Iceland - the land of fire + ice.

Mary sent me the kindest email back in 2020 with her venue labeled “Iceland AF”. I remember reading, and re-reading, this email several times before responding. First and foremost, my love for Mary. A friend of mine from college. I have always had so much awe for Mary as a person and when I saw her name, that alone was just such an honor to be asked to document her + Tyler’s love.

I have a list of dreams. There are really big dreams on it, really specific ones, and really tiny ones. “Document a wedding in Iceland” was always at the very top. Of all of the destinations in the world, I feel a connect to Iceland unlike any other. The black sands, the blue hour, the feel, the silence, the vastness. I was left enamored + mesmerized.

Mary + Tyler have the softest spirits, with so much depth to their love. Their adventure spanned two days, surrounded by a few of their loved ones. We drove to the glaciers, walked along the coast at Diamond Beach, Mary + Tyler saw black sand for the very first time, we embraced the wildlife in the fields, spent some hours getting ready at an airbnb in Reyjkavik, felt small at Skogafoss, said their vows Kvernufoss, and ended the day as the blue hour chased us inside of the waterfalls.

Mary had a blue dress to symbolize ice, a red dress to symbolize lava, and her white dress for the ceremony. Tyler wore a blue velvet suit which contrasted Iceland’s tones + Mary’s details.

The first word to come to mind when I think of Mary + Tyler is “gentle”. Their soft hearts fit so perfectly in the quiet, stillness of Iceland. Iceland has a sense of mystery to it, it is so vast yet contained.

Love is a temporary madness, it erupts like volcanoes and then subsides. And when it subsides you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part.
Because this is what love is.
Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the promulgation of promises of eternal passion.That is just being in love, which any fool can do.
Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident.
Those that truly love have roots that grow towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossoms have fallen from their branches, they find that they are one tree and not two. – Louis de Bernieres

Since documenting this wedding, I have a new dream on my list of dreams - “photograph a wedding every year in Iceland”. A really bold dream. One that may not always be possible, but if your dreams aren’t scaring you - they aren’t big enough.

Thank you to Mary, Tyler + friends for trusting us with such a special milestone in your life. I am forever grateful.

During my entire time in Iceland, I kept playing RY X’s album called “Dawn”. I felt like his music captured the essence of what it felt to drive the Ring Road. His song “Salt” and “Shortline” were my most played. I hope listening to these songs while looking at the images can evoke the same emotions as they do for me each & every time I look at them.

Photography by: Autumn Thornsberry of athornsphoto

Second Photographer: Nick Najduk

Iceland Adventure Elopement | Iceland Wedding Photographer

Love is a temporary madness, it erupts like volcanoes and then subsides. And when it subsides you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part.

Because this is what love is.

Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the promulgation of promises of eternal passion.That is just being in love, which any fool can do.

Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident.

Those that truly love have roots that grow towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossoms have fallen from their branches, they find that they are one tree and not two. – Louis de Bernieres