If you’re in the photography industry, you may have wondered just what in the world was happening in ICELAND a few weeks ago! Well, this all started 5 years ago when I got the sweetest email from a young college student named Annamarie who had just gotten engaged! I photographed Ryan and Anna’s wedding and then Anna and I became even closer friends when she entered into the photography industry! This sweet family has captured my heart since I first read Anna’s story in her very first email to me. She shared not only about how she had dated Ryan since high school but she shared that something else happened in high school that changed her entire life.
Anna lost her dad to cancer while she was in high school and so at the time of her engagement, it had only be a few years since she had walked through that season. Because of this, there was something so real and genuine about Ryan and Anna’s day. They didn’t shy away from the fact that they wished her dad was there. There were tears but it was so beautiful to see a family celebrate a marriage and at the same time honor the beautiful memory of their day at the same time. I’ll never forget Ryan and Anna’s day. Ever. And now that they are some of our dear friends, I have an even softer place in my heart for their family.
So what does Iceland have in common with all of this? Well, when I found out that Annamarie’s younger sister was getting married and that my good friend Jill was shooting it and would be 7 months pregnant, we decided to help. I’m pregnant too but at the time that we made this decision, I wasn’t! So it was so much fun to shoot another wedding together with Jill while we both have baby bumps and snacks crammed into our camera bags! This won’t be our last wedding that we’re shooting together before baby Powers arrives! Us Prego photographers have to stick together and look out for each other! This is part of the reason this trip was so special for us. Not only did I get to shoot a wedding for a family that I already love, we got to experience one last epic trip with our best friends before we BOTH have kids! We’re already planning trips with the babies but we know that it will never be quite like it is now and so we’re thankful for this trip!
So who is this sweet couple that had such an epic destination wedding in Iceland?! Let me introduce you to Hayden and Geli! I remember meeting Geli on Annamarie’s wedding day and thinking that she was gorgeous. Everyone in this family is beautiful!! I didn’t get to meet Hayden until we all got together for lunch a few weeks before the wedding and I loved him immediately. He’s so easy going and he goes with the flow. He’s currently in youth ministry, and since Michael and I started our married life in youth ministry we can totally understand what their life is going to look like. You have to be an amazing person to dedicate your life, your time and your flexibility to serving teenagers. It’s easy to tell why these two are made for one another and why they have the perfect personalities for an epic destination wedding!
When you decide to have a destination wedding, you have to be ok with going with the flow. Things are going to change and little details can’t be finalized until last minute. Thankfully Geli has one incredible sister who helped her make her dream destination wedding come to life and it was perfect! The ceremony was just a tad windy, but I think that just adds to the epic-ness of the moment!! We spent hours driving to some gorgeous locations for their portraits and even though the sun decided not to hide behind the clouds like it normally does in Iceland, there was nothing that could minimize how amazing this day was!! Nothing. Never in my entire career have I photographed a bride and groom in front of epic waterfalls, on the edge of incredible cliffs overlooking crystal blue water and in front of icelandic mountains!!! And just in case the location of the wedding wasn’t special enough, Hayden and Geli’s family gathered together for dinner after the ceremony and it was one of the most intimate receptions I’ve ever witnessed. Toasts and tears were shared, Geli’s sweet dad was honored & remembered, and their closest friends and family had a chance to tell the newlyweds just how much they loved them. You’re going to love this sweet wedding!
Enjoy my favorites, but you HAVE to make sure that you see Jilly’s post! She shot some incredible film portraits that I just LOVE!!! Also, Jill gets all the credit for the beautiful BRIDAL DETAIL shots shown below!
Also! Here’s their amazing film that was shot by our HUSBANDS! Drone footage and amazing editing by Trevor of 740 Films!!! :
Geli and Hayden | Short Highlight from 740 films on Vimeo.
Primary Photographer & Florals | Jillian Michelle Photography
Ribbon | Silk and Willow
Design & Styling | Tart Event Co
Invitations | English Tea Paperie
Thanks for reading!
— Katelyn
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