Chelsi & Josh

Some stories come full circle in the most magical ways. When Chelsi and Josh reached out about renewing their vows in the South Iceland, I knew this was going to be one for the books.

I’ve known these two beautiful humans since 2019, when I photographed their trash the dress shoot at Forest Hall in South Africa. Fast forward a few years, they’d since moved to the UK and I was heading to Iceland. When they heard, the timing was perfect: Josh had always dreamed of visiting Iceland, and what better way to celebrate their love than ticking it off the bucket list with a vow renewal adventure?

Airport Pickup & Straight to Sunset

We picked them up straight from the airport and hit the ground running (or should I say driving!). First stop: the stunning Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon. With the sun dipping low, we captured some absolutely dreamy sunset shots here. Chelsi and Josh embracing, surrounded by Iceland’s wild beauty.

Midnight Sun at Seljalandsfoss & Skógafoss Magic

Next up: a race to Seljalandsfoss, where we caught the ethereal midnight sun lighting up the waterfall. There’s something about shooting at that hour in Iceland, soft golden light, barely another soul around, and pure magic. We followed this with a spontaneous hop over to Skógafoss, where we captured more waterfall magic.

A Night Sleeping in the Car at Reynisfjara

Rather than heading back to our accommodation, we decided to lean all the way into the adventure, sleeping in the car at Reynisfjara Black Beach to catch sunrise. While we were met with mist and clouds instead of that perfect sunrise glow, the memories made that night were priceless, misty, moody, and full of laughter.

Golden Circle & Highland Wonders

After a quick nap back at the accommodation (much needed!), we hit the road again for a whirlwind loop through parts of the Golden Circle and beyond. We explored:

• Geysir: the famous geothermal area bursting with natural power

• Gullfoss Waterfall lookout: always a favourite, especially for first-timers like Josh

• Brúarfoss: with its piercing blue waters

• Háifoss: one of Iceland’s tallest waterfalls, wild and majestic

• Rauðaskál crater: a lesser-known gem with rich red hues

A Day of Pure Joy

All of this? Packed into less than 36 hours! It was a car full of snacks, coffee, naps, music and bangers, and non-stop laughter. Capturing Chelsi and Josh’s vow renewal in such an epic, unscripted way was an absolute honour and a true reminder of what makes Iceland vow renewals so special.

You don’t need a big audience or a perfect plan. You just need love, adventure, and a willingness to chase the moments as they come.