Norway Elopement Photographer | Jaakko Perälä

Around this time last year, my then fiancé and I sat down for a Zoom call with Jaakko. That face-to-face over the internet left both of us so excited for our wedding day but even then, feeling like we’d found the best photographer in the entire world for our vision we could not have imagined how incredible the few days we spent with him would be.

One of the biggest challenges about a wedding on the other side of the world in a place you’ve never been is that you have no clue in terms of location. This is something that I am so grateful to Jaakko for. He took the time to understand what we both wanted in terms of a secluded outdoor space that showed off everything that is Lofoten. Because of this effort, we trusted him, completely and he spent the next few days exploring the area and finding some amazing options. In the end, we went with his favorite location, and it surpassed all expectations. It was everything. Stunning, moody, quiet, mother nature in all her power and glory.

There is something special about the emotional response a photograph can give you. It can take you back to a moment immediately and flood you with every feeling you have. That is something I was aware of and hoping to get from our wedding photos. I wanted to remember the specific moments of the day and not get lost in the hustle and bustle. Jaakko does such an incredible job of creating a calm, controlled, safe atmosphere to be vulnerable in, a place that elicits authenticity. For both Danielle and I, the ability to capture the intimate casual, and natural moments was something that we wanted from our photographer. Some of my favorite photos are the ones Jaakko captured of our friends and family just being present and in the moment on our wedding day. They are sacred vessels for tender memories and emotions with our dearest loved ones.

If you have ever thought about an intimate wedding or an elopement, we could not emphatically recommend Jaakko enough. He does such a good job of making the time spent about you and he wants to get to know you sincerely as human beings. I believe that the level of connection and trust he is willing to put his time and energy into shows in his work. We came away from Lofoten with a true friend, someone we and our friends connected with, and feel so grateful for that.

Working with Jaakko for our Norway elopement was one of the best decisions we could have made. The quality of his work speaks for itself - his talent is remarkable. What you don't get to see in the photos is the amount of work he puts in behind the scenes to make sure you have the best experience. Planning an elopement in another country was very intimidating for us, having no idea what the location is like or what you need to plan for. Jaakko guided us through it all, helped us find suitable Air BnBs, scouted ceremony locations, and gave us tips on how to prepare for the day, some things we would never have considered on our own.

For two people who were not so sure about being in front of a camera, Jaakko made us feel comfortable and and ease the entire day. We never felt rushed or set to a specific timeline, and when things (the weather) didn't work out exactly as planned, he was always quick with solutions, which in the end turned out more beautiful than we could have imagined.

For those on the fence, I promise if there's one person who is going to take your elopement as serious as you and your partner, who would be just as invested in you having the most beautiful and memorable day, it's Jaakko.

Elopement was never on our minds until we realized that we wanted our wedding to truly celebrate us and our journey. We reached out to Jaakko when we began planning our elopement in Switzerland.

Other than the country, we were clueless about everything else. Switzerland has so many stunning locations, we didn’t know where to start or how to plan. What we love about Jaakko is that he’s passionate about finding the most breathtaking spots off the beaten path, far from touristy crowds. He was so thoughtful, providing us with plenty of guidance—suggesting locations, accommodations, vendors, and even itineraries for different styles of elopements.

When you finally meet Jaakko in person, I can promise you all your worries and anxieties about your big day will melt away. It felt like we were reconnecting with an old friend. The day before our elopement, Jaakko kindly picked us up at the station and drove us to our Airbnb. Once settled, we went over the game plan. He gave us a heads up that our original intended hike might be too difficult, but already had a backup location he was scouting that day in case we needed to switch plans. I can’t explain how grateful I was for those backup options—because after our test hike, I knew for sure the original plan wasn’t right for me. The new spot, which was about an hour away, ended up being even more spectacular than the first.

As two oddballs in front of the camera, Jaakko made us feel completely at ease. We were able to just focus on being in the moment together and on what the day truly meant to us. Often, it’s easy to forget to be fully present and to reflect on how we feel about our partner. Our elopement day gave us the gift of being immersed in each other’s presence.

Something that might surprise you about Jaakko is how wonderfully goofy he can be—he’s full of stories from his travels and adventures. You’ll find yourself not just with an amazing photographer, but with a lifelong friend. If there’s one regret I have, it’s not booking a longer package. I feel so honoured to have met a hiking, scouting wizard and a creative genius with such a beautiful soul.

Don’t hesitate for a second about reaching out to Jaakko if you’re planning your elopement in Switzerland. You’ll be in the best hands, and you’ll be amazed at how smooth the planning process will be.

We are both visual and wanted to memorialize our wedding day with beautiful, atmospheric pictures. Since we eloped, we were able to focus on the most important things for us, such as pleasing rings and high-quality photographs.

Jaakko was chosen as the photographer for our important day based on his excellent photo portfolio and the warm tone conveyed by his website. The choice turned out to be perfect, as in the first video meeting with Jaakko, it was evident that we were dealing with something much more significant than just posing in our formal attire in front of the camera at a scheduled time.

Jaakko helped us plan the wedding day, choose activities and the setting, and make practical arrangements. Solid experience and passion for photography shone through in everything he did, and he sincerely desired to help the couple create their dream day. On the wedding day, Jaakko read situations beautifully — he was "invisible" in the right places and supportive and relaxed the atmosphere at the right moments. Jaakko captured all our most important moments with extremely high quality and beauty.

We're so happy to have these beautiful memories of our elopement day. Thank you to Jaakko for making this unforgettable experience possible! We were left feeling that we had a small, good group of people celebrating our love in a way that was true to us.