Meet Vanessa Toth — wedding photographer from Frankfurt. For years, she has been documenting the most intimate moments in other people's lives. When she got married herself, she approached her own look just as she approaches her work: with clarity, without excess. In this interview, she shares how she put together her look in ten weeks — and what made all the difference.
Photography: Theresa Dehmer
When did you start thinking about what you wanted to wear on your wedding day?
When you work in the industry yourself, you see a lot. You develop a sense very early on for what you would wear as a bride when the time comes. So, once the wedding was set, I didn't have to think about it for long. I just knew.
What was the experience of looking for a dress like — and was it what you imagined?
Surprisingly uncomplicated, to be honest. We only had 10 weeks for the entire planning, so I put my look together completely online. And in the end, it turned out exactly as I had envisioned it.
Did you have a clear idea of your style from the beginning, or did it evolve along the way?
Quite clear, yes. No tulle, no volume, no princess. I wanted something clean and elegant.
How did you know it was the right dress?
I walked a few meters in it and knew immediately. No costume feeling, but: move, breathe, be myself.
How would you describe yourself as a bride — and did wedding planning change your perception of it?
Calm with clear taste. And no, the planning only confirmed it for me: Less is truly more for me.
What was the most underestimated part of putting the whole look together?
How important the hairstyle is for such a dress. The sleek bun wasn't an option, but a necessity, so that the back and the earrings would get all the attention.
The dress usually comes first. What truly completed your look in the end?
Yes, definitely the earrings. A single signature pearl on a delicate chain that moved with every movement. That's exactly what gave the minimalist look its special touch — and honestly, it was more beautiful than I could have ever imagined.
Was there one particular piece that changed the entire look?
I think the cape. This light fabric draped over my back and created flowing movements with a slight breeze. It was the detail that gave the look that lightness.
How would you describe your wedding style in a few words?
Clean, elegant, and feminine, without being loud.
What do you most want to remember from it?
That I felt light. Not overstyled, not dressed up — just me, only a bit more glowy.
Discover Vanessa's earrings — Santé
Impressions
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In conversation
Real Bride — Joana Fedderwitz