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Love can’t be canceled—this rings especially true for Anastasija and Dmitri’s fairy tale Norway elopement. After COVID canceled their original wedding plans, this adventurous couple took to the road for an intimate elopement ceremony. From the waterfall backdrop to the unexpected group of wedding crashing sheep, this Norwegian celebration, at the Stalheim Hotel has fully transported us into a magical fairy tale.
Photographer Ingvild Kolnes blew us away with these special moments that are now captured memories—lasting long beyond their fairy tale wedding day.
More From Ingvlid Kolnes On Capturing Unforgettable Memories
What excites me is the gorgeous and sweet couple who invited me along for their wedding in these spectacular surroundings. They were able to have a destination elopement in the middle of the pandemic, after having to postpone earlier in the year. The day started at Stalheim hotel where Anastasija did her own hair and makeup—looking like a goddess. During the first look, her dress and veil got trampled by the most curious sheep ever. She couldn’t stop laughing.
I think the love they share is very obvious and the day felt like the definition of epic—especially when it started to rain during their vows. They told me that it only added to the experience. We ended the day at sunset at the most beautiful viewpoint overlooking Sognefjorden.
The Couple:
Anastasija and Dmitri
The Wedding:
Aurland, Norway
Sheep Crashing The First Look
Dmitri was waiting for me on a field behind our hotel. Being excessively sociable, the sheep got overwhelmed and rushed towards me. The sheep immediately start trampling on my dress, smearing things over it and trying to knock me off my feet. As my groom turned towards me, I distinctly heard the sheep chew on my veil. We both laughed so hard we could barely speak. Finally, both of us escaped the battlefield and had a nice team-building in the room, washing, and blow-drying my dress.
Tips For Planning During A Pandemic
If you are planning to get married during the pandemic—make sure to have plans B, C, and D and be flexible about the dates. Also, give the highest priority to the paperwork—be aware that the government services are understaffed and overwhelmed with less pleasant tasks, so the whole process might be delayed.
Congratulations to Anastasija and Dmitri on their fairytale Norway elopement and big thanks to photographer Ingvild Kolnes for capturing these images that are sure to inspire adventurous couples looking to plan a dreamy, outdoorsy elopement.
Weddings are getting smaller. Planning with purpose and intentionality has become a priority for many couples. If you’re feeling inspired to trade your large wedding for an intimate elopement-styled ceremony, you won’t want to miss this guide to trimming your guest list.
This Harry Potter wedding invitation design is from Greenvelope
I’m working on the wedding invitations for my 2022 wedding, and all informal wedding invitation wording examples I’m finding online feel like they’re from the before-times. I don’t need to talk about the pandemic specifically on my invitations, but it feels weird not to acknowledge that weddings are different now than they used to be. I’m having a casual microwedding in my backyard, and I know I’m not the only one who’s struggling with informal, casual, but also celebratory wedding invitation wording. Help??
Dear 2022 SoonlyWeds,
We hear you. You’re definitely not the only ones struggling with wedding invitation wording in this “new normal.”
From cancellations and postponements to masked gatherings and large-weddings-turned-elopements, COVID-19 has impacted weddings in a huge way in 2020 and beyond. And let’s not kid ourselves: even with sweeping vaccination efforts, it isn’t like everything has suddenly turned rosy and completely gone back to normal.
But one thing we recommend considering for your wedding invitation wording, and for any other couple wrestling with the same dilemma, is first asking yourself the following questions:
Has COVID-19 impacted the way we want to celebrate?
Or, will COVID-19 impact how we’re going to celebrate?
And if so, is it beneficial to communicate that impact to our guests?
This informal wedding invitation design is from Greenvelope
Put differently: the casual microwedding you’re having in your backyard—was that always the plan? Or is that in direct response to COVID-19 restrictions?
If it’s in direct response to restrictions, and you’ve been steered toward something away from Plan A—and guests who would’ve been invited cannot be any longer—then addressing COVID-19 on your wedding invitation is highly suggested.
But, if, say, the current plan is absolutely Plan A, and COVID-19 restrictions and recommendations aren’t impacting the way you’ll be celebrating, we recommend ditching the responsibility of addressing the pandemic on a general level. Wedding planning is stressful enough without putting that on your shoulders.
One way to address COVID-19’s impact while not taking up valuable invitation real estate is to include an insert or, if you’re sending digital invitations, include a brief write-up on the Details Page, or as a follow-up message. Giving it that space means that your wedding invitation can stay focused on you, your partner, and the details of your big day.
All of that said, if COVID-19 guidelines and restrictions do impact your wedding, or you’d just generally want to acknowledge COVID-19, we recommend keeping it short and sweet. Make sure crucial details like mask or vaccination requirements are said plainly and directly; you do not want any confusion.
But also, if you’re comfortable doing so, there may be some room to incorporate a little humor or whimsy as well. We’ve included some wording examples below, but as with most wedding-related recommendations, feel free to use this as inspiration and adjust to be true to you and your situation.
It’s happening FINALLY informal wedding invitation wording from Greenvelope
Informal wedding invitation wording example 1:
Third time’s a charm! Please join us for the wedding of Rochell + Derrick 4.25.22 at 5pm The Samuels Residence Celebration to follow
Third Time’s A Charm! informal wedding invitations from Greenvelope
Informal wedding invitation wording example 2:
Finally! Sarah Curry and Mark Patterson are getting married (for real this time) Saturday, May 10th, 2022 | 5pm The Davidson Household
Can we count you in?
Please note, vaccinations will be required for all attendees over the age of 16. Please let us know if this raises any issues or concerns for you.
Emma and Jackson are so in love Please join us for an intimate celebration in honor of their union 9.24.2022 at 5pm The Oluo Household Phoenix, Arizona
Backside, Insert, or Details Page: Although our original wedding plans may have changed, we are so excited to celebrate with our loved ones! Please fill out the included survey as you RSVP to let us know of any specific concerns you may have so we can keep that in mind as we plan our celebration. We are so thankful to have you all in our lives, and can’t wait to clink and cheers in the coming year!
One look at this Kalami beach wedding and you’ll want to fly to Greece for a destination wedding. Alexandros and Angela wanted a wedding where they could celebrate their love, and have it feel like a chic getaway for their guests. And to celebrate exchanging their vows, this couple flew in guests from 17 different countries—truly surrounded by loved ones!
With the help from wedding planner Golden Apple Weddings, their beach space was completely transformed into something out of a magazine. With gauze blue linen tablecloths mixed with the reed canopy bar, strung lights, and tropical plants, this beach wedding is truly Pinterest goals! If the grand chandelier in the Evangelismos Church wasn’t stunning enough, then the bold blue color palette, sunset reception, and marbled desserts definitely take the cake—yes, pun intended!
And if the decor wasn’t enough to have you pinning this destination wedding, then the wedding fashion will. Alexandros sported a bold blue suit and floral tie and Angela looked so beautiful in her chiffon and lace bridal gown. If you’re ready for an island getaway, then let these dazzling photos by Stelios Kalisperis take you there.
The Couple:
Angela and Alexandros
The Wedding:
Kalami Beach, Rhodes, Greece
A Global Guest List
We were proud to bring together so many different people from different cultures and countries. In total, we had guests fly in from 17 different countries! By the official wedding day, we were all one big happy family. The guests got to know each other over the course of the wedding weekend through different planned events. These events included: boat day, a day we all sailed the Aegean sea together, cocktail night, a night in old town Rhodes, and tour day—a day we chartered our guests through a guided tour of the island. We were very proud and relieved that the entire weekend went smoothly!
A Memorable Kalami Beach Wedding
For both of us, the most memorable part of the day was entering the reception. We had been dreaming of unwinding and dancing with our loved ones for over a year. The excitement we felt entering our wedding reception was palpable. It was everything we had expected and more!
Our main idea was to offer a traditional Greek gift—the evil eye! The Evil Eye is a symbol of luck. The eye deflects misfortune and bad luck, It helps to keep balance in your life and protects against bad karma. It’s something that many people associate with Greece. For our favor, we decided to choose a more modern design. We chose a beautiful handmade ceramic eye with special patterns around it. It was placed on the dinner tables and guests received their gifts on their seats. It now hangs in many of our friend’s homes around the world!
Try Not To Stress
Our second piece of advice is when you’re feeling bogged down in details and stressed, remember the real purpose of your wedding. It’s simply a large celebration with your closest friends and family to celebrate a union of love. Not everything will go perfectly, things will happen that are out of your control, and most of the time your guests will not notice. So try not to stress and take everything in stride.
A natural spring and waterfall, colorful jewel tones, and a sunrise ceremony—all the ingredients of this colorful Terme di Saturnia elopement. Not only are the Saturnia Waterfalls a breathtaking backdrop, but paired with the bright floral arrangements from Luca Cozza, it became an incredibly dreamy venue. The color didn’t stop at the florals and table decor. Emily looked absolutely stunning in her two looks—a white low-back lace dress and a jewel-tone rainbow chiffon gown. And Thomas wore a mauve three-piece suit and then switched to a white button-down and light blue trousers for their reception.
This Terme di Saturnia elopement is proof that you can play around with colors in everything—including in your wedding fashion. Color lovers, keep scrolling to see pictures captured by Marrymi, and see how you can tastefully add lots of color to your big day!
The Couple:
Emily and Thomas
The Wedding:
Saturnia Waterfall, Manciano, Italy
Sunrise Ceremony
The most memorable part of the day was the ceremony at sunrise. We arrived at the waterfall at 4 am and it was impossible to see anything. It was a bit cold out, but we had our feet in the warm water. There was such a surreal feeling holding each other’s hands waiting under the ceremony arch for the sun to rise. Then we finally started to see a beam of light passing through the trees and the light hit my stunning wife’s face and I felt so proud to be her husband. This memory will last forever.
Planning A Wedding In A Public Place
Saturnia Waterfalls are free so they’re always very busy—even at night! So if you are planning to get married there, pick a midweek day. There is no low season or closing day and you can’t book any reserved spot so keep your fingers crossed and hope to get lucky.
We can say without Danila, we would have never scouted that location or designed something so incredible. So planning-wise, I have to say the decision to hire Danila Stella Events was our most important decision.
Choosing A Terme Di Saturnia Elopement
Our wedding planner suggested the venue. Emily was sure she wanted a ceremony in nature. We originally had mountains or lakes in mind, and neither of us knew Saturnia existed. As soon we saw a few pics of it, we knew it was the right place.
Personalize
We wrote our vows and we kept them secret until the ceremony. One funny fact: we both forgot to bring the notes to the ceremony—waking up at 2 to get ready by 4 was a bit difficult—so we decided to not say the vows during the ceremony, but to say something different and we did our vows in the hotel room after!
Congratulations to Emily and Thomas on their totally dreamy Terme di Saturnia elopement. And thank you to Danila Stella Events for sharing this day with us. Not sure if eloping is for you? Check out these 4 reasons to elope and then head to our guide to planning an elopement.
String lights, tropical plants, and lavish greenery—this Holly Farm wedding truly was a hidden tropical oasis. When Ranu and Rob found this venue—nestled in the hills of California—they knew it was the one because of how unique it is. And to go with the theme of the venue, the floral arrangements from Big Sur Flowers gave the feeling of an island destination with pops of pink anthuriums and strung carnations.
The fashion in this wedding is as spectacular as the location. Ranu wore a stunning bridal gown with a floral chiffon overlay and a plunging neckline. And for total sunny California vibes, the bridesmaids rocked matching dandelion yellow gowns. Thankfully, Kadi Tobin captured every inch of this lush, detailed-filled nuptial so keep scrolling to see this tropical hideaway.
The Couple:
Ranu and Rob
The Wedding:
Holly Farm, Carmel Valley, CA
Shop similar low ankle strap block low heel:
Tender Moments
Our first look and private vows were the most intimate and special part of the day. Having time before the ceremony to just be with each other and say our vows was incredibly emotional but unforgettable. The photos captured from these moments were also some of the most tender and loving, and we both felt more prepared going into our ceremony and reception after having a little bit of alone time just for us.
Wedding Advice For Nearlyweds
It’s easy to get wrapped up in the details, but zooming out and seeing the bigger picture can help you make decisions on where to spend your money and effort. Also, save yourself a headache and work with vendors that are communicative and trusted. Finally, if you’re agonizing over a decision that won’t impact your wedding budget that greatly, go for the option you feel the strongest about. At the end of the day, you’ll save mental energy by having made the decision and know in the end it’s what you envisioned.
A Holly Farm Wedding
Our venue just felt so magical. The Holly Farm team really makes you feel like a part of the family, and their hospitality is so special and unique. It truly feels like such a unique space that is an oasis in Carmel Valley. We were just absolutely wowed by the mix of spaces, the on-site accommodations, and the beauty of the plants everywhere. We both knew immediately that it was the venue for us, especially knowing that they only host one wedding per weekend and guests tend to stay for several days.
Bringing A Slice of NYC to California
We DIY’ed our table names and cards. Having our wedding in California was exciting for us because we love destination weddings and traveling. But we also love our NYC neighborhood, the East Village, and we wanted to make sure that felt like a part of the weekend too. I bought a disposable black and white camera and walked around my neighborhood to take pictures of all of our favorite bars and restaurants. Then, I got the film developed and mounted the photos on table cards, which I then had a friend calligraphy on. I loved that we were able to bring a slice of NYC to California.
Congratulations to Ranu and Rob on their lavish Holly Farm Wedding. And thank you to Kadi Tobin for capturing and sharing this day with us. We know that finding the perfect venue can be difficult. So, we created this helpful guide to find it and a helpful guide to personalize it to fit your unique personalities.
