A popular wedding photo trend meant to create dramatic, once-in-a-lifetime pictures turned into an unimaginable nightmare when a bride was dragged underwater by the weight of her wedding dress.
Now, photographers are warning other brides about the potentially deadly risks of stepping into rivers, lakes and other bodies of water while wearing heavy gowns.
Maria Pantazopoulos, 30, died after taking part in a “trash the dress” photo shoot following her wedding.
The trend has become increasingly popular among newlyweds who want to wear their expensive gowns one more time — this time without worrying about keeping them spotless.
Some brides pose in mud, paint, sand or water to create dramatic photographs.
But for Pantazopoulos, the shoot ended in tragedy.
She traveled roughly 45 miles from her home in Montreal to a wooded area with photographer Louis Pagakis, where she planned to pose in her wedding dress near a river.
At one point, Pantazopoulos entered the water.
Within moments, her soaked wedding gown reportedly became so heavy that she could no longer stay above the surface.
The current began pulling her away as Pagakis desperately tried to save her.
According to the photographer, Pantazopoulos cried out: “I can’t anymore. It’s too heavy.”
Those would become her haunting final words.
Pagakis later described the terrifying scene, saying Pantazopoulos had asked him to photograph her while she moved through the water.
“She had her wedding dress on and she said, ‘Take some pictures of me while I swim a little bit in the lake,’” he told CTV Montreal.
But once the gown became soaked, the situation changed almost instantly.
“Her dress got heavy,” Pagakis recalled. “I tried everything I could to save her.”
The photographer said he jumped into the water and screamed for help as he desperately attempted to reach her.
“I was screaming and yelling,” he said. “We tried our best.”
Pantazopoulos drowned.
Her death has since become a chilling example of just how dangerous water-based wedding photo shoots can become.
Photographer Rhiannon D’Averc has also warned about the risks of posing in rivers and other moving water, particularly when a person is wearing clothing that becomes extremely heavy once soaked.
Someone caught in a strong current can quickly burn through their energy while trying to fight their way back to safety.
“As you are pulled along, you will get weaker through trying to fight the current,” D’Averc previously warned.
In some cases, victims can become so exhausted that they lose consciousness or drown.
The current itself is not the only danger.
People can also be slammed into rocks, tree branches, submerged roots or other hidden objects beneath the surface.
A blow to the head underwater could leave someone unconscious within seconds.
Wildlife can also pose a risk in some locations, while polluted or contaminated water can expose swimmers to potentially serious illnesses.
Even water that appears calm from the shore can hide currents that are far stronger than they look.
And a wedding dress can make those dangers dramatically worse.
Layers of fabric can absorb huge amounts of water, making the gown heavier and more difficult to move in while also restricting a bride’s legs.
What begins as a seemingly harmless photo opportunity can suddenly become a fight for survival.
Pantazopoulos’ heartbreaking death remains a warning for anyone considering taking part in the dramatic wedding trend.
The photographs may last forever — but experts say no picture is worth risking your life.
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