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Snaefellnes Peninsula Iceland Elopement // Meagann & Neil

Meagann and Neil elope amongst basalt columns, waterfalls and lava fields in Iceland // Victoria Wedding Photographers

 

In our experience photographing three destination elopements in Iceland, on back to back days, we took away so many highlights to reminisce about.  We loved getting to know our couples' different personalities, how they met, and what their lives were like back home, away from this dreamland.  One thing we weren't (but should should have been) expecting was the way all three of our couples would plan and execute their elopement in their own special way.  It only magnified the romance factor of an already romantic way to marry, and we felt it gave us an even more intimate look into the couple's relationship dynamic.

If you read Jessika and Mack's elopement blog from the day before, you know that they had legally married in their home state of Colorado a few days before they left for Iceland.  They had exchanged their wedding rings, but saved their vows for their big day Iceland.  As well, Jessika's wedding dress made it all the way to Iceland without Mack seeing it, so they could get ready the traditional way; without the groom seeing the bride, even though they were going to be in the same apartment at the time!   

The following day we met with Meagann and Neil at their hotel to start the day at their Reykjavik hotel, where they'd get ready together to share the anticipation and excitement of the day.  We found it so romantic that Neil would be the person to help Meagann into her wedding gown (insert 100 heart-eyes emojis), before they looked each other up and down with huge smiles, and headed out the door.  Meagann and Neil also legally signed their marriage papers in their hometown in Ontario, where they had exchanged vows and wedding bands.  The unique twist that we love, is that while the two had their wedding bands, Meagann had not yet seen the beautiful custom sapphire engagement ring that Neil had made just for her.  What a treat for us to get to see her face as Neil opened the little wooden box for her during their ring exchange ceremony. And what better place than an isolated area of the Snaefellsnes Peninsula; at the foot of a waterfall, and overlooking an endless field of bright green, moss-blanketed lava, veined by a river speckled with swans.  The warm light shining through overhead clouds, and the misty wind that danced through Meagann's hair and gown only added more drama to an already dreamlike day.  After their ring exchange, we explored more of the Snaefellsnes peninsula area, that Meagann and Neil had fallen in love with their first few days in Iceland.  They showed us areas that we hadn't had the opportunity to explore on our first trip to the area, and it felt like casual day out adventuring with friends as Neil pointed out all the quaint homesteads he was for sure planning to retire to when it came time.  We took in the impressive basalt column cliffs, took a drive through the incredible Berserkjahraun (mad-man's lava field), and they finished the day with some beachside cuddles at Djupalonssandur (the black lava pearl beach).

Thank you Meagann and Neil for letting us be the ones to peer in and capture such an intimate and personal milestone in your life.  We had so much fun driving around an area of Iceland that meant so much to you, and hope these photos hold a life time of treasure for you! 

 

 

  

Revival House Wedding in Stratford Ontario - Amy and Paul

Amy and Paul get married on Amy's homestead property near Stratford, and host a glamorous reception at Revival House // BC Wedding Photographers in Ontario

A few weeks ago we got the opportunity to head back to Ontario to photograph Sayde's cousin, Amy, marry her fiance, Paul.  Photographing family and friends is always a special treat for us, and this one was extra special since we got to spend some quality time with Sayde's mom, Melanie, decorating the ceremony site where Amy and Paul would be married.  With an added touch of personal meaning, Amy and Paul married on the front yard of Amy's childhood home where her and her siblings were raised.  In addition to becoming a great venue location, we thought this was a wonderful sentiment for a wedding day.  This happened to be right next door (in country terms haha), to where Sayde and her own siblings were raised, so brought back lots of great memories!  

After weeks of rain leading up the wedding, the sun was shining brightly as we started Saturday with Amy, who was effortlessly and beautifully styling her hair and makeup for the day.  The three of us met with Paul in Stratford at the Shakespearean Gardens for them to have a private first look together.  

As friends gathered at the ceremony, it was clear that some were seeing each other again for the first time in a little while, and had come from all over to be at Amy and Paul's wedding: everyone was full of happy greetings, group hugs, and big laughs as many of them played catch up.  With their siblings as their wedding party, Amy and Paul exchanged vows in the glowing sun, in a ceremony lead by Pastor Will Kraemer, who has been Pastor since we were all wee kids, and has performed most, if not all, of the wedding ceremonies for this generation of our family.  Afterward, Amy and Paul made their way to Revival House with all their guests for drinks, dinner and dancing.  Revival House is unlike any wedding or reception venue we've ever photographed, and was decorated so glamorously Design's by Cate that we just could not stop clicking away that night. The energy was contagious as everyone hit the dancefloor to celebrate, mingle amongst the tables, and went ga-ga as Ken's French Fries truck, a Stratford Staple, pulled up later in the night to hand delivery some delicious, salty-vinegary goodness.

Thank you Amy and Paul for inviting us to be part of your big day, it means so much when friends and family want us to be the ones to capture it all.  You both looked absolutely stunning and your never-fading smiles made it clear how much you both burst with love for each other.  We hope you love the photos, and that you had the best day ever!

Matt and Sayde's Cheakamus Centre Wedding in Squamish - Our Own!

You’ve seen our proposal photos and read the story, so now it’s time to show you some photos from our September wedding!

What a funny feeling, being wedding photographers planning your own wedding.  We did everything with photographers' eyes, and when looking at venues and vendors, we saw everything as images.  As wedding photographers, we’ve noticed a huge change in the way weddings are done, generation to generation.  Weddings were once bound by tradition, and these days they are more an event of self-expression, and a way to commemorate and celebrate a couple’s personality, lifestyle, and history.  After photographing so many unique and interesting couples, we wanted our wedding to be a reflection of ourselves as well.  Our relationship was built on exploring BC together, hiking the landscapes, and photographing all over the province. It was important for our wedding to really show that part of us and our life together.  We wanted our wedding to have a very outdoorsy feel without being bo-ho in style.  We aimed for a refined PNW feel, blues to mirror the waters we love, greens for the forests, and metallics to bring in some modern glitz.

With their contemporary glass and wood building plunked in the middle of lush moss and fern carpeted rainforest, perched on the edge of the turquoise waters of the river of the same name, Cheakamus Centre in Squamish offered us that environment and feel.  My mom (and her wrangled gang of family members and friends) decorated the whole place to bring the outdoors indoors.  Ferns, peonies, roses, and metallic votives and charger plates, complemented with hand-calligraphy name cards made by Matt’s mom.  Many of the details of our wedding were pulled together by the help of our friends and family.

We headed to Squamish from Vancouver Island a few days before the wedding.  It had been sunny all week leading up to the wedding, and rained buckets the day before.   For those on the west coast, you know that’s the perfect combination for creating dramatic and beautiful days. The day of the wedding we woke up to skies that were clouded and sunny at the same time, and mist billowing up from the pine covered mountains. 

As Matt and his guys headed over to Cheakamus centre to get ready, me and the girls got dolled up by Faye Smith and her awesome team.  Having developed alopecia universalis during our wedding planning (a condition that affects the hair follicles, and causes hair to fall out), it felt so nice to have my wig styled, make up done, and eyelashes donned by Faye!  I felt like myself on my wedding day, and that was so important to me. 

From there, the day unfolded on its own and we had a blast with our friends and family. Many of them came from far and wide, and some even made holidays of it by travelling to Vancouver Island, visiting Tofino, Victoria and Sooke, while others adventured around Whistler, Vancouver and Pemberton.  Check out some of the photos below, which were taken by the incredible team Amy, Tony, and Lindsey at Hoffer Photography who came all the way from Philadelphia!

Some of our vendors:

Photography: Hoffer Photography

Venue: Cheakamus Centre
Hair and Makeup: Faye Smith
DJ: Painted Frog Entertainment
Matt's Suit: The Bay
Matt's Tie: Beaux Ties
Sayde's Dress: Lisa's Bridal
Sayde's Second Dress: Jenny Yoo
Gold Headband: Twigs and Honey
Decor:  Melanie B Floral Designs (thanks Mom!)
 

Thanks so much for stopping by our wedding blog.  If you'd like to know more about our life as wedding photographers in Victoria and Vancouver Island, or about our life in BC, read About Us!