On 3rd July 2026, Svenja and Julian got married at Kitchen & Soul in Baden-Baden. They had a celebrant-led wedding ceremony at the venue's ceremony site under a completely cloudless sky, and it was so hot that by the afternoon only Aperol and hand fans could help. I had the privilege of accompanying the two of them as their wedding photographer for eight hours, from the morning details until the last light over the vineyards at Eckberg.
It was a wedding that was beautiful down to the smallest detail, white and green, with linen on the tables and a small white chapel amongst the trees. And yet nothing about it was stiff. There was a lot of laughter and a lot of tears, often at the very same moment, and nobody tried to hide the one from the other. That applied just as much to Svenja and Julian as it did to their guests.
Venue and details
The Kitchen & Soul lies a little outside Baden-Baden among old trees, and right behind it the forest begins. Those who know it know the little white chapel by the wedding spot. When I arrived in the morning, the rows of chairs were already standing in the grass in front of it, and beneath the rose arch it was still completely quiet.
The tables were laid in white and green, with white flowers from Nasowas on white linen. A wax seal bearing the couple's monogram sat on the menu cards, and the table numbers were written on stones. For the guests, there was a basket full of hand fans, preceded by a little card: „To our biggest fans. Stay cool.“ That could also have served as the motto for the whole day.
Julian's Getting Ready
Julian got ready with his best man. Waistcoat, bow tie, the light-coloured suit from Suitsupply, and there was more laughing than buttoning in front of the mirror. At some point, his best man stood before him to adjust his collar, and for a moment the two of them pressed their foreheads together without a word.
Svenja and Julian had been writing letters to each other. The agreement was that each of them would read the other's letter as soon as they were fully dressed, alone and before the wedding ceremony. Julian took his with him to the window. What was written in it remains between the two of them. You could still tell by looking at him, though.
Svenja's Getting Ready
At Svenja's it was a morning amongst female friends, all in silk pyjamas. The first glasses were poured quickly, and at some point half the group were standing on the bed. Ariane calmly took care of hair and make-up, and Svenja laughed a lot during the process.
Then came the dress from the Boos bridal boutique. When Svenja stepped out in it in front of her friends, they clapped their hands over their mouths, and for a moment it went completely quiet in the room.
After that it was her turn to read her letter. She read it sitting on the edge of the bed, slowly and to the end, and afterwards wiped her eyes.
Independent wedding ceremony
Now the wedding venue was full. The rows of chairs led through the rose arch towards the small white chapel, and the guests sat under large parasols, because the heat was truly oppressive by now.
Svenja's father walked her up the aisle. The two of them were laughing on the way, as if it were a walk like any other.
Julian's best man delivered the wedding speech, the very same one who had straightened his collar that morning. That is the beauty of a celebrant-led wedding: up the front stands someone who truly knows the couple, and you can hear that in every single sentence. The guests laughed and swallowed hard at times, and during the exchange of rings outside the chapel, it was completely quiet. After the kiss, nobody could stay in their seats any longer.
champagne reception
Then followed the hugs, long and tight and from all sides, and Svenja and Julian hardly moved from the spot for quite a while.
The bar was an old food truck on the cobblestones, the Aperol came in cut-glass tumblers. Pizza came from the kitchen of the Kitchen & Soul. It was all elegant, but nobody had to put on airs here, and the whole time I had the feeling that every single guest wanted to be right there.
couples shoot
Between the champagne reception and group photos we had twenty minutes to ourselves. We walked a few steps into the shade of the old trees, away from the hustle and bustle.
I didn't give the two of them any direction. They laughed a lot, he twirled her round, and at some point she placed her hand against his cheek. In the end, hand in hand, they walked once more through the rows of empty chairs towards the chapel, to the spot where they had married shortly before.
Group photos and smoke bombs
For the group photos, the whole company came out onto the meadow. Svenja with her friends in light blue, who couldn't stay serious for two seconds, then Julian with his friends, then everyone together.
Finally the smokebombs were lit, and right through the coloured smoke the wedding party came running towards me, arms in the air. If anyone asks me what the guests were like on that day, I show them this picture.
Evening at Kitchen & Soul
In the early evening the heat slowly eased, and it grew quieter. In the hall the buffet was waiting, and the small chapel stood empty in the evening light.
A ladybird landed on a bridesmaid's light blue dress, right next to two hands wearing new rings. I was lucky I happened to be looking at that moment.
Svenja and Julian shared an Aperol with two straws. Dressed up for the occasion and a bit silly, that's how the two of them were all day.
Sunset at the Eckberg
Just before sunset we set off once more, up to the Eckberg, where the vines grow and Baden-Baden lies down in the valley. The sun was already low over the dry, tall grass, and the two of them simply set off running.
At some point he picked her up, and she held the bouquet up to the sky and cheered. I think at that moment the two of them forgot that I was there. It's for moments like that that I do this work.
When we got back to the Kitchen & Soul, the evening was just beginning. I hope you pull these pictures out in twenty years and instantly remember how hot it was on that day and how much you laughed. Thank you, Svenja and Julian, for a day as open-hearted as both of you. And thank you to your families and friends for celebrating it with you.
The people behind this day
Venue and catering: Kitchen & Soul
Funeral speech: Julian's best man
Hair and Make-up: ariane_hair.beautyartist
Flowers: blumen_nasowas
DJ: dj_zalmii
Wedding dress: Wedding House Boos
Suit: Suitsupply
