I was the Iceland Wedding Planner and Photographer for a super cool couple from Chicago, Illinois.  It was raining that day in Iceland, so we executed our “Plan B” ceremony location, my favorite cave.  However, when we arrived we were greeted by a 200 person film crew for a upcoming Bollywood movie.  They were there with the famed actor’s, food trucks, gear trucks,  and tons of porta potties.

I’ll be honest, seeing that many people there, I panicked slightly.  Not because I wouldn’t be able to use the location (which never happens because we always get private permission and permits) but rather, I was thinking how off schedule this could potentially make our day (excuse the OCD part of me, lol)!  The couple had no idea that anything was out of the ordinary as I jumped out of the jeep and darted to the group to have a chat.  An easy 5 minutes later the entire crew was gone

Fast forward 12 hours and I was back at the hotel finishing up the table styling for the couples dreamy reception for two.  I grabbed a glass of wine and my computer to catch up on emails and sat down in the hotel lobby…  Completely enamored in my work I do not look up when I hear a man’s voice say, “Are you that 5 foot 3 inch wedding planner that kicked our entire crew out of the cave earlier today?”  I laughed and leaned around my computer to see who was so witty.  To my pleasant surprise, a 6 foot 7 inch  Icelandic Adonis was speaking to me.  My jaw dropped and that giddy smile still hasn’t left my face!

That night, I met a man who lives and breathes adventure just as I do (maybe even more) personally and professionally.  Allow me to introduce you to Davíð… He creates special effects for all of the big movies that come here to Iceland (you know like Star Wars, Game of Thrones, Interstellar, Noah, the list is endless) and has the incredible hobby of being on Iceland’s SAR team (Search and Rescue). ….yeah swoon swoon, right?!  From that moment on, we found ourselves inseparable.

Our third date was a 7 day adventure to Isle of Skye, where we went coasteering, hiked epic cliff lines, dined at small little cafes, and discovered super secret locales!

He didn’t even bat an eyelash when I suggested we spend a month in South America! Where we ventured through Chilean wine country, Rainforests, through epic fjords, and made our way down to the famed awe inspiring region of Patagonia!

Since Davíð and I met at the “top of the world” we thought it would be fun for us to ring in the New Year together at the bottom of the world in Ushuaia Argentina!

We spent several days camping (um yeah the only man on the planet that can get me to camp in a tent) and hiking the famed “W Trek” in the Torres Del Paine National Park.  Complete with glaciers, granite towers, and moments of mountaineering!

One of the most magical set of days we spent together was within the Los Glaciares National Park where we explored the Perito Moreno Glacier and the Fitz Roy Mountains!

One of my favorite hikes we have done together was in Norway doing the hike to Trolltunga. Have you ever been to Norway?

Back to the exciting news…

After exploring 7 countries; 40 cities; and over 30,000 miles together, I proposed! …and he said Yes!

…and we are planning a wedding in the Lofoten Islands for September 14-19th!

But that’s not all of the exciting news we have to share with you… There’s more!  We are also extremely happy to announce that we will be adding a new items to our menu of services… Drone Photography and Video for your amazing Iceland Weddings + Adventure Weddings beyond!

Are you excited?!  We are too!

With a smile, Ann Peters + Team (Iceland Wedding Photographers + Planners)

© 2016, Iceland Wedding Planner /  Photos by Miss Ann, All Rights Reserved.

The post Thriving on Adventure and Love appeared first on Iceland Wedding Planner.

Do you remember their stunning Iceland wedding last April?  It was magical.  If you cannot recall right away, I encourage you to go back HERE or to Destination I Do  Magazine to swoon over their dreamy Iceland wedding day!

Bethany + Richard, we wish you an endless amount of more anniversary’s to share and we welcome you back to Iceland anytime =)  …savor this amazing time together!

With a smile, Ann Peters + Team (Iceland Adventure Wedding Planners + Photographers)

© 2016, Iceland Wedding Planner /  Photos by Miss Ann, All Rights Reserved.

The post Idyllic Iceland Wedding Anniversary appeared first on Iceland Wedding Planner.

During their last few days of their journey through the land of fire and ice, they spent a day with us exploring the dynamic and colorful Icelandic wintry landscape!

They hiked.  They climbed.  They even said “yes” to my request for them to repel down into cave through a snow tunnel!

True adventurers who were after an unforgettable honeymoon!  …and they got it! ?

Thank you Maegan and Jesse for choosing us and Your Adventure Wedding to plan and photograph such a gorgeous honeymoon session in Iceland!

With a smile, Ann Peters (Iceland Wedding and Honeymoon Photography)

© 2016, Iceland Wedding Planner /  Photos by Miss Ann, All Rights Reserved.

The post Iceland Honeymoon Adventure | Maegan + Jesse appeared first on Iceland Wedding Planner.

1. Are you an adventurous couple who is in search of a wedding day EXPERIENCE versus just having a wedding “day?”
2. Do you hold travel + adventure as core fundamentals of your relationship?
3. Are you willing to put on waterproof gear (or get wet a little) to hike over some rivers or waterfalls for the most EPIC Iceland wedding photos on the planet?!
4. Are you dying to hold a whimsical elopement in Iceland or have the token “wedding of the year” as you marry in Iceland?!
5. Are you just too darn busy to plan your wedding or elopement AND cringe at the idea of finding time to plan your post wedding adventures as well?
6. Do you want the BEST and most detailed Iceland wedding team, directing you to through this awesome time in your lives?!

If so, planning Your Adventure Wedding with Iceland Wedding Planner might be right up your alley…  You should watch this video and then contact us for more information!  …Enjoy friends!

With a smile, Ann Peters + Team (Iceland Adventure Wedding Planners + Photographers)

© 2016, Iceland Wedding Planner /  Photos by Miss Ann, All Rights Reserved.

The post Adventure Wedding Film | Iceland + Patagonia appeared first on Iceland Wedding Planner.

Thanks so much for joining us for our second installment of 20 tips for planning your Iceland wedding!  If you missed the first half of this series, feel free to go back and delight in it here.  As having been married in Iceland ourselves, we know firsthand how crazy awesome it is as a destination wedding location.  We also know how difficult it can be planning a wedding if you are unfamiliar with the country, so feel free to contact us!  We’d love to hear from you!

We hope these tips prove to be a helpful tool in deciding if an Iceland weeding is in your future!

11.  Before you embark on your journey, request that your Iceland wedding official/celebrant sends you the full service in print so you and your fiancé can review and make changes if needed.  If writing your own vows or having a unity ceremony make him/her conscious of this ahead of time.  Many of the priests and magistrates in Iceland are unfamiliar with North American wedding customs.

12.  Have your wedding budget detailed out in your own currency and in ISK (Icelandic currency).  The exchange rate changes daily.  When budget planning 12 months out from your Iceland wedding date, fluctuations in the rate (and VAT increases) can have a significant impact on your overall costs.

13.  Do not be afraid to ship in your own wedding details ahead of time to ensure they meet your standards and vision.  We imported over 16,000 freeze-dried rose petals for our Iceland destination wedding at Seljalandsfoss.  For more information on this topic, please see our blog post on Importing Your Iceland Wedding Details.

14.  Having a wedding Iceland wedding timeline card (schedule) available when your guests check-in to the hotel is a great way to help keep your guests on track.  This extra detail will let everyone know what festivities are in store during their stay.  Not sure what to include or why? Don’t fret!  We wrote a great post about Wedding Issues you can check out to ease your mind.

15.  For an extra special wedding welcome, provide your guests with an Iceland Wedding Welcome Bag.  They made the trip to Iceland to see you get married, now spoil them with some local super sweet luxuries to use during their stay.

16.  Take your Iceland wedding dress off the bridal store’s hanger and say no to plastic hangers!  Bring a personalized wooden one that says your future name (Example: Mrs. Smith), or “The Bride,” “Love,” “I Do,” etc!  This is a delightful detail for your Iceland wedding photographers to capture.  Example of what that looks like, here.

17.  Do not be afraid to talk with your photographers candidly about your vision and what you need captured, it’s important to make that clear.  See why this topic is so important in our previous blog post, here.

18.  Understand that you may not have an ideal weather day for your wedding in Iceland and just accept it.  The day might bring rain, sleet, snow, be cloudy, or be blazing with endless sunshine, who knows!  Storms approach and blow through quickly.  You may just have to wait 15 mins or so.    Above all, have a feasible “Plan B” option if holding your wedding ceremony outside.  Our advice to you is to either an indoor locale on standby or umbrellas for each guest readily available.

19.  If having guests attend your Iceland destination wedding, plan a fun post wedding day group activity that all ages can participate in.  Idea: We designed a self-drive highlight tour of the Golden Circle, Seltun/Krýsuvík Lava Field, and the Blue Lagoon the next day with our guests.  Check out our previous blog post here on that topic.

20.  Make your honeymoon a separate trip and enjoy your trip to Iceland with all who have come to share it with you.  We actually waited 6 months to take our honeymoon and were so glad we did!  Check our Bali Indonesia Honeymoon Portraits here.

Hopefully, you have enjoyed today’s post and it has provided you with some better insight into the many things to consider when planning your destination wedding in Iceland.  Think this may be for you?  Talk to us today on how Iceland Wedding Planner and Photos by Miss Ann can complement your wedding day in Iceland!  Please feel free to contact us directly here.

Today’s wedding day photo inspiration comes from a gorgeous wedding we had the pleasure of photographing on Saturday, September 7^th on the esteemed Infinity Ovation Yacht.  Beth and Jarret have become very dear friends to Chris and I over the past few years.  We were honored and super excited when they asked us to photograph the most important day of their lives!  They are a pair who is very adventurous, challenge each other, and they have a relentless love and admiration for each other that is unmistakable.

Beth was already one of the most gorgeous women I know, but to see her as a bride on her wedding day took my breath away!  Oh man and Jarret…in his bow tie, suit, and perfect smile -so handsome!  The Day:  It was an ideal moment in Saint Clair Shores with early fall temperatures and endless blue skies overhead for their ceremony.  Chris and I spilt up for an early morning start to this amazing event.  Beth and her ladies started at the MGM Casino and Jarret and his groomsmen began their day right around the corner from the Jefferson Beach Marina.

The 11am ceremony brought all who love them together in celebration.  The captain of the boat married them and the horn of the yacht blew in announcement of the newlywed Mr. and Mrs.!  How fun, right?  After the ceremony, all of the guests boarded the boat to enjoy an afternoon cruise.  A strolling gourmet lunch was served while the yacht boasted amazing views around the Detroit River including the historic Ambassador Bridge!  Jarret and Beth, we hope these images speak to you and forever seal that marvelous moment in time for you!  Thank you for choosing Photos by Miss Ann to tell your wedding day story!   Now please delight in their wedding day BLISS below…

Lots of Smiles and positive planning vibes, Ann & Chris Peters

Husband and Wife Iceland Wedding Planning & Photography Team

© 2002-2013, Photos by Miss Ann, All Rights Reserved

The post 20 Tips for Planning Your Iceland Wedding (Part 2 of 2) appeared first on Iceland Wedding Planner.

There you are engaged, starry-eyed and in love debating on destination wedding locations… When you stumble over the idea of having your wedding in Iceland!  Is it even possible?  Do people actually get married in Iceland?  Of course it is! We did it and now specialize in planning and photographing weddings for other amazing couples in Iceland!  Okay, so now that we have you super excited that it’s possible, contact us for more information on being your wedding planner and Iceland wedding photographers!

Today we begin a two part series on advice for planning your Iceland destination wedding.  Here is our 10 out of 20 Iceland wedding  planning tips for this week!

1.)  Give yourself an absolute minimum of 6 months to plan your destination wedding in Iceland.  If you’re planning to elope in Iceland, plan for a minimum of 4 months before.  To insure your Iceland wedding dream spot is available book 12-16 months before your date.

2.)  Apply for a credit card that offers free foreign transactions.  When we were planning our Iceland destination wedding, we chose the Chase Sapphire Card.  We earned points for every dollar we spent while avoiding that 3% transaction fee on every international purchase.  This savings on your Iceland wedding budget can be put towards that epic honeymoon!

3.)  Fully explore all of the possible locations you could hold your Iceland ceremony.  Maybe on top of a Glacier?  In the middle of lava fields?  Seljalandsfoss Waterfall?  Vik Beach? Gulfoss? Ranga River?  Lake Mývatn? Dettifoss Waterfall?  In an Icelandic country church? Downtown Reykjavik?  Jökulsárlón Glacial Lagoon?  In one of Iceland’s many gorgeous canyons?  In front of a basalt rock formation?  The natural wonders for Iceland wedding venues are endless, so think hard on where you see yourself getting married.

4.)  Do your research on the time of year you want to marry in Iceland.  The amount of daylight varies depending on the day/month so be mindful.  Iceland can range from 4 hours to 22 hours of daylight a day.  We have a fantastic post here on the “Best Time to Marry in Iceland.”  Also check out one of our favorite sites: Time & Date for specific information on how many hours of daylight you may have on your proposed Iceland wedding date.

5.)  Currently you do not need a “permit” to marry at any of Iceland’s natural wonders.

6.)  Make sure you’re in Iceland at least 2 business days before your wedding date.  In order to obtain your Iceland marriage license, you must be in the country 2 business days before you get married.  Hard copies of the documents are due 2-3 weeks before you arrive in Iceland.  Please keep this in mind as you finalize your travel plans.

7.)  Trip Advisor, Google Images, and Wikipedia are magnificent tools for understanding where things are in Iceland and what they look like as you plan your Iceland wedding adventure.

8.)  When you’re getting ready to send out your Iceland wedding Invitations, create a wedding website detailing your chosen location, your booked flight information, Iceland wedding host hotel information, activities you want to do, coupon or booking codes, and your week/end Iceland wedding schedule so guests are comfortable booking ASAP. Send your Iceland wedding website URL with your wedding invitation.

9.)  Change it up by having a “Love Letter Ceremony” in place of a sand ceremony, unity candle or tying the knot ceremony.  It is very unique and will provide a very special moment for you both then and years later.

10.)  If you plan to say “I do” at one of Iceland’s gorgeous waterfalls (like Seljalandsfoss Waterfall)  we recommend renting a sound system with a wireless microphone. It is tough to compete the roar of a epic waterfall in the background.  Having a sound system insures every word is heard and that music can be included in your ceremony.

We hope you have enjoyed our post today on tips for getting married in Iceland!  Stay tuned next week for the remaining segment on this wonderful topic!  (If you’re just joining us see the continuation to this post at 20 Tips for Planning Your Iceland Wedding (Part 2 of 2)).

And if you just can’t wait or find “Part 2” here it is!

11.  Before you embark on your journey, request that your Iceland wedding official/celebrant sends you the full service in print so you and your fiancé can review and make changes if needed.  If writing your own vows or having a unity ceremony make him/her conscious of this ahead of time.  Many of the priests and magistrates in Iceland are unfamiliar with North American wedding customs.

12.  Have your wedding budget detailed out in your own currency and in ISK (Icelandic currency).  The exchange rate changes daily.  When budget planning 12 months out from your Iceland wedding date, fluctuations in the rate (and VAT increases) can have a significant impact on your overall costs.

13.  Do not be afraid to ship in your own wedding details ahead of time to ensure they meet your standards and vision.  We imported over 16,000 freeze-dried rose petals for our Iceland destination wedding at Seljalandsfoss.  For more information on this topic, please see our blog post on Importing Your Iceland Wedding Details.

14.  Having a wedding Iceland wedding timeline card (schedule) available when your guests check-in to the hotel is a great way to help keep your guests on track.  This extra detail will let everyone know what festivities are in store during their stay.  Not sure what to include or why? Don’t fret!  We wrote a great post about Wedding Issues you can check out to ease your mind.

15.  For an extra special wedding welcome, provide your guests with an Iceland Wedding Welcome Bag.  They made the trip to Iceland to see you get married, now spoil them with some local super sweet luxuries to use during their stay.

16.  Take your Iceland wedding dress off the bridal store’s hanger and say no to plastic hangers!  Bring a personalized wooden one that says your future name (Example: Mrs. Smith), or “The Bride,” “Love,” “I Do,” etc!  This is a delightful detail for your Iceland wedding photographers to capture.  Example of what that looks like, here.

17.  Do not be afraid to talk with your photographers candidly about your vision and what you need captured, it’s important to make that clear.  See why this topic is so important in our previous blog post, here.

18.  Understand that you may not have an ideal weather day for your wedding in Iceland and just accept it.  The day might bring rain, sleet, snow, be cloudy, or be blazing with endless sunshine, who knows!  Storms approach and blow through quickly.  You may just have to wait 15 mins or so.    Above all, have a feasible “Plan B” option if holding your wedding ceremony outside.  Our advice to you is to either an indoor locale on standby or umbrellas for each guest readily available.

19.  If having guests attend your Iceland destination wedding, plan a fun post wedding day group activity that all ages can participate in.  Idea: We designed a self-drive highlight tour of the Golden Circle, Seltun/Krýsuvík Lava Field, and the Blue Lagoon the next day with our guests.  Check out our previous blog post here on that topic.

20.  Make your honeymoon a separate trip and enjoy your trip to Iceland with all who have come to share it with you.  We actually waited 6 months to take our honeymoon and were so glad we did!  Check our Bali Indonesia Honeymoon Portraits here.

With a smile, Ann Peters + Team (Iceland Wedding Planning and Photography Team)

© 2002-2013, Photos by Miss Ann, All Rights Reserved

The post 20 Tips for Getting Married in Iceland (Part 1 of 2) appeared first on Iceland Wedding Planner.

I hope this finds you well and excited for the day!  This week, we are taking a break from our Iceland wedding planning advice to share with you the other side of our fabulous Iceland wedding business: Photos by Miss Ann.

I flew solo at James and Rochelle’s wedding last week and they had such a whimsical day (Chris is so jealous he didn’t get to photograph them)!  The bride, Rochelle is the kind of girl who just lights up the room when she enters.  She is clever, stunning, super sweet and nothing compares to seeing her on her wedding day.  James is witty, extremely thoughtful, and handsome.  Perfect combination between the two!  All of their bridal party members, family, and friends followed suit, as they were all uber welcoming.  Lucky me as their wedding photographer, right?!  Yes!

These two were simply delightful to be around and the kisses they shared were storybook! Clearly they have found their lifetime loves and their affection for each other will warm your heart!  To Rochelle and James, I had a blast being a part of your wedding day and hope that you treasure these images that are bursting of your love for each other… Enjoy!

With a smile, Ann Peters

Expert Destination Wedding Photographers Iceland

© 2002-2013, Photos by Miss Ann, All Rights Reserved

The post Destination Wedding Photographer Photos by Miss Ann appeared first on Iceland Wedding Planner.

Posting our weekly Iceland wedding inspiration a tad early because Photos by Miss Ann has a bustling holiday weekend filled with Iceland wedding invitation mock ups, a wonderful wedding Saturday in Grass Lake, and then little newborns Sunday and Monday!

Today’s topic: Shoes!  Isn’t this every girl’s favorite topic?  I know the eyes are the coined “window to the soul” so what does that make our feet/shoes?  Do they allow us to walk the path to our future?  As far as weddings are concerned, yes!  Just think the shoes you choose for your wedding day are the shoes you’re going to marry the man of your dreams in!  <Swoon> This incredible little detail can also prove to be an extraordinary expression of who you are, your flair, and be colorful detail in your Iceland couples portraits.

My Iceland Bridal Shoe Story:  When my husband and I had finally settled on holding our wedding day in Iceland at Seljalandsfoss waterfall, I had actually already bought a vintage wedding dress off of eBay.  I was also convinced I was going to wear my peep toe Betseyville pink polka dot heels with it.  Frankly, the idea of stepping into a bridal boutique made me cringe.  Fun fact about me:  I am 100% an online shopper not really a fan of crowds or waiting (if I could buy groceries online I would!).  But, one snowy Saturday in November, my mother had come into town and convinced me to go to 2 of those fancy dress stores to at least try on a few wedding dresses in order to get the full “bride” experience.  Begrudging I went to appease her.  The first and last shop we went to was Bridal Couture of Plymouth, Michigan.  I walked in and immediately fell in love with the helpful staff and a stunning an ivory trumpet gown by Demetrios (Style 9659).  It sadly but excitedly blew my little vintage wedding dress out of the water!  My mother and I looked at each other and just knew that was “the dress.”

At that point, I was still committed to wearing my Betsey Johnson pink polka dot heels and felt they were still the right choice for my Iceland wedding shoes… That is until the Badgley Mischka’s were found on eBay, days later.  The exquisite Badgley Mischka “Salsa” actually had a broach at the peep toe that was identical to the broach on my dress <Insert bridal happy dance!>.  Those magnificent stilettos put my pink polka dot Betsey’s to shame.  Although, I did end up wearing the polka dots as my Iceland wedding reception shoes.  So that is how an interesting turn of events led me to my wedding shoes.  How did you find yours?  Are they close toe? Peep toe? Wedges? Stilettos? Flats? Or are you still searching?  If you’re in need of guidance as to what the best shoes would be to wear for your Iceland wedding, have no fear you’ve come to the right place!

Depending on the time of year and the location you have chosen for your wedding in Iceland, the setting may dictate what type of wedding shoes would be best.  A couple examples follow below:

• Having your wedding on top of a glacier in Iceland (Most popular Icelandic glaciers follow: Eyjafjallajökull, Snæfellsjökull, Mýrdalsjökull, Vatnajökull) = Boots would be best with no heels (The brand Sorel makes some super cute ones- but note that they run big from my experience!).

• Iceland Wedding at Seljalandsfoss or Skogafoss waterfall = Wedges or thicker heels would be ideal but you can totally do stilettos too just be careful as you walk (you will sink into the grass)!  These clear heel protectors rock too!

• Jokulsarlon Glacial Lagoon wedding =  Wedges would be ideal but a thicker heel or adding a clear heel cover (Heel Saver by Solemates) for your stiletto would also do the trick to ensure you do not ruin them while walking on rocks, gravel, ice, and grass.

• Iceland Country Church Wedding (such as having your Iceland wedding at Budir, Hellnar, Hallgrímskirkja, Oddi, or Vik) = Any shoes will work since you’re inside.  But do bring a pair to change into if needed after the ceremony to go around with your Iceland wedding photographer in order to take your gorgeous Iceland wedding portraits!

• Iceland Blue Lagoon wedding = Any type of shoe you desire!  They have a gorgeous facility that offers wood floors, concrete paths, a bridge, and flatter grassy/gravel areas as well.

• Lava Field wedding in Snaefellsnes Peninsula (such as having a Hotel Budir wedding) = Wedges would be ideal but a thicker heel or adding a clear heel cover (check out Heel Saver by Solemates) for your stiletto would also do the trick to ensure you do not ruin them while walking on the grassy rocks and hills.

• Vik Beach Wedding (or a wedding at Skardsvik’s Golden Beach = Iceland’s only white sand beach) = Wedges, boots, sandals, or barefoot (it will be chilly!)!  I wore stilettos until we arrived here for our wedding photos in Iceland, then I put on hiking boots and in the end and finished up barefoot.  Keep in mind too that this is a black sand beach and the black sand does not easily come off (so protect the expensive shoes!).  I think some black sand is still engrained in the lining of my Iceland wedding dress (even after washing it).

So here comes the super exciting part… Color & Style!  There has been a pretty strong trend in the destination wedding industry to have unique wedding shoes.  Some Iceland bridal shoe ideas follow below:

• Have your Iceland wedding shoes to match your favorite color (pink, purple, blue, red, etc!)
• Compliment your bridesmaid’s dresses (or wedding color theme).
• Have feathers accents.
• Iceland destination wedding heels adorned in rhinestones.
• Polka dots
• Ruffles
• Rosettes
• Vintage lace
• Sparkly Mystique sandals
• Add a broach to the peep toe or the outside topside of the shoe.
• Fur trim boots (How Nordic, right?)
• Plain heels with an added flower clip!

I encourage you to have fun with it!  Or maybe even customize your own pair you find.  After you find your perfect pair, you can finish off your heels for your Iceland destination wedding with “I Do” stickers for the arch of your shoe!  They are a pretty awesome sparkly detail and a dual purpose for your something blue <bonus!>.  So now I am sure you’re wondering what brands may be the best?  My personal opinion that I swear by for comfort, style, and price:  Badgley Mischka, Betsey Johnson, Sorel, Mystique Sandals and Poetic License (All of which are featured in the below photos along with some of our brides from last year’s shoes).

Tips for getting the most out of your Iceland wedding shoes:

1. If you do not usually wear heels and want to for your wedding day, start ASAP.  Start out wearing them while doing household chores (1-2 hours a day) and build up until you can stand an entire day.  I know this may sound silly, but the more time your toes and the balls of your feet have to get a little callused, the longer you’ll be able to stand, walk, and run around in those fancy stilettos with no complaints (Serious advice from a 15+ year stiletto veteran- believe me it works!).
2. Invest $13 USD to purchase a pair of Heel Savers by Solemates you’ll be glad you did later!  I had a pair, forgot to put them on my heels before I left for our Iceland wedding at Seljalandsfoss and I definitely sunk into the ground at the Iceland waterfalls.
3. If you are worried about your shoes slipping there are shoe grips you can purchase that go on the bottom of your shoes and also inside to add comfort and prevent slippage.
4.  Do your research before buying!  Many shoe sites now have shoe reviews which you may find helpful before buying online.  If also buying online make sure you check out Retail Me Not for a possible coupon code!  That site rocks.
5. Remember to take your Iceland wedding shoes to your dress fittings to ensure a perfect bottom hem (and bring your other shoes if you’re considering a change at your reception to gauge length difference).
6. Wrangle your fiancé into dancing with you on a hardwood floor to give your destination wedding shoes a test run.  Make sure you can move, spin, be dipped and regain your balance in them easily.
7. Lay your shoes out the night before your wedding (together with any other accessories too) so your awesome Iceland wedding photographer can snap some super sweet detail shots.
8. Clean your shoes once you get back from your Iceland destination wedding.  I know my heels were stained with mud by the end of our Iceland wedding ceremony at Seljalandsfoss, wedding photos at Skogafoss, playful wedding photos at Vik Beach, and by the end of our Iceland wedding reception at Hotel Ranga.  It took me a bucket of water, Simple Green, Dove soap, and 40 minutes to restore them back to their original glam status but I am so glad I did!
9. Wear them again, again, and again they’ll make you smile =)  I took mine to wear for our Bali Honeymoon Photos and even randomly make dinner in them sometimes, lol!

Selecting your Iceland wedding attire should be one of the most exciting “to do’s” on your Iceland destination wedding planning list.  You can always start with a basic design and in the end and really put your own spin on your matching accessories especially on your wedding shoes.  So be creative lovely ladies!

As you plan, we hope you find our blog helpful and use it as a tool to have the perfect Iceland wedding!  Please contact us for more details on how Photos by Miss Ann can be an asset to your Iceland wedding planning and/or Iceland wedding photography.

In the meantime, savor the weekend!  With a smile, Ann Peters

Expert Iceland Wedding Photographer and Iceland Wedding Planner

© 2013, Photos by Miss Ann, All Rights Reserved

The post Iceland Wedding Shoes! [by Iceland Wedding Photographer] appeared first on Iceland Wedding Planner.

I know you have been patiently waiting on my next post and I so appreciate it!  Life seemed to go lightening speed for us the past few weeks!  The good news is we have booked some amazing Iceland brides for 2013 and 2014 and we are super stoked to be working with them!  Their visions for their day are truly one of a kind and we are honored to be planning and photographing their adventurous weddings in the land of fire and ice!  So if you’re thinking about Iceland as your one of a kind destination wedding locale please contact us!

We helped my mum launch her new retirement venture in the last few weeks too!  Check out: Regal Baby Boutique! Glamorous handmade goods for children and awesome portrait photographers!

A couple of press spots has kept us busy bees too!  Check out The Frosted Petticoat, Baby Life Styles Magazine (our image is full page on #40), My Inspired Light, The Bridal Detective, Done Brilliantly, In Bliss Bridal Blog, Borrowed and Blue, the Budget Savvy Bride, double cuteness from the Frosted Petticoat Blog, and we are delighted by word of a printed feature in DIY Wedding Magazine and The Knot this coming Spring/Summer for several of our beautiful destination weddings.  So much positive energy buzzing around us-  we are thrilled here at Photos by Miss Ann!  Woohoo =) Thanks for being a part of our excitement!

Enough about us!  Back to our wonderful topic today: Iceland Destination Wedding Etiquette

Destination weddings are tricky and proper etiquette for all involved is important.  Today, I am going to debunk some of the most common questions surrounding destination weddings in general and specifically Iceland wedding planning etiquette as well!

1.      Save the Dates: Are they needed? When do you send?

a.      Once you are engaged, picked a wedding state/country location, and are set on a wedding date it’s time to send out “Save the Dates!”  If planning a destination wedding, these are typically sent out 8 months or more before the wedding date.  You want to give your guests as much notice as possible to begin saving or planning their destination wedding itinerary.  We were engaged in Kauai Hawaii in October 2012 and set our wedding date for April 2012.  We decided on a short window for planning because we either had to get married before our high wedding season or after because we are wedding photographers in Plymouth Michigan, in Iceland and beyond.  That left either getting married in April 2012, November 2012, or April 2013. We settled on April 2012 and planning in less than 6 months does not require formal save the dates.

2.      Do you invite the masses to your destination wedding?

a.      Personal preference.  But I will give you a fabulous example!  When planning our Iceland destination wedding my husband and I are both only children with small family’s so we decided to look at it like this… Invite all immediate and extended family, all close friends we have kept in contact with over the last 5 years, our current or previous bosses, and selective workplace friends.  We ended up sending out 100 Iceland wedding invitations and ended up with 36 RSVP’s saying yes!

3.      If you are also having a local reception who do you invite?

a.      You must extend the invite to anyone who declined your destination wedding invite.  If you choose to invite additional people you should probably have your Iceland wedding photos available for their review.  That way, they feel somewhat included in your wedding day as well.

4.      Destination Wedding Invitations: When to send?

a.      Invitations for destination weddings should be mailed at a minimum of 4 months away from the wedding date.  This provides the guests with ample time to decide, request vacation, book flights, accommodations, and plan Iceland adventures. It is also proper to give your guests 40 days to RSVP.  Another real life Iceland wedding day example: We sent our Iceland wedding invitations out on November 15^th and gave our guests until January 9^th to respond which was ~50 days to respond.

b.      Why ask guests to RSVP early?

a.      By having all of our RSVP’s back by January 9^th we could chase down any folks who did not respond.  Having our guests RSVP 3 months before allowed us to begin finalizing our counts for our wedding plans as far as Iceland wedding ceremony location, Iceland wedding transportation logistics for a group of 40, champagne toast at Vik Beach, ordering our Iceland wedding flowers, our Iceland wedding linens, Iceland wedding Welcome Dinner, Hotel Ranga Wedding 5 Course Wedding Meal, and our post wedding itinerary for our guests.

5.      Does the traditional rules of who pays for what still apply?

a.      Sometimes, if planning a destination wedding in the United States I have seen the traditional road of groom’s parents paying for the “rehearsal dinner” and the wedding day alcohol while the bride’s parents or simply the bride and groom are responsible for the rest.    But if international, more often than not, I have seen the bride and groom be responsible for the costs.  So depending on your situation it is up to you!  I strongly encourage you to contact us to help you plan your Iceland destination wedding budget.

6.      Do you pay for your guest’s accommodations?

a.      It’s interesting on how destination weddings have developed.  8 years ago when destination weddings became popular, that was the protocol.  You hosted your guests from the moment they arrived until they left.  Your guests were there for you and not so much the vacation.  But now that the industry markets dictate destination weddings as a vacation so there is less pressure financially on the bride and groom.  But, I will say, if you can afford to comp your guests the night of the wedding, then do it.  If it’s not in doable then at least take the time to negotiate a group rate with your host hotel.

7.      Should you prepare your guests on how much they may spend on your destination wedding?

a.      Yes!  …and the perfect place to do this diplomatically is on your wedding website.  Industry average says that guests should be prepared to spend between $700-1200 per person on a destination wedding.  This cost would include flight, accommodations, average of planned activities, rough estimates for food, and transportation.  Hire us as your planner and photographer to help you properly budget plan!

Photos by Miss Ann (aka, Iceland Wedding Planner) also provides this budget and activity planning piece in all of our Iceland Wedding packages so please contact us for more information!

8.      Do you create a wedding website?

a.      Yes, yes, yes!  If you have not yet do so now!  Having a wedding website for your destination wedding gives you a voice to your guests (without badgering them).  It provides them tools to RSVP, book their flight, reserve their housing accommodations, take advantage of booking discounts, review your Iceland wedding itinerary, see activity suggestions, book Iceland transportation, and understand why you chose Iceland as your destination wedding locale!

It also provides space for you to tell your love story, post engagement photos, introduce your wedding party, post information on gift registries, bridal shower, post your invitation, wedding menu, and wedding day flow.  Super awesome tool to use as you plan as well!  Photos by Miss Ann includes this service as one of the Iceland Wedding Planning agenda items too so feel free to contact us!

9.      Welcome Dinner versus Rehearsal Dinner, do you do one?  Which do you choose?

a.      Over the past few years I have been witness to the transition from traditional wedding rehearsal dinners to destination welcome dinners.  The reason: Many destination weddings have fewer people standing up in the bridal party’s which requires very little day before organization. So in this case referring to a day before dinner gathering your guests would be called a “Wedding Welcome Dinner.”

Real life wedding example:  My husband and I held our destination wedding in Iceland and decided to kick off our wedding weekend in Iceland with a welcome dinner at Hotel Ranga for our 36 guests.  We also arranged for our guests to stay 2 nights at Hotel Ranga so they could relax, enjoy the countryside, and have the opportunity to be in the midst of the Northern Lights.  Having kept our Iceland wedding ceremony location of Seljalandsfoss waterfall a complete surprise to our guests, we could not go to the site to do a “rehearsal.” So when it was time for a pre-wedding day walk through we had our official meet us at the hotel to review our wedding ceremony, did a quick walk through with our maid of honor, best man, parents, and 4 good friends that were reading “The Art of Marriage” by Wilfred A. Peterson.  7pm came and it was time to welcome our guests to begin their Iceland wedding adventure with us!  There was a delicious 3 course meal (complete with Skyr Cake!), music, toasts, speeches, tons of laughter, excitement, a birthday celebrated, and destination welcome bags passed out!

10.  Gifts for Destination Weddings?

a.      Our personal vote is no gifts for destination weddings.  You simply request the presence of your guests.  Real Life Wedding Example: We were an established couple and felt we did not need anything to “jump start our marriage” and felt it was more important to share in the adventure of Iceland with our guests so we stated a section on our website for gifts that said, “Your presence at our Iceland Wedding is the best gift you could give us.”  …and really it was.

Faux Pas: Never ever send out a registry insert to your wedding invitation (or state on the invitation) on where you are registered.  If anything state it on your wedding website (believe me word will spread) or guests will go to all the typical spots and look up your names and hope for a registry.

Alternative Destination Gift Registry Ideas: Honeymoon Wishes Registry, Wanderlust Registry, Upon Our Star, or the I Do Foundation (charity donations).

Bridal Showers and Bachelorette Parties are the exception to these rules.  So if you’re having one, register.

11.  Are Wedding Announcements Needed?

a.      Yes!  If you’re having a local reception they are absolutely needed.  It is also proper to send to any guest who was unable to attend the destination wedding.  The ideal situation is to have photos from the wedding on the card and send them out within 3 weeks of arriving home from your destination wedding. Your Iceland Destination Wedding Photographer can design gorgeous cards for you or if you have purchased your digital files you can do so on your own as well!  That way if you are also holding a local reception guests will feel more connected to your wedding day by seeing your Iceland wedding photos.

12.  Destination weddings and bridal party attendants… what to do?

a.      Don’t worry there are no hard and fast rules to this one.  Do not feel obligated to choose your sister if you’re not close or that cousin you barely talk to.  The really amazing thing about destination weddings is they are truly about the couple!  Because they are also smaller in attendance (industry average being 60 guests) the couple has the right to choose less!  We are seeing more often than not the bride & groom just choosing a maid of honor and a best man to stand calmly (lol, yes I said it!)  beside them.  Our real life Iceland destination wedding example: My husband and I are luckily only children (lol, I said that too!), have small extended families, and close-knit group of friends from around the world.  So realistically we could not honor each set of friends with being in our wedding party so we chose to honor them in other ways at the Iceland wedding ceremony and also during the wedding weekend.

13.  Do you invite your wedding photographers to your day wedding welcome dinner or wedding rehearsal festivities?

a.      Yes!  It is nice for you two, your families, and to have your guests become comfortable with them. It is also a great time for them to get acclimated to the scenery, locations, lighting, and your expectations ahead of time.

Plus, if they are rock star destination wedding photographers, chances are they will candidly photograph the event for free too in gratitude to you treating them so kindly as a guest.  Or at least that is what Photos by Miss Ann does for all of our destination couples =) Remember our key to photographing destination weddings is we need time with you!  Priceless moments should be captured professionally!

14.  Do you tip your destination wedding vendors?

a.      In Europe, it is not expected because typically the prices are higher to include, but it is still appreciated for exceptional service.  In any sort of country that is deemed developing or third world tipping is expected.  Canada and US it is not expected but if you had exceptional service the day of, feel free to!  But do be careful with vendors who still have yet to provide you a finished product to you as you may wish you hadn’t!

We had this specific experience happen to us with our hired destination photographers from Toronto, Ontario.  We felt the day of they were easy to work with and we had hoped they were behind the scenes capturing all of our details professionally- so we tipped them over $300 USD, in good faith.  We loved our Iceland engagement session but not our wedding photos. Unfortunately, we seriously regretted our generous decision as we found some serious issues upon the arrival of our high resolution images weeks later.  There were many technical flaws like blatant gear malfunctions, missed moments despite there being two of them, many of details we spent so much time planning were not captured, and we found the husband and wife duo to be very condescending in character to deal with after the fact.

Sadly, because of the negligence of our hired destination wedding photographers, my husband and I have had to spend the last year of our newly wedded bliss fixing their technical mistakes, recreating our missed wedding moments, retaking Iceland wedding portraits, and reconstructing our own Iceland wedding details professionally.   All that being said, Chris and I understand even more so how important is for you to choose the right Iceland wedding photographer who will amazing to work with from beginning to end.  So please check out Photos by Miss Ann to see how we would be an asset to your Iceland destination wedding planning!

15.  How to handle sensitive family issues:

a.      Divorced parents? Extended family not cordial to each other? A riff between in-laws? Do not fret!  Knowledge the issue before the wedding and make it clear to all involved you will accommodate to the best of your ability to ensure no awkward moments. Also make it clear the night before your wedding day everyone involved is to be as cordial to each other as possible and drama free.  Remind them the day is about you and your fiancé saying “I do” and not the ongoing family issues.  This problem could be as simply solved as having assigned seating at your dinners (name cards strategically placed can be professionally made with Pixels to Paper or personally made).

Another thought would be to brief your wedding vendors on the issue.  They may be an aid in diffusing the situation.  I know as a Iceland wedding planner and owning Photos by Miss Ann, we encounter almost 1 sensitive issue per wedding weekend.  It’s a delicate balance and the more information your wedding planner or wedding photographer has on the issue the more equipped they are to handle it and restructure the situation if needed.

Our real wedding example of this follows to provide you a better visual:  My gorgeous Hungarian Grandmother, Iren Soltesz had passed away the morning we were all flying to Iceland so it was a very emotional time for all of us before, during, and after our Aril 2012 wedding day in Iceland.  All of my family was shocked and a few were debating on whether or not to make the journey from Ohio-Toronto-Iceland.  This news also hit my mother especially hard as we were getting ready to leave that morning.  Bitter sweet that she did not have time to properly mourn her mother but had to focus on celebrating her only daughter’s wedding day.   It was tough for all involved to not have the proper time to grieve the loss of a loved one and focus on celebrate the joining of two others lives.  My Grandmother’s funeral was postponed until we all arrived home 7-10 days later which caused much angst across our family.  We maintained a positive approach every step of the way.  We also strategically placed our guests at both our Iceland wedding ceremony at Seljalandsfoss waterfall, our wedding welcome dinner and Iceland wedding reception at Hotel Ranga to ensure all negative emotions would be avoided between family members.  We also had memorial roses added to be a beautiful representation of our grandparents who passed before our special day could arrive.

Phew!  A lot of information, I know =)  Remember, this is just our two cents.  We’ve been there and this is our personal opinion on how things should work but keep in mind, we also photograph and experience weddings as our full time job so we know that side of it too!  Feel free to contact us for more information on how we can help make your day flawless in Iceland wedding planning and Iceland wedding photography!

Many smiles, Ann Peters

© 2013, Photos by Miss Ann, All Rights Reserved

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