Úlfljótsskáli Luxury Lodge Wedding: Erin + Jake

Imagine yourself grabbing 40 of your nearest and dearest to embark on an adventure to Iceland, all to be witness to you getting married somewhere unforgettable!  That beats any traditional wedding day back home, that’s for sure!  Florida natives, Erin and Jake did just that this past September with us.  On their must list was mixing luxury, adventure, epic Iceland wedding photos and a super cool party atmosphere.  Luckily our team helped them find the perfect match by having a Luxury Lodge Wedding!

Erin + Jake

How fabulous is it when a couple meets while working in the same industry together?!  Immediately they already have something in common and a mutual understanding of how things work.  Erin and Jake’s lives aligned thanks to the vast world of Healthcare consulting!  As they started their dating escapades, they instantly bonded over a shared adoration of the outdoors and back country camping.

They found themselves traveling together discovering countless national parks in North America.  I mean how many couples can say they have kayaked alongside of killer whales in Canada?!  Both originally from different states (Jake’s from Missouri and Erin’s from Tennessee) they have made a splendid life together in Florida but still manage to find weekly adventures to embark on together.

These two… I cannot say enough amazing things about them!  Seriously, it all started from the first email we got from them which verbatim began with, “Hello!  I had an emotional reaction when I read your “about me” section!  You described exactly what we envisioned…”  They loved the idea of renting a large house and having a half day adventure with their guests.  Normally our Iceland Wedding Planner team focuses only on full day adventure weddings, but for the right couple we bend.  And bend we did because we had the perfect spots that would make Jake and Erin’s Iceland dream wedding come to life.  So come along with us to relive their Luxury Lodge Wedding!

The Adventure Begins!

Fulfilling Erin and Jake’s request of finding a combination of a homey yet luxury feeling accommodation, that could also serve as a Iceland wedding reception venue, we found that Úlfljótsskáli Luxury Lodge was the best fit for their group.  Seriously folks have you heard of this amazing place?  I would dare to say it is South Iceland’s luxury hidden gem!!  It sits off the beaten path for privacy and exclusivity but still minutes away from some of Iceland’s best natural wonders and restaurants.

Úlfljótsskáli Lodge:

The lodge is owned by a pair or brilliant entrepreneurial sisters who know how to style and understand what luxury means, by American standards.  Having a luxury lodge wedding, means you can house your small wedding group (up to 19 people) under one roof or host an Iceland wedding reception sit-down dinner for up to 40 people comfortably.  For instance, you’ll find 9 rooms; 9 bathrooms; a game room; sauna; wooden bathtubs, gym, fireplace, bar, commercial kitchen, large outdoor hot tub; and last but not least a fire pit!  Oh la la the lap of luxury while on a week vacation in Iceland!!

When Erin and Jake first reached out to our Iceland wedding planning and photography team, they were anticipating only 15 guests (perfect fit for the lodge).  But the outpouring of love and interest though from their friends and family morphed their guest list to a solid 40!  19 were able to stay at the lodge and others were able to stay at nearby hotels and Airbb’s.

Time to Get Ready!

Half day adventure weddings begin around 9am (versus our 5am usual start).  The luxury lodge wedding house was bustling around upon our teams arrival.  For example, the mum’s were in the kitchen cooking brunch for everyone, Erin and her ladies were full on sipping mimosas and Jake was in the game room writing his vows.

Our Iceland adventure wedding photographers Ann and Christy went right to work on capturing Erin’s fabulous Iceland wedding dress and Jake’s dapper groom details!  Totally impressed that their details were totally adventure wedding geared and prepared for rain (hello muck boots!) or shine!  High five Erin + Jake!!  Right before the group embarked on the adventure Erin + Jake shared a sweet little first look outside of the house.

Offbeat Waterfall Wedding Ceremony

Have you heard that it’s good luck if it rains on your wedding day?  They especially say this in Iceland.  Many weddings in Iceland end with that, “I just survived my wedding day” kind of feeling.  Because of the unruly and sometimes challenging weather conditions!  Erin, Jake, and their guests were prepared and had “go bags” in hand just in case!  Arriving to the Iceland ceremony location, it was raining but everyone embraced it as they enjoyed the waterfall views! 

It was important to Erin and Jake to have a ceremony location which we could ensure exclusivity during the ceremony and our team did just that!  This sweet offbeat waterfall area sits in a valley where countless waterfalls stream.  It was an easy 10-15 minute walk for guests to get down into and the guests were greeted with a seated Iceland wedding ceremony.  They held an inspiring wedding ceremony where they said their personal vows to each other as well.  Following the ceremony, they had a big group photo op, family photos, and then Erin and Jake parted from their guests for a hike!

Hiking to a Secret Waterfall

When you plan a wedding with guests it is nice to have a one of the locations during your adventure wedding day that is just experienced by the two of you.  Gives you some really intimate fun memories.  And don’t worry about your guests during this time either, they are having their own mini adventure within your big adventure you are gifting them!  Erin and Jake were crazy excited to slip into their muck boots and hike through rivers with our Iceland wedding photographers, Ann and Christy!

Mountain Waterfall Wedding Photos

Everyone swoons over tall waterfalls found in the mountains.  It’s something about the colors, textures, and the height I think.  The last stop on Erin and Jake’s half day adventurous luxury lodge wedding day was a highland waterfall.  What was super crazy about this stop is when our first Iceland wedding photographer arrived to setup the drone, it was filled with thick fog.  Fast forward 20 minutes later when the group arrived the skies opened and the fog cleared just in time!

 In our opinion champagne goes quite well with waterfalls, so a toast was in order before exploring the falls and the valley views!  What is compelling about this Iceland adventure wedding location is that you get the best of all of the worlds… Gorgeous tall waterfalls, endless mountain views, and if you wanted to a challenging fun hike down into the valley!  For time sake, we didn’t go on the full hike, but Erin and Jake had epic Iceland wedding photos to remember their adventure there!

Luxury Lodge Wedding Reception

Returning to the lodge shortly after 6:30pm, the group arrived to rest and refresh for an hour.  All while the living room, dinning room, and bar area had been transformed into a formal luxury lodge wedding reception space!  Note: If having a larger group you will need to hire in additional tables, dishes, glasses, and flatware. 

One of the great things about the lodge is that although you pay a premium price tag to stay to indulge in the experience, but you’re able to have your group cook yourself or a chef can come in to cook for you as well depending on your budget.  Another one of the major pros to having a luxury lodge wedding reception, is being able to supply your own bar (hello Duty Free upon arrival and Vinbudin!)!

7:30pm came and the guests gathered around the elegant long table for a grilled buffet dinner provided by the Borealis Catering team.  Around 9:30pm the room transitioned to a DJ dance party to finish the night!  I imagine the after party continued outside on the deck, in the hot tub, and around the fire pit hoping for northern lights!

Did you love everything about Erin and Jake’s 1/2 day adventure wedding in Iceland?  And does having a luxury lodge wedding get you excited about planning?  Feel free to contact us for more information on getting your adventure started!

© 2019, Photos by Miss Ann / Iceland Wedding Planner, All Rights Reserved.

One thought on “Úlfljótsskáli Luxury Lodge Wedding: Erin + Jake

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *