Photographing elopements may seem easy but they really aren’t, according to adventure elopement and intimate weddings photographer Stephanie Zakas.

“I think elopements, even within our industry, aren’t fully understood and couples might not have one because of it,” Zakas explains. “Elopements are sometimes seen as a less-than wedding when they are every ounce of just as meaningful and important as a huge wedding. I know I’m biased, but I almost feel like elopements are a bit more special, because every single part of the day is filled with intention and the couple creating an entire trip based on their love.”

Take, for example, her elopement shoot in Iceland of couple Alexandria and Luke. “These two are some of the sweetest humans I have ever met,” says Zakas. “They are high school sweethearts who endured a lot of moving from state to state together, and stayed with each other through it all.”

The couple had a legal ceremony in downtown Reykjavík in Iceland with an officiant to do the legal paperwork where they exchanged their rings and let the officiant lead the service.

“The officiant is actually a well-known actor in the community,” says Zakas. “We adventured through areas I specifically picked out just for them by getting to know them prior to the event, and Alexandria sneaking me photos of her dress so I knew ahead of time it was yellow, which allowed me to pick areas where she and Luke could shine.” (Even better, it turns out that the bride’s mom and grandmother-in-law made the dress.)

After that, Zakas and the couple made their way to the end of a secluded canyon right on the outskirts of Iceland’s Highlands where they could say their vows to each other. “They expressed to me in our getting-to-know-you stage that they really wanted something secluded, epic, breathtaking and unique as a location for their vows. Not all elopements have this two-part ceremony, but theirs did because that’s what they wanted, and that’s the beauty of elopements.”

Zakas says they recorded their vows and the entire day by keeping a microphone in the bride’s bouquet, and had handwritten vows in a leather journal. “We also had a picnic with Icelandic doughnuts (kleinur), cupcakes, and Champagne at the end. Oh, and they had a super epic rainbow that lasted for the two hours that we were up at the top of the waterfall, one of the tallest in all of Iceland, which is a sign of a good marriage if I’ve ever seen one.”

The next day—because, after all, who wants such an epic experience to
end—was a “day-after” adventure session in a bar in downtown Reykjavík called BrewDog Reykjavík. “They wanted to drink craft beer and eat hot wings because that was the other part of their personalities they wanted documented,” Zakas explains.

GEAR

Cameras: Canon 5D Mark III and IV 

Lenses: 17-40mm f/4, Sigma 30mm ART, 50mm, 85mm L f/1.2

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