Milena & David — Intimate Wedding at Saghmosavank Monastery, Armenia

Milena and David chose to keep their wedding simple: no reception, no long schedule, just the two of them and the people closest to them, married in the church at Saghmosavank Monastery above the Kasakh River gorge.

Inside, the church was lit by candles and a few beams of daylight. The priest blessed the rings, the crowns were held over their heads, and a little boy slipped in to hug Milena by the altar.

Without a party to rush to, there was time to walk around the monastery, past the dark weathered stone and the carved wooden doors, and simply be together after the ceremony. Their guests went home with bottles of wine nestled in straw.

Milena wore a sleek halter-neck gown with an open back and carried a bouquet of red anthuriums and white callas. David kept it relaxed in a crisp white shirt.

I photographed the day on both film and digital. An intimate wedding like this one leaves room for the quiet, unhurried frames that a big celebration often doesn’t.

Bouquet & wedding favors: @candlecorner.am

Content creation: @weddingcorner.am

Planning an intimate wedding or elopement anywhere in Europe? I’m available in Europe and worldwide. Check your date →

Close-up of the couple embracing, her hand holding a calla lily
Bride holding red anthuriums beside a carved wooden church door at Saghmosavank
Bride in a fitted halter gown leaning against the dark stone wall of the church
Red anthurium and white calla bouquet against the bride's fitted lace gown
Groom kissing the bride against the stone wall of the monastery
Bride and groom at the altar facing the priest beneath painted icons
Bride in an open-back halter gown holding red flowers behind her back
Groom lifting the bride's veil under a stone archway
Bride seen from behind against a stone wall, her bouquet held at her open back
Bride in a high-neck halter gown leaning on the weathered monastery wall
Basket of tagged wedding favors on a table
Bottle of wine nestled in straw as a wedding guest favor
Bride in a white gown in front of the carved wooden door of the monastery church
Open-back wedding dress detail with red anthuriums held behind
Bride with one hand at her collar, standing against old stone
Close-up of the bride's open-back halter gown and pearl earring
Bride smiling down beside a stone pillar, her long veil behind her
Bride with her eyes closed in a shaft of light, the bouquet at her waist
Bride in her veil lit by a single beam of light in the dark church
Bride standing in a strip of sunlight in the dark church doorway
Bride leaning back on the monastery wall, her train fanned on the ground
Bride walking beside an older man along the stone wall of the church
Silver cross pendant on a guest's black V-neck dress
Groom placing the ring on the bride's finger
Bride in profile against a black background, her veil falling down her back
Bride at the carved wooden church door, her veil spread on the steps
Woman in black arranging the bride's train by the stone wall
Bride embracing a friend in a black dress outside the church
Red anthuriums, white callas and a pearl string resting on dark stone
Close-up of the bouquet and its pearl strands against the white gown
Anthuriums and callas held beneath the sheer veil
Bride holding her bouquet beside a candlestick inside the church
Bride standing on the patterned carpet of the dim church, veil trailing
Groom bending to straighten the bride's train inside the church
A little boy hugging the bride inside the church
Bride and groom before the priest at the altar
Wedding crowns with a cross held over the couple's heads
A golden ceremonial crown glinting in the dark church
Close-up of the priest's hands and embroidered red vestments during the ceremony
Carved khachkar beside a table set with white linen outside the monastery

Real Weddings in Europe and World

H&H
H&H
M&SH
M&SH
E&N
E&N
S&S
S&S
E&R
E&R
V&M
V&M
G&S
G&S