It’s not always easy to surprise the bride and groom on their wedding day, but some guests at this wedding in Altillac, France, managed to keep a little secret amongst themselves until the moment the bride and groom were officially pronounced husband and wife. “Only a few people knew about the release of the balloons,” says Michele Morea, an Italian photographer based in Barcelona, Spain. “It was indeed a well-kept secret—even I was not made aware of it until I saw them taking off in the sky.”

The surprise balloon send-off meant that Morea had to think fast to adjust his setup and capture the beautiful but fleeting moment. But that’s no bother, he says. “After shooting so many weddings, thinking on your feet becomes second nature.” He crouched low to fit the balloons, guests and newlyweds all in one shot. “I like how all elements came together,” he says. “My favorite photographs are those that combine, in meaningful ways, situations happening in different parts of the frame.”

(Captured using a Fujifilm X-Pro2 and a Fujifilm 18mm lens.)

Photo © Michele Morea

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