Destination Wedding - Italy!

Italy, with its timeless beauty, rich culture, and romantic ambiance, has long been a dream destination of mine to photograph a wedding there since starting my wedding photography career in 2017. Taking photographs of romantic surroundings, beautiful architecture and having this warm light shine throughout each photograph is just a dream!

Over the years, I've been fortunate enough to work on elopements and weddings here on our small island with the best Icelandic wedding planners team at Pink Iceland.

Eva María, the founder of Pink Iceland has Italian heritage and strong connections to Italy, and she has helped Icelandic couples plan their dream weddings there. This June, I was honoured to be invited by Eva to join her team in Italy to photograph the wedding of Barbara & Arnar by the stunning Garda Lake. This incredible opportunity to capture a wedding in such a picturesque location was a dream come true and marked my first destination wedding!

Photographing at home vs. photographing abroad

Shooting at home versus in a new country brings up new challenges- as well opportunities- as one can imagine. From working in a hot climate instead with a wind that wants to blow you off to adjusting to a different light, the main three things for me were as follows:

In Iceland:

• The landscape is moody, dark, and raw, which creates a romantic yet dramatic backdrop for weddings.
• The natural light tends to be softer, which increases the quality of the photos.
• There's a certain rugged beauty and a sense of untouched wilderness that adds to the charm of Icelandic weddings.

In Italy:

• The scenery is so rich of greenery, warmth, and elegance, offering a different kind of romantic atmosphere.
• The light in Italy is often warmer and more direct, which helps to create lively photographs.
• The energy is rich of Italy's cultural heritage and a sense of timeless romance, providing a beautiful contrast to the raw nature of Iceland.

Even when photographing in Italy or Iceland is impossible to compare - and probably unnecessary as well, I found it interesting how doing the same thing in a different environment requires adjusting and learning on the spot.

navigating around the new environment

When shooting in a new location, I am always automatically drawn to the unique elements of the place and generally just adapting to the environment.

In Iceland, I’ve learned to be quick on my feet due to the often harsh weather conditions, but in Italy I was able to work perhaps a bit more relaxed, laid back environment, as I believe that regardless of the location, the key of good photographs is to keep the couple relaxed and natural, making sure they’re comfortable even when the weather is less than ideal as it is usually in Iceland.

So it was refreshing having the experience in Italy, which was a completely different experience. The challenge there was dealing with the intense sunlight and heat. Keeping the couple comfortable in the extreme heat, which made us often sought refuge in the shade provided by the beautiful old town architecture. That therefore introduced us to textures and details of the buildings, which became part of the story, adding a timeless elegance to the photos. You know - the ones that scream Italy on photographs.

The biggest challange

The heat. The harsh sun and high temperatures throughout the day.

Keeping hydrated was crucial. I sweat a lot even in Iceland because I guess I’m passionate about what I do. Or I just overheat quickly, but Italy took it to another level. To that extreme that I had a towel attached to my pocket to wipe the face constantly.

There was this funny moment when the bride looked at me and asked: "Do I look like you in every photo?"

I couldn't help but laugh and told her, "Girl, you need to stop looking at me. You look just gorgeous!"

Despite the challenges, moments like that made it all worthwhile. It’s all about rolling with the punches and finding humour in the situation while making sure everyone stays comfortable and happy.

The experience

I absolutely loved every minute of it! Working with the incredible team from Pink Iceland, and having an amazing couple who trusted us 110%, was just fantastic. The beauty of the Italian landscape was a dream to capture, with its lush greenery, the sparkling waters of Lake Garda, and the charming architecture of the small towns.

The day after I got back from Italy, I was photographing a wedding in Þingvellir. I felt so lucky to be doing my job in Iceland. It’s such a unique and precious place, incomparable to anywhere else on earth. The contrast between the dramatic landscapes of Iceland and the romantic scenery of Lake Garda was very eyeopening to experience back-to-back. It really made you understand how each location has its own magic, and I feel incredibly fortunate to capture love stories against such breathtaking backdrops. Either it's in Italy or in Iceland.