on the dance floor, Crowne Plaza Nadi BayDancing at Brittany and Viliame's reception, Nadi Bay
A guest in personalised wedding sunglasses at the reception, Nadi BayGroomsmen at the bridal table, Crowne Plaza Nadi BayGuests dancing under festoon lights at the reception, Nadi Bay
The dance floor crowded with guests, Crowne Plaza Nadi BayBrittany dancing with guests at the reception, Nadi BayGuests dancing in island shirts at the reception, Nadi Bay
The band playing at the reception, Crowne Plaza Nadi BayGuests dancing together at the reception, Nadi BayA guest mid-dance at the reception, Crowne Plaza Nadi Bay
Groomsmen dancing at the reception, Nadi BayGuests on the dance floor, Crowne Plaza Nadi BayThe dance floor seen past Brittany, Nadi Bay
Guests with arms raised on the dance floor, Nadi BayGuests dancing at the reception, Crowne Plaza Nadi Bay, FijiA guest dancing with Brittany at the reception, Nadi Bay
Late-night dancing at the Crowne Plaza reception, Nadi BayA guest laughing on the dance floor, Nadi BayThe reception in full swing under fairy lights, Crowne Plaza Nadi Bay
The Crowne Plaza reflected in the pool at night, Nadi Bay, Fiji

More weddings

Destination

Emilie & Henrik at the Belmond Caruso, Ravello

Elopement

Jess & Drew in New England National Park

Let's capture SOME MAGIC

I take a limited number of weddings each year. Get in touch to check your date and tell me a little about your day.

ENQUIRE →