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Klaudia & Michał – a green, Italian-inspired wedding at Cicha 23

Cicha23 and getting ready - intimate and comfortable

Cicha23 is a place full of character - a small wooden house with a green garden, perfect for couples who want a wedding close to nature, intimate and relaxed. Don't worry that the space is small - it's easy to organise so that everyone has their own spot. For example, the groom gets ready at the back of the house and the bride inside - or the other way round. That way everyone has privacy, and the photos come out natural and full of light. A small space? No problem, as long as the day is well planned.

An outdoor ceremony surrounded by greenery

Klaudia and Michał said "I do" in the garden, among the trees and shrubs. The outdoor ceremony in the greenery of Cicha23 was calm, intimate and fitted beautifully with the natural feel of the place. An outdoor wedding like this is a great option for couples from Warsaw and the area who dream of getting married in nature, with a beautiful backdrop for photos and vows exchanged among the greenery.

A mini session during the wedding

At Cicha23 it's also easy to find a moment for short but beautiful mini sessions in the garden. We used the light between the trees and around the wooden details. The result? Natural portraits, full of emotion and lightness. The greenery does the work on its own - no extra lighting needed, everything looks soft and natural.

A reception in a small Tuscan-style stable

The reception took place in a small stable that turned into a little Tuscany. It works brilliantly, because everything happens close together. A lot of attention went into the food and drink area - outdoors as well - and the deckchairs, where guests could rest, chat and catch their breath between dances. A wedding like this combines elegance with ease and gives guests a comfort that's often missing in big venues without a garden.

A first dance under the open sky and a wild party in the stable

First, the first dance in the garden - we lit it with reportage flashes, so low light wasn't a problem. And right after that - a dance floor in the stable full of music and laughter, where guests partied together, close to each other, with no distance at all. This combination gave the evening both romance and real madness.

Ceremony and reception venue: Cicha23
Bar: Cicha23
Decorations: Hibiskus

Bride
Dress: second-hand, no label
Shoes: Yes I Shoe
Make-up: Agata Walewander
Hair: Julia Miranowicz

Groom
Suit: Macaroni Tomato
Shoes: Berwick

przez WhiteBalance

A humanist wedding on the beach in Mexico

I, Julia, one half of the White Balance duo, am writing this story for you. In 2022 I spent six months travelling, including a month in Mexico. I started the adventure on the Holbox peninsula. How did it happen that one of my very first experiences there was a humanist wedding on the beach?

One afternoon I was strolling along the beach with my camera dangling carelessly from my shoulder. I didn't yet know how glad I'd be that I'd brought it. And that's not at all a given - I was on holiday after all, I had my phone with me, and I don't always feel like lugging the camera around... But that day, unusually, on an ordinary walk, I had both my camera and my drone with me.

A mystical ceremony on the beach on the Holbox peninsula

Suddenly my attention was caught by a small group of people gathering on the beach. I walked closer, curious about what was going on. You could immediately sense a joyful atmosphere, and hear laughter and lively conversation. Everyone was wearing white or black flowing clothes. Colourful blankets and vessels for a ritual ceremony lay on the sand. I instantly felt a little thrill: is this a wedding?! No way, have I stumbled upon a beach wedding?! A beach wedding in Mexico? Wait, so where's the couple?

At first I sat down a little way off, watching the group. I didn't want them to see me as an intruder. I looked around carefully - was there a professional photographer anywhere? There clearly wasn't. Oh no, would they really have no photos of moments like these? I plucked up my courage and approached the woman wearing the longest white dress of the whole group - a bit stereotypical, I know. I asked what kind of ceremony it was and whether there was a couple getting married, and told them I was a photographer travelling and just happened to be passing by. It turned out to be the wedding of two men, Alberto and Alejandro - or rather... one of their weddings. They turned out to be a lovely couple who, that day, had decided to tell the story of their love as the marriage of Hellen and an Egyptian king. The guests' outfits referenced the Ptolemies - the Egyptians. I stayed with them for a while and, with their permission, photographed unobtrusively. Afterwards they thanked me warmly for capturing their love. If you're curious about their story, you can read more at the bottom of this post, below the photos.

Alberto and Alejandro's humanist wedding ceremony

Wedding inspiration - a wedding your way. Or... a few weddings.

As I mentioned, this was one of their SEVERAL weddings. How come, you ask? Let me explain! Alberto and Alejandro are from Mexico, but their story is much more complicated. Alberto has lived in various countries, including Israel, Switzerland and Italy, as has Alejandro, who also spent several years abroad, in England, Spain and Morocco among other places. Their families live in Mexico, but their friends are scattered all over the world. At first the couple planned a modest wedding in Spain, but over time their plans grew bolder, and instead of a simple ceremony in Madrid they decided to rent an entire castle in France! It was a breath of madness and romance: they invited their families and closest friends from all over the world to spend a whole week together in France, near the Loire Valley, home to the most beautiful castles. Before that, though, there were several other ceremonies, in different traditions and countries: a traditional gathering at home connected with Jewish culture, then a civil ceremony in Guadalajara, Mexico, Alejandro's hometown. And the very first ceremony was the Spiritual Union on Holbox in Mexico, which I happened to stumble upon.

A relaxed atmosphere, earth-toned decorations, spiritual rituals - it made an incredible impression. Add to that guests playing the guitar, singing together and celebrating the setting sun. And at the heart of it all was the couple's deep love - for each other, and for their friends too. I feel honoured that I was able - completely unexpectedly - to capture it.

Planning a humanist wedding on the beach?

We'd love to photograph your love in any corner of the world. Write to us and we'll sort out the details!

przez WhiteBalance

Iga & Miłosz – an elegant wedding at Bobrowy Dwór

Venue & vendors

Ceremony: Basilica of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Pułtusk
Reception: Bobrowy Dwór
Music: Ja to Poprowadzę
Flowers & decorations: Majowe Love Dekoracje Ślubne

Bride

Dress 1: Pronovias
Dress 2: from Vinted
Shoes:  Betsey Johnson
Make-up: Fryz + Make-up
Hair: Elizabeth Studio

Groom

Suit: Lancerto
Shoes: Ryłko

Dreaming of a wedding with a similar feel? Write to us.

przez WhiteBalance

Aniela & Jacek – an alternative wedding

Every wedding is unique, but this one broke all the rules. A dog bringing the rings, a reception in a marquee in the parents' garden, a crisps-and-gummy-bears zone, a techno shack... And much more.

Getting ready with her best friends

At this wedding we only photographed the bride getting ready. Remember, that's an option too! If you, dear bride, want photos of getting ready with the people closest to you, and your future spouse isn't so keen, we can capture just one side of the preparations. Aniela and the girls endured rain, mosquitoes and even some power problems at the reception venue with angelic calm (and one cigarette after another). But the support of good friends can work miracles! There was even time for a moment of meditation (with a glass of prosecco in hand).

A wedding your way - an alternative wedding

Aniela and Jacek planned a wedding "their way". They rented a party marquee, which was set up in Jacek's parents' garden. They hired a professional caterer (Kręgliccy) and decorators from Floriculture, who created a gorgeous setting, and the reception was full of lovely touches. There was a crunch zone - a chill-out area with a sofa and bowls of crisps and gummy bears. There was a special basket and candles - the anti-mosquito zone. And there was also... a Techno Shack and a rave zone in the woods!

Hero of the Day - Strucel the dog

The main theme of Aniela and Jacek's wedding was their beloved dog Strucel. The backdrop behind the couple read "Woof", a Strucel figurine "bit" a piece out of the cake, and the real dog even got the honour of bringing the rings to the couple.

A beautiful standing ceremony in the garden

When Aniela arrived at the ceremony in a vintage car, the guests were already lined up along eclectic rugs. There were no chairs - just the closest family and friends standing in two rows, holding umbrellas (handed out earlier by the maid of honour) in case of bad weather. Strucel the dog brought the rings at just the right moment, and the couple read their own vows, which brought both tears and... fits of laughter :)

A wedding day session - 10 minutes

Whenever the weather allows, we always encourage you to have a short session on the wedding day. With Aniela and Jacek we had literally 10 minutes for it, in a window between the rain and the sunset. We managed to take a few portraits, including with the Hero of the Day, Strucel :)

Wedding speeches in the marquee

Aniela and Jacek live in Berlin, and there was a very international crowd at their wedding. As is often the case at weddings with guests from abroad (though this is becoming more and more common at Polish weddings too), there were plenty of speeches.

A wedding without a first dance? Party games at 9 pm?

As you can probably guess, many parts of this day broke away from the typical wedding mould. The couple opened the party with a first dance danced together with all the guests, and the bouquet and bow-tie toss took place just after dark rather than traditionally at midnight. And then... well, what more can we say, the dance floor was on fire, and the madness was interwoven with a photo slideshow for the couple, the cake and conversations in the corners and the chill zone. The techno shack was probably fired up too, but that was in the early hours, when the photographers were already fast asleep ;)

To sum up: don't be afraid to organise a wedding your own way if you feel that wedding traditions "aren't you". There are a few things worth remembering whatever kind of wedding it is (like a grounded power socket, so there are no surprises with the electricity), but you'll definitely manage! An alternative wedding is something that lets you fully express yourselves. And if you decide on a photo and/or video team, you'll always have professionals up your sleeve who have seen lots of weddings and will be happy to advise you whenever you need it ;)

Venue/vendors:

Ceremony and reception: Jacek's parents' garden, marquee rented from rajt.pl
Music: Dj Sebastian Tokarski
Flowers, decorations, ceremony setup: Floriculture Ania Nowakowska

Bride

Dress: bought in Berlin at Hochzeitshaus
Shoes: Zign
Make-up/Hair: Aleksandra Szczepanek / Sadowska Maluje

Groom

Suit: Boggi Milano

Like what you see? See more of the weddings we've photographed!

przez WhiteBalance

Cicha 23 wedding – Zuzia, Alex and a wild September celebration

A first look - is it worth it?

In short - YES. It was a moment full of emotion, tension and indescribable magic.

Zuzia and Alex decided to see each other for the first time in their wedding outfits just before the ceremony, off to the side, away from curious eyes. This intimate, personal moment was a special time for them to stop the clock and look into each other's eyes as future spouses before the whirlwind of the wedding began. Before the meeting they had both filled in little books by Polish designer Dopiletero, writing down their answers to various intimate questions, such as "Everything I love about you is...". Reading them during the first look was a beautiful and personal summary of their love.

As Zuzia gently approached Alex, her face showed very intense emotions - excitement, joy, being deeply moved. It was beautiful to see tears so full of love and of the certainty that, standing face to face, they were ready for a life together. For us as wedding photographers, it's always an extraordinary experience and an honour to witness such intimate moments and be able to capture them in photos.

Outdoor ceremony - Cicha23

The wedding ceremony took place outdoors, surrounded by lush greenery. All the guests were enchanted by this magical place and the extraordinary atmosphere of Cicha23. Family and friends from all over the world stood by the couple's side to share the joy of this special moment. The visual side matched the feel of the ceremony perfectly thanks to minimalist decorations of delicate flowers: baby's breath, also known as gypsophila.

A mini session on the wedding day

A mini session on the wedding day is a moment when the couple can catch their breath and take a break from the crowd of guests. It's a moment when they can focus just on each other (and on the photographers watching them ;)). The result is a dozen or so special frames showing the couple in their wedding outfits, just the two of them - and if the weather and surroundings cooperate, they can easily replace a portrait session on another day.

Cicha 23 - drinks in the open air

Toasts from loved ones at the reception

At weddings in Poland we don't often hear speeches from loved ones at the table. At Zuzia and Alex's wedding, however, we had the pleasure of experiencing toasts in which the couple's loved ones shared their thoughts and wishes for the newlyweds. It's a beautiful and moving tradition, popular for example in English-speaking countries: selected guests - often parents, the best man and maid of honour, or closest friends - give short speeches. We probably don't need to tell you that we sometimes shed a tear behind the camera too :)

A first dance under the open sky - Cicha 23 wedding

One of the special moments of the evening was Zuzia and Alex's first dance. It took place on a wooden deck under the open sky, with warm fairy lights twinkling above the couple.

The reception hall - Cicha 23 wedding

And then... What more can we say - the dance floor was ON FIRE as the band Panowie od Muzyki took the party to the max. Even the bride's grandma and grandpa didn't miss the chance to spin around the dance floor.

Doughnuts as a wedding cake?

The traditional wedding cake was replaced by an original tower of doughnuts, which was a lovely surprise for all the guests. This unusual idea fitted perfectly with the energy and originality of the whole event.

Modern wedding party games

"Oczepiny" - a set of traditional games held late in the evening - have long been an integral part of Polish weddings. It's also a moment that can stir up mixed feelings - from excitement to fear of kitsch and of being pushed into taking part. At Zuzia and Alex's wedding, though, we experienced something completely different: modern, fun party games that were simply unforgettable.

It's worth stressing that no couple should feel forced to hold traditional oczepiny. You can do everything your own way - it's your big day after all ;) At Zuzia and Alex's wedding, Panowie od Muzyki not only provided perfect music but also led great party games. One of the most popular modern wedding games is "Name That Tune". It's a perfect way to get guests playing together and lighten the mood. We've seen many versions of this game and each one is great fun for both the couple and the guests.

Modern wedding games really don't have to be tacky. We've seen many games tailored to the taste and personality of the couple, and as wedding photographers we're always ready to advise our couples and share our experience and inspiration.

Cicha 23 in Marki - you're doing it right! This magical place created a unique atmosphere that perfectly reflected Zuzia and Alex's style and personality. We're dreaming of more weddings we could capture there as a wedding photography duo!

Venue/vendors:

Civil ceremony: Cicha 23
Reception: Cicha 23
Music: Panowie od Muzyki - Marcin
Flowers & decorations: Ten Dom

Bride

Dress 1: Agata Wojtkiewicz
Dress 2: We Are Dearly
Shoes: Anniel
Make-up: Weronikowa
Hair: Hair by Bakun

Groom

Suit: Suitsupply
Shoes: Suitsupply

Dreaming of a wedding with a similar feel? See the story of another outdoor wedding at Cicha23.

przez WhiteBalance

Kaja & Kuba – a stunning wedding at Cicha 23 near Warsaw

Kimura Glamping - getting ready in a tent

Cicha 23 isn't only green gardens, beautiful boho interiors and an open-air dance floor. The venue also offers... glamping. Getting ready in the Kimura Glamping tents is a great option if you want to start the day at your wedding venue and avoid stressful journeys. From a photographic and aesthetic point of view, we can add that the place ties in beautifully with the rest of the day, so all the photo and video material is visually consistent. And if you want to unwind with a glass of champagne... there's a hot tub waiting for you. There's even an outdoor cinema, where you can screen your memories or a private thank-you for your parents.

The bride getting ready

Photographically, Kaja's preparations meant capturing not only the bride herself but also her loved ones and a whole group of little girls from the family, for whom getting ready for the wedding was a big event! Luckily, photographing as a duo gives us the freedom to split up and capture both what was happening on the "ladies' side" and with the gentlemen at the same time - and in between, to photograph the beautifully decorated reception hall before the guests arrived. We did notice one drawback of the yellow tents: it was hard for the make-up artists to work inside them. Fortunately, moving slightly out onto the wooden deck solved the problem.

The groom getting ready

Washing your hair under the open sky? Why not! At Kimura Glamping at Cicha 23, the bathtub by the tents stands in the open air. The groom, Kuba, was accompanied by his brother and dad while getting ready.

An outdoor ceremony - a floral altar

One of the many advantages of the Cicha 23 event space is the possibility of an outdoor wedding just outside Warsaw. The grounds include woodland gardens, flower meadows and beautiful lawns just waiting for your ideas on how to set them up for a wedding ceremony. For Kaja and Kuba, a gorgeous floral arrangement was created behind the altar. There were also decorations between the white chairs for close family. The rest of the guests stood in a row facing the altar. After a beautiful and moving ceremony the guests went to the reception hall, and we whisked Kaja and Kuba away for a short portrait session.

A session on the wedding day

We've said it more than once or twice: we encourage you to have a mini session on the wedding day! In about 20 minutes we create frames that become a beautiful keepsake of the day. We always take these photos after the ceremony (exactly when during the reception - we agree together), so it's the perfect moment for you, on a day full of people, to spend a little time together... almost alone ;) You can breathe, hug, look into each other's eyes and gather strength for the rest of the madness.

A first dance under the open sky - Cicha 23 wedding

Besides a beautiful indoor dance floor, Cicha 23 also offers... a wooden dance floor in the open air. That's where Kaja and Kuba decided to open their reception with their first dance. To the encouraging cheers of their guests, they danced a fun, relaxed dance. There was lots of laughter and some interesting moves. They even put on comfortable shoes especially, and a stylish flat cap landed on Kuba's head.

The Cicha 23 wedding - two spaces

Cicha 23 offers two separate spaces: a small and a large stable. At Kaja and Kuba's wedding the dining and dancing area was in the large stable, while the small stable was turned into a play area for children. The walls at Cicha 23 are made of kiln-fired brick, with ivy climbing up them for extra atmosphere. Trees grow in the middle of the large hall, which makes it look even more amazing. Outside, the grounds are lit by lanterns and garlands of lights.

Group photos

We know some photographers turn up their noses at "group photos". In our view they're an extremely important part of the day, and if you feel they're for you, we'll be happy to photograph you with your family and loved ones. We try to organise these photos at the right moment and as "quietly" as possible - taking you and one group at a time, so as not to break up the whole party by stopping the dancing and creating a queue of people who absolutely must have a photo with you. Group photos are best taken while it's still light and the guests look fresh. We promise it won't be stiff and we'll be quick about it - and your family and loved ones will get a beautiful keepsake! And if you know you can go a bit wild with some of the groups - go for it ;)

The reception hall - Cicha 23 wedding

After a delicious meal the dance floor was on fire - both inside the hall and outside. What a party!

As extra attractions, Kaja and Kuba also chose a photo booth (or rather a charming photo bus), a prosecco van, a whisky tasting and outdoor cooking. They also decided to light cigars specially chosen for the occasion with their friends. It was our first wedding at Cicha 23 and we hope it won't be the last, because we absolutely fell in love with the place. We can honestly say it's one of the most beautiful wedding venues in and around Warsaw - and possibly in all of Poland. And believe us, we've seen a few venues ;)

Venue/vendors:

Civil ceremony: Cicha 23
Reception: Cicha 23
Music: Panowie od Muzyki, Mariusz Wróbel aka Harry Harmonic
Flowers & decorations: Kwiatów Kilka

Bride

Dress 1: Pronovias
Dress 2: Laurelle
Shoes: Freya Rose London
Make-up: Agnieszka Walczak Makeup
Hair: Fashion Hair Club

Groom

Suit: Miler Menswear
Shoes: Miler Menswear

Dreaming of a wedding with a similar feel? See the story of another outdoor wedding at Cicha 23.

przez WhiteBalance