37 FramesThere are love stories. And then there are soundtracks.
This one? A mix of distortion and devotion, power chords and poetry, cherry blossoms and chaos.
When we first met these two, it was clear they weren’t your usual couple.
He’s the lead singer of Pumpkin Bomb (if you haven’t heard them yet, go listen … think melancholy meets mayhem, the kind of sound that belongs on a long desert drive or a Tokyo night train).
She’s a vision of edge and elegance. A modern dark romantic aesthetic that’s made its way back from the underground into style’s spotlight. A cinematic mix of lace, ink, and rebellion.
Together, they’re pure energy. Unapologetic, artful, real.
This past weekend, we produced their wedding. And it was everything.
Retro rock playlist. Moody light. INXS to Pearl Jam. A bride who walked to Nick Cave’s “Into My Arms.” (Fun side note: “The Ship Song” – another Nick Cave classic – was my brother’s first dance at his wedding ten years ago. Timeless.)
And when the night ended to Dancing With Myself, it was exactly as it should’ve been … wild, joyful, and entirely their own.
But before all that? There was this.
A Spring Morning at Mt Fuji
Their pre-wedding shoot took us to one of our favourite places in the world. The Fuji Five Lakes.
Cherry blossom season. Crisp, cold air. And, somehow, the clearest skies we’ve ever seen in spring.
Fuji in full view, no veil of clouds, no hiding behind weather. Just that perfect snow-capped presence watching over everything.
(For any future couples reading this… this is RARE! Don’t go dreaming of days like this at Mt Fuji. Luck was on their side. For sure.)
The morning was quiet.
No crowds yet. Just the bitter wind and a kind of raw, magnetic chemistry that can’t be staged.
We wandered along the lakeshore, chasing reflections and fragments of conversation about travel, music, and Iggy and Pop, their two fur babies waiting for them back home.
There’s something about couples like this.
You can tell when people have lived. When they’ve loved the long way … with all the detours, the tours, the gigs, the jet lag, the late-night talks that turn into new beginnings.
They brought that feeling into every frame.
Editorial, cinematic, and real … all the reasons we love photographing Mt Fuji elopements and destination pre-wedding shoots.
The Soundtrack of a Day
Every shoot has a rhythm. This one was grunge guitars and soft petals. Wind sweeping through blossoms like a crash cymbal. Fuji’s reflection rippling in and out of time.
They made the whole place feel like an album cover.
By the time the sun came up fully, strong and bright … the sky felt endless.
Japan’s cherry blossom season has that way about it. Everything fleeting, everything vivid, everything a reminder that beauty doesn’t have to last forever to mean something.
From Mt Fuji to Tokyo Nights
We wrapped the morning at the lakes and headed to Tokyo. The contrast couldn’t have been sharper.
From the silence of nature to the pulse of Golden Gai and Death Match in Hell … narrow alleys, neon signs, cigarette smoke curling through the air.
A little chaos, a little calm.
A love story told in electric light and quiet glances.
Their connection? Effortless.
Their energy? Limitless.
Their playlist? Perfect.
Why We’ll Never Get Tired of Mt Fuji
We’ve photographed so many elopements and weddings around Mt Fuji, but somehow every single one feels new.
Maybe it’s because Fuji herself changes every hour. Soft pastels at dawn, fiery gold at sunset, mysterious and hidden one day, crystalline and infinite the next.
For couples planning a Mt Fuji pre-wedding shoot or destination wedding, here’s what we always say:
Be ready for anything.
Fuji only shows herself around 70 days a year. But even when she’s hidden, her presence is there.
The wind. The reflections. The sense of calm that fills the air.
That’s the magic.
That’s the story.
And on this day, she showed up in all her glory. A perfect match for two people who live loud and love louder.
Final Reflection
Some couples pick soundtracks that fade.
These two? They are the soundtrack.
Rock and roll hearts with the tenderness of poets.
A celebration of everything unpolished, honest, and true.
From Mt Fuji to Tokyo, from cherry blossoms to neon lights, this story had it all. A little edge, a little chaos, and a whole lot of love.
We can’t wait to share their full wedding story soon.
Until then … crank up the music, pour a drink, and remember: love, like great rock, is best when it’s a little bit loud.
📋 Planning | 📸 Photography | 🎥 Film by @37frames
💍 Location: Fuji Five Lakes & Tokyo
Mt Fuji Wedding, Japan Pre-Wedding Shoot, Cherry Blossom Photography, Destination Weddings Japan, Fuji Elopement
37 Frames
