Hofkirche St. Leodegar & Hotel Schweizerhof Luzern

Mariam and Gor’s wedding brought together the historic architecture of Lucerne, the open landscapes above the lake and the energy of an Armenian family celebration. From their ceremony at Hofkirche St. Leodegar to the final hours on the dance floor at Hotel Schweizerhof Luzern, the day moved through very different settings, with family and tradition connecting them all.

My team and I photographed and filmed their celebration. For me, its character came as much from the people as the places: the meaning of the ceremony, the time Mariam and Gor spent together and the uninhibited joy that filled the evening.

An Armenian Wedding Ceremony at Hofkirche St. Leodegar

With its twin towers rising above Lucerne, Hofkirche St. Leodegar provided a distinctive setting for the beginning of their wedding day. Inside, the dark marble of the high altar, gilded details and monumental organ gave the ceremony a rich architectural backdrop.

Surrounded by family and friends, Mariam and Gor exchanged their vows in these historic surroundings. Armenian traditions brought personal and cultural meaning to the celebration, connecting their marriage with the people who had gathered to witness it.

I approached the ceremony with attention to both its setting and its intimacy. The church’s architecture was an important part of the visual story, while my focus remained on the couple and the emotions unfolding around them. Photographing and filming together allowed our team to preserve different aspects of the same experience: individual expressions, movement and the atmosphere of the ceremony.

Wedding Portraits Above Lake Lucerne

After the ceremony, we travelled to a nearby mountainside for Mariam and Gor’s creative photography and film session. The lake, the city and the surrounding Swiss Alps opened out below us, giving this part of the day a different sense of space.

It was an opportunity to spend some time with the couple away from the larger celebration. With room to move and be together, the session centred on natural portraits that connected them with the landscape.

In a setting like this, I look for a balance between the scale of the surroundings and the closeness of the couple. The views establish the place, while a gesture or expression makes the image personal. For Mariam and Gor, this part of the story brought together both: the landscape around Lucerne and the intimacy of their wedding day.

A Lakeside Reception at Hotel Schweizerhof Luzern

The celebration continued at Hotel Schweizerhof Luzern, on the lakeside promenade. Returning from the mountains to the city gave the day another change of rhythm, as everyone came together for dinner and the evening celebrations.

As night fell, the atmosphere grew increasingly lively. Dinner gave way to dancing, confetti filled the air, and friends and family gathered around the couple. The elegance of the setting became the backdrop to a party full of movement and personality.

Armenian Traditions and a Dance Floor Full of Family

Chair dancing brought Mariam and Gor into the centre of the celebrations, surrounded by the people closest to them. Their grandmother’s moments on the dance floor were another memorable part of the evening, bringing generations together in the same joyful scene.

These are the moments I especially value when documenting a wedding: when people feel free to join in, and the relationships at the heart of the day become visible. My team and I stayed close to the celebrations as they continued long into the night.

Mariam and Gor, thank you for welcoming us into your wedding. It was a pleasure to create photographs and films that hold together its many parts: the ceremony, the landscape, your Armenian traditions and the warmth of the people celebrating with you.