A growing trend that sees young women photographed while splashing in the water or getting dirty in their wedding gowns made international headlines when a Quebec bride drowned last week.

Maria Pantazopoulos was taking part in a “trash the dress” photo shoot on Friday and was wading into the Ouareau River near Rawdon, Que. when she fell and became weighed down by her sodden gown.
Her friend Leeza Pousoulidis told Postmedia News that the 30-year-old real estate agent, who was married in June, just wanted to have fun: “I want to have great pictures and memories of me in my wedding dress,” Pantazopoulos told her friend.

News of Pantazopoulos’ death has rocked the wedding photography community, with many saying this was a tragic, freak accident.
The “trash the dress” or “rock the frock” phenomenon is still relatively rare in Canada.
It started about seven years ago at Caribbean destination weddings, with brides wanting photos of themselves walking into the water in their nuptial finery or getting sandy and dishevelled walking on the beach or a pier. Read More