Best Photographer in Iceland – Iceland Wedding Planner

Iceland Wedding Photography | Kristi + Luke

Iceland Wedding Planner — Tue, 17 Jan 2017 08:00:49 +0000

“Climb mountains and get their good tidings. Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop away from you like the leaves of Autumn.”

-John Muir

Photographing Fall weddings in Iceland are hands down my favorite. September often ushers in brisker temperatures and Northern Lights. While the land stays green until mid October as the bushes and ground cover transition to shades of red, orange, and yellow. As if it was possible, the landscapes somehow become more alive. Fall is an incredible time to hold your Iceland wedding day or have Iceland wedding photos taken!

Kristi and Luke reached out to us over 19 months before their desired Iceland wedding date seeking a unique destination wedding experience for them and their 40+ Iceland wedding guests. Their fab wedding was also featured on one of my favorite blogs: Jet Fete, go them out for some more photos! In the meantime I hope you’re excited to tag along with us today and experience their Iceland wedding day!

With a smile, Ann Peters + Team (Iceland Wedding Planner and Photographer)

After careful consideration, Kristi and Luke decided on the ION Adventure Hotel as their Iceland wedding host hotel.

How pretty are their Iceland wedding timeline cards?

…and THESE Iceland wedding welcome bags?!

When Kristi and Luke originally reached out to us, they felt a connection to having their Iceland wedding ceremony at Seljalandsfoss Waterfall. A Note to You, the Reader: Since I began my business here in 2012, the amount of tourism has exponentially increased (more than doubled every year) and Seljalandsfoss no longer exudes privacy or intimacy for a wedding ceremony. That said, after reviewing some other secret waterfalls we presented, Kristi + Luke fell in love with this intricate gem to start their Iceland wedding day!

Ugh! These TWO! And their little looks at each other throughout their Iceland wedding day kept me swooning!

Still wanting their guests to experience the incredible beauty of Seljalandsfoss Waterfall, we had a quick stop for a glass of champagne to toast the newlyweds on their Iceland wedding day!

Iceland Wedding Planner does not typically go to the iconic natural wonder landmarks (we rather keep to our secret/private locations), but at a client’s request we happily include. Because where else in the world do you have the chance to experience dynamic beaches like this?! Reynisfjara, you never disappoint!

These textures and these tones… Incredible for Iceland wedding photos!

Kristi, Luke, and their wedding guests were game for a fun little hike into a secret little canyon waterfall! …they encountered some of the locals on the trail

Taking your guests from being part of just your “wedding day” to crafting a unique adventure, that they will always remember as an EXPERIENCE is a very powerful dynamic of having a wedding in Iceland!

Pssssst!! Did you know there are countless waterfalls you can walk behind in Iceland?

Sod covered houses and kisses… Their first date as newlyweds! Love it!

Lava Fields + Love…. Swoon!

Connecting the outside to the inside of your Iceland wedding reception really adds to the experience.

When we started talking Iceland wedding reception decor design, Kristi wanted to have a warm inviting element added. Our creation was this bubble wall that sat directly behind the bride and groom! How fun!

Oh la la and when the bubbles were lit they were GORGEOUS!

Mmmmm…. Iceland wedding FOOD! Yum yum yum!

Kristi and Luke were looking for a unique alternative to having a traditional “guestbook” signing to display at their Iceland wedding reception. This was SUCH a fun option! They took one of our images we’ve shot, enlarged it and had their guests inscribe a memory!

The post Iceland Wedding Photography | Kristi + Luke appeared first on Iceland Wedding Planner.

Iceland Weddings: Detail Planning

Iceland Wedding Planner — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 17:17:16 +0000

Good Morning or Afternoon Sunshine!

Life for us here at Photos by Miss Ann is somehow stuck on the fast forward button so please forgive us on the delayed posts! The baby-boom of 2013 has come! So many little ones have come through the studio in a past few weeks, lots of baby snuggles! Chris and I have also begun looking our “final home.” We currently live in Plymouth, Michigan and have a 1920’s home just outside of the downtown. Gorgeous, but we need more room! So we’re on the hunt for the home where we will have acres of land to photograph our clients, woods, pathways, a separate studio on the property, and the perfect home where we will one day raise a family and retire in. Big decisions and big excitement is surrounding us and we are blessed to be savoring every minute of it! If you are apart of the Photos by Miss Ann Family- be excited! Big exciting things are happening for the rest of 2013 and 2014! Woohoo! Feel that energy?! Now lets channel it back to Iceland wedding planning!

Today’s topic: Iceland Wedding DETAILS!

Last week Photos by Miss Ann mailed out a super awesome welcome package to a newly booked Iceland destination wedding couple. The intent of the package serves several purposes. First it is a “thank you for booking us and we are really excited to be working with you!” gift. Second, it gives the bride and groom some instant details! Third, it provides wedding inspiration tailored to the type of wedding the bride and groom are envisioning. For this specific Iceland Bride and Groom, we included the following items: Burlap “bride” bag, “I do” blue bridal shoe stickers, “She’s Mine” groom shoe stickers, a Diamond Ring Key Chain (design inspiration to be used as a napkin holder), “Love” Cookie Cutters (wedding favor inspiration), Heart Wine Cork (favor inspiration), Heart Purse Hook (design and favor inspiration), Mini Sewing Kit (always prepared!), Mr. & Mrs. Luggage Tags, and a few other PBMA items like a thank you card, Photos by Miss Ann pen, and business cards. This sort of package instantly provides whirling ideas and starts the destination wedding planning momentum!

Details in Destination wedding planning may seem small and monotonous but they are the amazing little touches your guests will see and appreciate. Most times, those details are the ones that set your wedding apart from other weddings. So you ask…. How does the detail planning start?

Color schemes! Play with them =)
Pick your Iceland ceremony location and Iceland reception place (An Iceland waterfall wedding? A church in Budir? Hotel Ranga? Vik Black Sand Beach? Glacial Lagoon,? Or have a wedding under the Northern Lights?)
Picking your one of a kind Iceland wedding dress! Vintage? Modern? Romantic? A traditional veil? Bird cage veil? A romantic hood?
Creating Save the Dates and Wedding Invitations that compliment your destination wedding location and colors.
Choosing what your future husband will be wearing! It’s okay to be more on the simplistic side when getting married outdoors in Iceland.
Figuring out what your maid of honor and best man will be wearing.
Now it’s time for the fun decisions!!! The food! 5-course sit down or buffet? Photographers will usually (if they are pro level like us) take photos of this because 20 years from now you will not remember how awesomely delicious it looked! Your Wedding Cake: Have sample photos of cakes you like to communicate your vision. Ensure your baker or wedding planner knows what style you are after. Then comes flavors!! Yum! We were non-traditional and decided no formal wedding cake but rather each guest received their own chocolate lava cake with 2 scoops of vanilla ice cream! Maybe be unique and have Icelandic Skyr cake for your wedding dessert?
Other food decisions would be whether or not to have a cocktail hour, snacks for your guests, a champagne toast, a themed cocktail at the bar (Like: “Cranberry Kiss,” “Godiva Chocolate Martini,” Wedding Oasis,” etc.!) So fun for guests and personally, I love to photograph these type details!
Party Favors at each place setting and/or a welcome bag. These can be fun-themed by the country you are holding the wedding in, special to you and your soon to be, and/or useful items the guests can use later and think of you both!
Flowers: Flower colors are very important to the details. From your bouquets, boutineers, corsages, petals for the isle way, guest petals to throw or bubbles, to the centerpieces at the Iceland wedding reception tables.
Memorial Flowers to remember those who have passed before or unable to make the journey to your Iceland destination wedding. Couple of ways to do this… At our wedding we incorporated our passed love ones in 4 sets of white roses and ribbons and had the flowers in the first row at our ceremony and then someone carried them around as we did group photos. One of my favorite ways I have seen this done is a bride ties small little locket size portraits of the grandparents. See our below photos for examples and this shop on Amazon if you’re curious to purchase.
Table Design for your reception. Will you have seating name tags? How will you determine how your meal is being handed out to each guest- color code? Table runners? Pin-tucked Place-mats? Formal Napkins? How do you want them folded? Silverware settings? Charger? Will you have water glasses, champagne glasses, and 2 types of wine glasses on your table? Round tables or long coupled tables? Will you be at a sweetheart table? Bridal party table? Bride and Groom banner sides for your seats?
Gift table design?
Bar Design and Bar Menu
Decorations! Elaborate or Simplistic?
5 Course Wedding Meal: Will you have a menu card?
Will your maid of honor or best man be decorating the honeymoon suite? Let the Iceland wedding photographer know, those setup details are special!
What sort of hanger will you hand your dress on? Look into getting a gorgeous personalized on that says, “The Bride,” “Future Mrs,” Mrs. Peters,” etc! My favorite website Classy Bride sells them, check it out. Awesome details for your Iceland wedding photographer to capture.
Will you be traditional and have the something new, something old, borrowed, and something blue? Lay it out for your photographer. Details you spent so much time picking out should be captured!
The rings! If they are in a special box like Tiffany’s have it out so your photographer can get some fun shots.
I know it’s going to sound silly but details that are often overlooked… Are the big kiss and cake cutting… practice! Make sure you’re comfortable! If doing a cake cutting, Photos by Miss Ann walks you through in the moment what needs to be done (and I always provide forks, lol!).

I hope this blog post today, has provided insight on some of the awesome things you get to plan for your epic wedding day in Iceland. Chris and I planned our own wedding at Seljalandsfoss Waterfall and hand picked all of our vendors. We would love to have the opportunity to help you plan your flawless wedding day in Iceland and capture your epic Iceland wedding portraits!

Lots of smiles to you! Yours truly as experts in Iceland wedding planning and Iceland Wedding Photography, -Ann Peters

The post Iceland Weddings: Detail Planning appeared first on Iceland Wedding Planner.

Importing Your Destination Wedding Details

Iceland Wedding Planner — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 02:41:03 +0000

Woohoo for 2013!

There you are… You have fallen in love with Iceland as your destination wedding location and cannot imagine getting married anywhere else. Now you are in the process of listing all of the “must have” wedding details that need to get packed and happen. But…You are very specific about your wedding details and just are not sure if the obscure destination wedding location will be able to match every detail you are envisioning.

What to do?

Answer: Import your wedding day items to your Iceland (or other) destination wedding location!

You may cringe at the thought of having to take the time to package and ship your wedding details to Iceland or elsewhere but here are the pros of doing so:

1.) You will get exactly what you stylistically envisioned (and what you want) regardless of where your ceremony or reception are located.

2.) In countries like Iceland you can bring in the standard 2 liters of wine/champagne per person for free, take advantage of it!

3.) You’re guaranteed to have your items arrive on time. If your checked bag doesn’t make it to your destination wedding location you could be without on your wedding day.

4.) You’ll have more room for last minute items to put in your checked bag.

5.) You will save money! Do your research, buy online, and have it drop shipped directly to your wedding hotel (let them know in advance).

Easy-Peasy Directions to Importing Your Wedding Day Goods:

Prepay Duty to your vendor (if possible) so the vendor is responsible for the importation.
If gathering the items and packing the box yourself use lightweight materials and wrap well for potential breakage.
Have the post office mark as “Fragile.”
Fill out the custom forms accurately with contents and cost.
Get a tracking number if possible and track all the way through to its end delivery.
If prepaying duty was not an option have your hotel add it to your bill upon arrival (Iceland hotels will do this if you have prepaid and reserved your location for a few days).
Ship a minimum of 3-4 weeks before your wedding date (depending on your destination wedding location).
Confirm with the vendor who shipped and the receiving location that it was received and put for safe keeping until your arrival (Or ship to your Iceland Wedding Planner for her to bring).
If there are any light or heat sensitive items communicate that to all parties so your items stay 100% perfect.
Make sure your destination wedding hotel clearly marks the packages and they only release to you or your wedding planner.

Real life examples from our Iceland Destination Wedding:

My husband and I planned our Iceland destination wedding in less than 6 months- from October to April 2011-2012. We’re super planners and experienced Iceland wedding photographers so we had a very good idea of what we liked and didn’t. We chose the most dynamic place in Iceland to get married: Seljalandsfoss Waterfall in 2012. With a champagne toast at Vik Beach, a pit stop at the infamous wool shop and a final stop at Skogafoss Waterfall before heading back to Hotel Ranga for our reception.

Our biggest and most important detail hurdle was that we wanted over a 30 x 4 foot rose petal isle that was very dense with a very specific shade of pink (In my opinion, wedding colors are uber important for photographs!). So that means I had to order 8 cups per square foot of my isle (see a helpful petal calculator here). The Icelandic florists quoted me over $2,000 USD and they could only promise white petals and not my shade of pink. It was not in our budget to have that additional cost no matter how much I wanted it. But my Iceland wedding photographs absolutely needed colorful a rose petal walk way so I needed a thrifty way to make this happen.

So! After lots of research and 20 samples later I found an amazing vendor called Flyboy Naturals who offers eco-friendly freeze dried rose petals. Not only were they the best deal, but they were gorgeous, AND they would ship directly to Iceland! I had our freeze dried rose petals stored for 1 month in a cool dark place and they were perfect at the waterfall! See our Iceland waterfall wedding isle way here. They are one of our preferred vendors so feel free to check them out or contact us to assist in your amazing aisle way creation!

Next big challenge was champagne for our wedding toast at Vik Beach. We bought from favorite winery Domaine Chandon 20 Bottles of their Yountville Vintage Brut 2007. Iceland has an importing rule of 2 liters per person so between my husband, myself, and 8 of our guests we got it handled in the middle of the Toronto Airport on the way to Iceland!

Linens were another item on our list we had a specific vision for and decided to bring in all of our own for our welcome dinner and actual wedding reception. The Iceland welcome dinner (or some call it an Iceland Wedding Rehearsal Dinner) we chose a pin tuck design. Silver pin tucked place mats and white napkins. For our wedding reception at Hotel Ranga we purchased and packed chocolate rosette table runners and chocolate pin tuck napkins. They made awesome packing for our favors, welcome bags, love letter ceremony box, wedding weekend attire, and our fragile Mr. and Mrs. champagne glasses. It’s safe to say by purchasing our own items and importing them in for our Iceland destination wedding it saved us $1,000’s of dollars that we could put to our honeymoon in Bali!

I hope this article has provided you with more destination wedding confidence!

Yours in Iceland destination wedding planning and Iceland wedding photography, Ann Peters, Owner of Photos by Miss Ann proudly photographing the best Michigan weddings and crazy awesome destination weddings!

Please stay tuned for our upcoming blog posts on the following topics:

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