A bride fell to her death last August of 2012 in the Ouareau River, about 75 kilometres north of Montreal. She was standing in about 15 to 30 centimetres of water while a photographer was taking her picture. A witness said her dress got heavy from soaking up water and the woman asked for help getting out of the river. The photographer and his assistant were unable to lift her out. That's when the woman was swept away by harsh currents and taken under water. Quebec provincial police found her nearly four hours after the incident. The woman, who was named Maria Pantazopoulos and had been married for a few months but wanted more photos of herself in her wedding dress at the river.
The 30-year-old newlywed may have been doing a "trash the dress" photo shoot, a trend in photography that puts well-dressed people in environments where they seem slightly out of place. This trend is often seen in destination weddings when brides challenge beach waves while wearing a wedding dress.