Photographer Aaron Favila, a veteran with the Associated Press in Metro Manila, has captured a stunning image of a bride wading through floodwaters to reach her wedding ceremony. The photograph, taken at Barásoain Church in Bulacan, Philippines, shows bride Jamaica approaching the church with her white dress floating on the water, moments before the doors opened for her first reveal to groom Jade.
The Scene
In July 2026, after a monsoon flooded much of Manila, Favila was drying off at the office when a colleague tipped him off about a wedding at the flooded Barásoain Church. Despite the treacherous conditions, the couple decided to proceed with their plans. Favila rushed to the scene, hitching a ride on a rescue truck and wading through knee-deep water to arrive just in time.
Love Amidst Adversity
The bride and groom, both from flood-prone areas, had been briefed that the church would likely be underwater but chose to stick to their plan. Favila noted that during the entire ceremony, no one appeared sad; instead, the atmosphere was filled with joy. He captured not only the bride's entrance but also intimate details like shoes lined up on pews and groomsmen standing in water wearing formal barong tagalog shirts.
Favila's favorite image is the bride alone outside the church, with her dress floating gracefully. 'All that lace was never meant to be in water,' he remarked. The photo went viral, resonating globally as a symbol of love and resilience. Favila, a 2026 World Press Photo award winner, emphasized that such images are crucial in reminding us of humanity's ability to find joy even in disaster.
