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Elopements

Intimate Snaefellsnes Peninsula Wedding in Budir, Iceland

black church intimate elopement adventure wedding icelandWhat happens when three exceptional vendors join forces for an epic giveaway? Pure magic.

Dawn Jarvis, Amy Atkinson-Barnes, and Brina Braun are the women behind Dawn Photo, Brier + Ivy, and Brina Photography respectively. They came together to offer a dream elopement in Iceland and truly delivered the adventure of a lifetime. Though they initially envisioned an outdoor vow exchange, the team was thrilled when lucky winners Katie and Connor found a way to hold a traditional Icelandic ceremony inside of Budir’s iconic black church. The couple fully embraced the opportunity for such a rare cultural experience and invited their nearest and dearest to witness their nuptials, transforming their elopement into an epic intimate wedding.

As Dawn describes, “This team went above and beyond to make this day so special for Katie and Connor, and it was beyond perfect.” She traveled to Iceland with Amy, who shipped florals all the way from Portland and even brought a festive confetti cake from New York City to complete the celebration. They landed the morning of the wedding, and Amy arranged the bride’s bouquet in the backseat of the car while Dawn prepared her cameras on their way to the church. “We were so blown away being able to witness a true Icelandic ceremony, it was incredible to hear and see,” the photographer shares. “We went into this not truly having any game plan or any real idea of what to expect, and honestly, it felt so amazing just to do whatever we wanted, explore wherever, and just have a relaxed day… [We drove] and stopped whenever we felt like it, explored around, got chased by horses, popped champagne by a waterfall, and ate cake on the side of the road… This was quite the adventure for all of us, and I wouldn’t change it for anything! ”

Photography by Dawn Photo

CHOOSING AN INTIMATE WEDDING:

“I never dreamed I’d get married in Iceland, but we were lucky enough to win a giveaway… We love to travel, and getting the opportunity to be married in our cute black church seemed like the perfect way to do it. We had our parents and siblings as the only attendees, and it was perfect.”

[Katie, The Bride]

PLANNING AN ADVENTURE WEDDING:

“Planning to me was like planning a vacation and a wedding in one trip. A lot of brides don’t legally get married at their weddings in other countries, but we wanted the ‘real deal’ so that definitely took more planning.”

[Katie]

THE ADVENTURE WEDDING EXPERIENCE:

“Being in the church and marrying my best friend was my favorite part. Driving around Iceland [afterward] has to be better than any traditional reception. It was so fun sharing such a special day with the people closest to us in a place we all got to experience for the first time together.”

[Katie]

ADVICE FROM THE BRIDE:

“My biggest advice would be to start planning early but [also] relax and enjoy the experience. The most important part is the marriage to your partner!”

[Katelyn]