As a same-sex couple living in a country where they cannot legally tie the knot, Joyce and Kay saw Iceland as not only an otherworldly, awe-striking destination but a place where their love could be honored in marriage. 

“Iceland has always been our dream destination as we both adore nature so it is perfect for our wedding (and honeymoon, of course),” Joyce says. 

Years back, Kay and Joyce set their eyes on a magical venue known as a point of pride for Iceland: The Black Church of Budir. There was no question about it, the couple found the place they hoped to one day say “I do.” 

“The size is perfect as we always wanted an intimate wedding,” Kay says, “and the interior is so stunning that no decoration is needed at all.”

Residing about a 19-hour plane ride from Iceland, the couple understood the level of commitment from guests would naturally shrink the size of their party. Ultimately, 15 of the couple’s closest loved ones shared the moment with them, making the management of logistics and group travel that much easier. 

Knowing that the price of having to import so many goods meant weddings in Iceland could add up, the couple set a realistic budget based on research. “We added a bit of buffer of course, as there is always something that comes up and you want to give yourself some room to work with,” Kay says. To further organize and dial in the happenings over the multi-day celebration, Joyce and Kay hired a wedding planner/coordinator. 

“Tony and Jane Iskra are experts with destination weddings in Iceland and their experience dealing with Icelandic weather proved to be so valuable during our wedding day,” Joyce says. “They managed to take us to the best locations to take photos even under the crazy Icelandic wind safely, and their professionalism and composure have helped calm our nerves.”

The couple’s goal in hiring all local vendors was to seamlessly incorporate elements of the destination into their wedding. Luckily, the wedding industry in Iceland is close-knit so the vendors often know each other. In the case of Kay and Joyce’s florist and cake vendor, they were happy to connect and communicate among themselves, making the coordination a breeze. 

“Our florist even helped pick up the cake on her way delivering the flowers to us!” Kay says.

The wedding day itself brought fierce Icelandic winds, leaving the couple relieved to have chosen an indoor venue. The group coach bus they’d rented to get everyone to The Black Church couldn’t even make it in the tumultuous conditions. “But somehow our closest friends and our wedding coordinator managed to get everyone (including us) safely to the church,” Joyce says.

Joyce and Kay wrote joint vows, and instead of saying “I Do” separately, they said “We Do” together to represent stepping into marriage as a team. The priest ended the ceremony with the singing of a beautiful Icelandic hymn. 

While the sightseeing tour the couple planned for their group before the reception had to be canceled due to the inclement weather, the team at Hotel Budir did a stellar job ensuring everyone still had a wonderful time. 

Looking back, Joyce and Kay tell us the key lessons they learned in planning a destination wedding… “The wedding day will go by in a blink. Remember to pause and take the time to truly experience every moment. A wedding doesn’t have to be ‘perfect’ to be memorable, so do not worry about the small details.”

Vendors: Photographers: ISKRA Photography; Wedding Planner: NextChapter LGBT; Ceremony Venue: The Black Church of Budir; Reception Venue: Hotel Budir; Florist: Þórdís Zophia; Cake: Baunin; Hair & Makeup: Janice Fan; Gown Designer: Jenny Yoo; Suit Designer: Decon Tailor