You only get to wear that gorgeous perfect white gown once... right? Wrong! Jennifer Salvage has worn her gown more than 90 times and has been photographed in some of the world's most iconic locations wearing it! What began in 2008 on Easter Island as husband Jeff's desire to get a perfect wedding shot has become a worldwide photography project, and inspired the coffee table book One Dress, One Woman, One World.
"One of the reasons we chose Easter Island for our wedding was that I wanted iconic, unforgettable wedding images," says Jeff. "While we did get some nice photographs from the wedding, they were taken on a timer, or by a friend, so they weren't in great light and had minimal composition." Jeff decided to take some additional shots himself, asking his beautiful bride to don her gown once again in the days following the wedding.
"Be careful the innocent indulgences you make early in your relationship: they can become rituals fairly quickly. In total, the three photo shoots on Easter Island now seem like a walk in the park, meanwhile I had no idea what I had started!" says Jennifer.
First taking the dress to The Matterhorn, and then with them whilst travelling to China and through the Alps, Jeff photographed his bride they went. The couple began to realise they had started something special. "We were really just trying to create a great wedding album, but the reaction we got from people when we explained what we were up to was incredibly positive and exciting," says Jeff. "While I may have sparked the idea, the concept for the project grew out of the two of us brainstorming. That said, sometimes she needed some convincing or prodding to do particular shots (especially the cold ones)!"
The gown's first outing after the wedding, The Matterhorn. Image courtesy Jeff Salvage www.onedressonewoman.com
Spiralling Down at The Vatican Museum, Vatican City. Image courtesy Jeff Salvage www.onedressonewoman.com
Sand Sand Everywhere at Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park, USA. Image courtesy Jeff Salvage www.onedressonewoman.com
The gown (by famed Aussie Bridal Designer Maggie Sottero) has travelled more than 160,000 kilometres, been photographed in over 85 locations around the world. From the Eiffel Tower to The Great Wall of China, Vatican City and even at the foot of the Great Pyramids of Giza. "Our travels are great adventures and a lot of fun. They provide a great contrast to our everyday life, which is actually quite normal," says Jeff. "We love taking walks with our chocolate lab Munson, we enjoy cooking and harvesting food from the garden and we work hard to Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and spread the green word." And how! Wearing your wedding dress more than 90 times is certainly recycling!
Jennifer and Jeff chronicle their travels and add to their gallery online at www.onedressonewoman.com, where you can follow their adventures. Their book One Dress, One Woman, One World is also available now.
Jeff and Jennifer haven't yet been to Australia and they want to know where you think they should shoot the dress Down Under?!
Leave your suggestions or stop by our Facebook page and let us know your thoughts! We'll pass them on.
Enjoy!
R xox
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