Last year, Tommy and Rebecca returned to Iceland with the decision to elope. With several hiccups on the way, including cancelled flights and weather disruptions, they finally arrived to Iceland on the day of their wedding, only to realise that their suitcase containing their wedding clothes got lost.
This is a elopement where obstacles were just seen as something that makes a story!
love story. How did you two meet and what was the journey that led to the decision to get married?
Rebecca: We work in similar industries in Houston, Texas, but had never met until Tommy moved in next door to me in the Montrose neighborhood of Houston. During his first weekend in the neighborhood, Tommy introduced himself in the driveway, and I managed to get his number by insisting he joins the group text chain among the neighbors (used to coordinate garbage pickup and lawn maintenance). After a few weeks of exchanging notes and running into each other during Tommy’s frequent jogs, Tommy invited all of the neighbors over for a housewarming party (and finally ensured he had a chance to spend more time with me). All of the neighbors RSVP'd – except for me - and it took a last-minute outreach to convince me to stop by.
I ended up coming early and stayed long after the neighbors left. Our second date was the next evening when Tommy scrambled to find a good restaurant open on Monday – during COVID. The local restaurant he selected didn’t have the air conditioning to survive a hot Houston summer, and Tommy suffered through the dinner in his suit jacket.
I thought: “He was so cute and worried about the heat – but I could have cared less – I just wanted to know this man”. After that night, we were inseparable. Three months later, Tommy leaped to organize a trip to California for my 35th birthday – just the two of us.
Tommy: “It was a big leap of faith– a week in California together.” We traveled through Napa and Sonoma and realized how in sync they were for traveling. “We go at a thousand miles an hour and still wanted to wake up at 6 every morning for what was next.” At the end of that trip, we both knew that we had discovered something truly – a life partner.
In our first year together, we traveled more than 20 times, visiting New York, Savannah, Austin, Chicago, Minneapolis, Fort Lauderdale, Iceland, Rome, San Miguel, and many others. If we have a free weekend, the first thing we do is look at where to go have an adventure, and where to go for a run and take a picture in front of a fountain.
In February of 2022, we bought a home less than a mile from where we first met and got engaged the same day in our new home.
Engagement. What is the story behind your engagement?
Rebecca & Tommy: We purchased a home in February (after 7 months of dating). We decided to get engaged in our home immediately on the day of closing – in front of our fireplace with no furniture and in clothes appropriate for moving boxes. It was perfect for us.
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Elopement. What inspired the decision to elope in Iceland?
Tommy: Rebecca traveled to Iceland during COVID with her father in 2021. Pink Iceland arranged the entire trip and from start to finish it was perfect. Pink Iceland navigated a tough time in travel (the pandemic) but delivered a special and fulsome experience. The most memorable part wast hat Pink was able to arrange a helicopter ride to the edge of the active volcano – Rebecca’s father’s bucket list item. The entire experience was so special that Rebecca was (is) committed to returning to Iceland every summer. We travelled together last year (2022) and spent a week and wanted to come back the following summer to see even more of the country. We took engagement photos in Iceland during our 2022 trip and met Laimonas. Walking through the national park, exploring various scenery and taking photos (and laughing) together with Laimonas was one of the highlights of our trip. Three of the photos Laimonas took during our engagement trip are proudly hung in our living room today.
Rebecca: We were planning a wedding in Savannah, Georgia and it became more and more complicated with the size of the wedding. We realised one night that what we really wanted was a ceremony that was just about the two of us and where better than Iceland. And we happened to know a travel planner and a great photographer already…
Moments. Looking back on your elopement day, what stands out?
Rebecca: There are so many moments! Best moment for me was realising that we could truly accomplish anything no matter how impossible– without worry, argument or stress.
Tommy: For me the best moment was at the Hotel Buðir before the ceremony getting dressed and realizing we had actually made it. Our lives had brought us together as neighbors, taken us around the world, and we were where we were meant to be – together about to commit to a
lifetime together. That was really special. Oh yes – and the ceremony itself with Hildur Björk was everything we could have hoped for. She knew us and allowed us the space to be ourselves.
Unexpected. Were there any unexpected challenges or surprises during the planning or on the wedding day?
Rebecca: Well this is a story of four wedding dresses, three canceled flights, two great friends, one new suit and no suitcase. We were scheduled to land in Iceland on Saturday, giving us time to adjust before heading to Búðir on Sunday morning for a noon wedding. After our first, second and third flights cancelled –we didn’t land into Reykjavik until 10am Sunday morning (our wedding was at noon – two hours away). And as we sat in baggage claim waiting for our bags (with our tuxedo and wedding dress) – we learned that our bags were still in Chicago. So we called Laimonas and Valdimar (Pink Iceland Wedding planner) and they immediately started brainstorming how we could move it to Wednesday.
And I remember this moment, standing duty-free in our sweatpants, when Tommy said: "No – we are going to get married today!"
Tommy: So we told them – let’s make it happen. I don’t know all of the details of what was posted on social media – but I do know that at the hotel, when Rebecca was getting her hair and make-up done – Laimonas & Valdi walked in with multiple wedding dresses over their shoulders. And more continued to come. He took me down the street to buy a tweed suit that looked every bit or better than my tuxedo and I’ll cherish forever. And by the time I got back, Rebecca had found THE dress and a sweater to put over her shoulders. Something borrowed..
Then we got in the back of the car, opened some champagne and were driven to Búðir. What an amazing day with good friends, in a country that came together to help us commit our love to each other. And the rest is history – and a great story of how to have the best and most beautiful wedding in Iceland – without a suitcase!
Reflection. Thinking back on your elopement experience, would you change anything?
Rebecca: Elopement was perfect for us. It gave us a week together to celebrate our love for each other.
Tommy: And there was no better way to highlight just how good we are together at taking it as it comes and making it work and it does help that Rebecca is stunningly beautiful and brilliant!
Wedding planner: Valdimar (Pink Iceland)
Wedding Officiant: Hildur Björk
Hair & makeup: Margrét Ásrúns
Flowers: Þórdís
