In a devastating incident, a bride lost her life just weeks after celebrating her wedding. She had been participating in a popular trend involving wedding dresses.

Maria Pantazopoulos, who got married in June 2012, decided to take part in the ‘trash the dress’ trend the following month by doing a photoshoot.

This trend, which has gained attention for its unique and daring approach, involves brides intentionally ruining their wedding dresses to create dramatic and memorable photos.

Maria Pantazopoulos lost her life in 2012 Facebook

Although the trend is meant to be a fun and bold way to commemorate a marriage, it took a tragic turn for Maria.

She had chosen Dorwin Falls in Rawdon, Quebec, as the location for the photoshoot, and during the session, she stepped into the water to follow the concept of the shoot.

Unfortunately, the water caused Maria's wedding gown to become dangerously heavy, creating an unforeseen and critical situation.

CTV News reported that the combined weight of the waterlogged dress and the strong current pulled Maria, who was 30 years old, under the surface and into an eight-meter-deep part of the lake.

The photographer at the scene, Louis Pagakis, recounted the terrifying moment when everything changed. 

"She had her wedding dress on and she said, 'Take some pictures of me while I swim a little bit in the lake.'"

Tragically Maria got swept away by the current Getty Stock

Pagakis continued to share more about the incident, saying, "She went in, and her dress got heavy. I tried everything I could to save her. I jumped in, I was screaming and yelling. We tried our best."

Rescue teams arrived hours later and eventually recovered Maria's body from the water, bringing an end to the search.

Photographer Mario Michaud, who spoke with CTV Montreal, recalled a similar incident he experienced at Dorwin Falls just a few months prior to Maria's tragic accident. 

The person he had been photographing also faced challenges in the water, but fortunately, they were saved in time and survived.

Reflecting on these incidents, Michaud realized just how risky the location could be for photoshoots involving water.

Since Maria’s death, photographers have been more cautious and have started to warn brides about the potential dangers of shoots that take place in or near bodies of water.

Many brides take part in the trend after their wedding day Getty Stock

Photographer Rhiannon D'Averc highlighted some of these dangers in a 2022 blog post, discussing the main risks involved.

She pointed out potential issues such as being swept away by strong currents, the risk of damaging costly photography equipment, and even the danger of exposure to waterborne illnesses and wildlife.

"There are plenty of animals and fish living in free-flowing waterways and lakes, and they will not be pleased to see you," D'Averc wrote.

She further noted, "Catfish have sharp spines which can penetrate human flesh."

"While in most cases you'll just end up with a sore cut, getting one in the wrong place could be very dangerous."

"Stings can also be toxic, making them itchy and sore for days."