This quote very time I read it gives me goosebumps and after I read it, Crystal and Devin’s wedding day instantly comes to mind.  Why?

The love they exude.

Their endless addiction to adventure.

Their wedding ceremony.

The locations.

The ever-changing Icelandic weather.

Every single element of the day impacted them (and their guests).  The epic moments throughout their journey will forever be in their hearts for the rest of their lives.  Iceland is apart of them and their love story.

These two Florida natives found themselves searching for a unique awe-inspiring wedding location that would break the mold of the traditional American “destination wedding” experience.  I know this is how the majority of our offbeat couples find us, but this was even more critical than usual, because Devin is a fellow destination wedding industry entrepreneur (check out Swag Decor).

After indulging in photos of glaciers, volcanos, black sand beaches, hidden caves, secret waterfalls, and the greenest mountains on the planet, Devin and Crystal quickly found themselves obsessed with Iceland.  It was the answer.  So please follow us along today as we experience their incredible Iceland adventure wedding!  Then also head over to the awesome POPSUGAR / MSN to see more from their amazing day!

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

How pretty are these Iceland wedding invitations?!

The adventure began where luxury meets homey-charm: Hotel Ranga.

You all know we’re a huge fan of Iceland wedding welcome bags, right?  How fantastic for your Iceland wedding guests to receive the below?!

The BEST Iceland wedding dress combo right here folks!  Long sleeve lovely elegant dress plus some warm but stylish Sorel boots!  #yesalldaylong

Serious kudos goes out to the fabulous Vault of Wonder on Etsy who created my personal and all time favorite ring box EVER, below:

I love when the bride and groom write love letters or exchange Iceland wedding day gifts before seeing each other!

Crystal’s Iceland wedding bouquet is one of my favorites because she had it made of maps of all of the areas they have explored together!

Before sunrise and we all loaded into super jeeps for the day, Crystal and Devin shared a private “first look” at the hotel.

Then we were on our way to a private side of a glacier for their unforgettable Iceland wedding ceremony!

Crossing rivers whether it be in a super jeep, by foot, or dodging glacier quicksand, our couples are the coolest!  Crystal and Devin were fearless!

The private glacier area our Iceland wedding planning team has access to, was super moody looking that gorgeous fall morning!

There are many amazing celebrants to choose from for your Iceland wedding ceremony.  In the end, Crystal and Devin chose to go the old-world Norse route and have a Asatru wedding ceremony.

It was surreal seeing these two profess their love to each other at the base of this amazing glacier side!

…and who doesn’t want to share their first drink from a horn during their Iceland wedding ceremony?!

Have you seen greener mountains for a wedding in Iceland?

Ughh, so moody and dramatic!! …an Iceland wedding photographers DREAM come true!

The shapes of the Icelandic mountains still be-still my heart years later!

Pit Stop!! Lunch in a private cave… A traditional Icelandic BBQ of Hot Dogs!

After lunch it was onto secret waterfall hunting during Crystal and Devin’s Iceland wedding day!

The variety of Iceland wedding locations during their adventure was stunning!!

More often than not, you only run into sheep during our Iceland wedding days…

Sunset on a black sand beach!  Reynisfjara is not one of our usual stops for our Iceland adventure weddings, but we are happy to oblige if a couple has it on their “must have” list.

Oh la la THAT LOVE!

Ha, typical Iceland depicted here… Downpour of rain and sun at the same time!

Misty secret canyons… a fave for Iceland wedding photos!

After relaxing and refreshing guests enjoyed a delicious meal at Hotel Ranga during Crystal and Devin’s Iceland wedding reception!

How sweet are these Iceland wedding favors?

Closing out their adventure wedding in Iceland Crystal and Devin attempted to launch chinese lanterns as a send off… Sadly the wind decided we go with “plan b!”

I always seem to have sparklers in my Iceland wedding planner “go” bag =)

Crystal + Devin,

So many epic moments that still leave me speechless months later.  Thank you for being so willing to adventure in the rain, climb, and hike!  You’re freaking amazing together, thank you for choosing our team to plan and photograph such an EPIC day in your lives!  Okay, so hurry and come back so we can go on another exploration together!!  ?

© 2017, Iceland Wedding Planner /  Photos by Miss Ann, All Rights Reserved.

The post Iceland Glacier Wedding || Devin + Crystal’s Adventure appeared first on Iceland Wedding Planner.

For years Cassie and Kyle have plotted on a real life map where they have journeyed together and where they desired to go next.  They spend their trips doing offbeat adventures like dog sledding, canyoneering, ziplining, and incredible hikes.  Iceland has always been a top runner on that list.  So after a dreamy marriage proposal from the top of a hot air balloon in Vermont it was only fitting that Iceland wedding planning would begin!

Naturally being adventure seekers, they found us to put together an experience they would never forget.  Did you catch their Iceland Pre-Wedding Session we featured last week?  If not, go back here to see.

These two held their Iceland summer wedding at the end of June this year and their details were gorgeous!  The blues, the light pinks, whites…Swoon!

…and how romantic is this Iceland wedding dress?

Kyle and Cassie decided to be traditional and not see each other the night before their wedding day.  So once they were ready, we held a first look before their Iceland wedding ceremony.  What a special moment they shared overlooking a very misty fjord!

When we arrived to their mystery Iceland wedding location, it was raining but their +15 guests didn’t even notice as they were so enthralled by the beauty that surrounded them.

One of the prerequisites of being one of our clients, is being excited about running around in the rain or shine on your wedding day in Iceland.  Plus it also makes for some amazing photo opportunities!  See how easy these two make it look?

Our second stop during Cassie + Kyle’s Iceland wedding adventure was pretty little golden sand beach in the Snaefellsnes Peninsula where they ran around  hand in hand.

Lava fields are abundant here in Iceland so it’s only natural for a bride and groom to find their way to them for a romantic walk!

No adventure day to the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, would be complete without a quick stop at one of the oldest churches within that famed area!

Adventuring to one of the islands 100’s of waterfalls must always be on the Iceland wedding schedule!  This fab couple chose this gorgeous beauty!

Oh la la and do not even get me started on how dreamy their Iceland Wedding Reception setup was!  Shouldn’t every wedding in Iceland have an incredible fjord view?!

Greens, browns with pops of pinks set the dreamy color scheme.  The guests delighted in delicious Icelandic chocolates and salts as party favors.  And were pleasantly surprised by a 4 course traditional meal and an Iceland wedding cake!

Take a few minutes to peruse a few more of our favorites below from Cassie and Kyle’s magnificent Iceland wedding day!  Also see some additional images from their fabulous Iceland wedding, featured on MyWedding.com!

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

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

The post Iceland Wedding Photos | Cassie + Kyle’s Adventure Wedding 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.

Now bring on the endlessly AMAZING options for Iceland Wedding Locations…  So I invite you to take a deep breath and savor our post today!  I even dare you to close your eyes, revel in the beauty as you read your way through these amazing Iceland wedding locations.  Then start asking yourself, if you see yourselves there, saying “I do!” in the midst of that epic landscape!

Disclaimer:  Several of the locations featured within this post are on private property and require special permissions that most people do not have (don’t worry, our Iceland Wedding Planning team of course does, because we are the offbeat Iceland adventure wedding experts!).  Other locations may require specialized gear and vehicles to get to them.  Good News!  This is exactly why we specialize in planning Iceland Adventure Weddings, so when you fall in love with a location, please contact us and we’ll put together some crazy awesome unique Iceland wedding plans for you!

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

32 AMAZING Iceland Wedding Locations:

#1-  Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach Iceland Wedding:

It’s one of the most iconic landscapes in Iceland (and believe us, there are plenty of iconic landscapes to choose from in this country!).  Reynisfjara Beach is located on the southern coast of Iceland, not far from the town of Vik.  It’s famous not just for its black sand, but its three distinctive sea stacks, jutting out of the ocean.  Many couples pay a visit to Vik Beach (in front of the town side) before shooting their wedding photos at Reynisfjara Black Beach.  You could also consider a Basalt Sea Stack Wedding, if you’re so inclined.

Reynisfjara Beach is also home to a rather unique columned stone wall that opens to form the mouth of a large cave.  The cave provides a perfect, sheltered spot for a wedding ceremony, framing stunning views of the black sand beach and the Atlantic Ocean beyond.  If you’re planning to visit Iceland during winter however, you will likely not be able to go inside of the cave (between November-April) as the waves consume the cave and making it CRAZY dangerous.

Please Note: Since this blog post was written, this Iceland black sand beach wedding location has turned into a heavily populated tourist location.  It is best to arrive shortly before sunrise or sunset to avoid the heavy tourist times.  Also know to check the tide schedules to stay safe on this beach.  This beach is known for it’s heavy riptides so please visit with care and knowledge.

#2- Have your Iceland Wedding in front of a Secret Private Waterfall:

Is there anything more picturesque than adventuring to a private waterfall in Iceland to say your vows at?  There are an endless amount of waterfalls in all sorts of shapes and sizes to choose from.  But, did you know, that over 75% of Iceland is privately owned, therefore some of its most spectacular scenery is on private property (requiring in advance permission).  One of our favorite private waterfall wedding ceremonies was Brandi and Zach’s from July 2018.  Followed by the hidden waterfall elopement of JoAnne and Corbin.

Finding you the most perfect, secret spot for your wedding ceremony is our forte and we have exclusivity at countless stunning private waterfall wedding locations!  Love the idea of having a wedding at a private waterfall where it’s just the two of you and your guests?!  Connect with our experienced Iceland Wedding Planner team for more information.

#3-  Iceland Wedding at Dyrholaey Sea Cliff:

For panoramic coastal views, Dyrholaey Sea Cliff is a unique spot with a breathtaking outlook in all directions.  The cliff is, quite literally, an island with a door hole.  It’s possible to walk across the bridge of the of the cliff, where you can see as far as the Myrdalsjokull glacier in one direction, and Reynisdrangar’s sea stacks in the other.  You will also find an impressive lighthouse at the top.  Note: Since this Iceland Wedding Planner blog post was published, a crazy amount of ropes have been installed throughout this area.  Before it was roped off and became heavily populated with tourists, we shot these wedding photos at Dyrholaey Sea Cliffs.

It’s also possible to visit the bottom of the cliff, located on a dramatic black sand beach (photo above). Our Iceland Wedding Planner team has been granted exclusive access to this area by the landowner.  When you step out of the super jeep, your jaw will drop as you marvel over the incredible view from this direction.  A sunrise wedding ceremony at Dyrholaey Sea Cliff might be one of the most dreamy things we have witnessed!  You may even cross paths with one of the local Puffins if you’re lucky!

#4-  Iceland Wedding at the famed Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon:

It’s famous for a reason, and this gorgeous glacial lake is a wedding photographer’s dream – a still blue lake surrounded by national park and filled with majestic icebergs.  Note: To have a wedding within this national park space, you must ask for permission in advance (even if not bringing chairs or a setup for the Iceland wedding ceremony).

Do you remember Richard and Bethany’s Glacier Lagoon wedding?  Or what about visiting a more offbeat one that provides a more intimate experience during your Iceland wedding adventure like Melissa and Vince’s fall wedding?

#5-  Wedding at Iceland Geothermal Area:

You’ve probably heard Iceland referred to as ‘the land of fire and ice’.  The ‘fire’ moniker comes from its many, quite spectacular geothermal areas.  Think bubbling mud pools, steaming hot springs and the occasional spurting geyser.  Oh, and about 30 active volcanoes too!  If your wedding day wish list requires something truly unique, consider one of these stunning locations and prepare for some truly epic wedding photos.

Our Iceland Wedding Planner team also has exclusive access to some to some private geothermal areas that will have ZERO tourists.

#6-  Iceland Wedding Ceremony inside of a Secret Private Cave:

Iceland is famed for its numerous caves, many of which become stunning ice formations during the winter months.  Caves provide a perfect, private space to exchange your vows, particularly if you want to shelter from some of the wilder weather that this country is known for.  Visit our Iceland Wedding Planner blog to see the endless amount of caves our team has access to.

#7-  Northern Iceland Wedding at Godafoss Waterfall:

Another of Iceland’s picture perfect waterfalls, Godafoss (also known as ‘the waterfall of the gods’) is a 30 meter wide, horseshoe shaped beauty in the north of Iceland.  It’s a lovely spot for an intimate ceremony, complete with stunning views and the thundering soundtrack of water flowing through an ancient lava field and crashing into the river below.

Iceland Wedding Planner Tip: We no longer have this location on our Iceland wedding location list (it has become too touristy for our taste) but if you are planning on your own, we highly encourage you to marry on the left side of the falls versus the touristy right hand side.  See our previous Iceland elopement at Godafoss Waterfall for reference.

#8-  Iceland Country Church Wedding:

For those who crave the beauty of Iceland’s natural landscape but still prefer a more traditional church setting for their wedding ceremony, Iceland has many options for you.  There are beautiful churches dotted across the countryside, each with their own unique character and charm.

Special Note: Iceland Wedding Planner no longer offers weddings or elopements in churches unless the couple embarks on an adventure afterwards like this couple who married in Vik Iceland.

#9-  Have an Icelandic Elopement in a field of Lupines!

Do you love the color purple?  Then how about saying ‘I do’ amongst a sea of lovely Lupines?  During the time frame between mid June to mid July, the island is coated with millions of Alaskan lupine, it’s super dreamy!  Please make sure before choosing a spot though please ask permission from the land owner or location before holding your Iceland wedding ceremony there (if not hiring us).

#10-  Iceland Northern Lights Wedding at the little black church in Budir: Búðakirkja

Speaking of churches, Budir’s little black church would have to be one of the most instantly recognizable churches in Iceland.  Búðakirkja is set in the midst of a lava field, with an epic glacier as its backdrop.  And who needs a fireworks display if you’re lucky enough to see a spectacular sky show courtesy of the Northern Lights overhead?

Of course, the Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon and their appearance is unpredictable.  As much as we would love to ‘turn them on’ for our couples, it’s impossible to guarantee when and where they will appear.  Certain times of year and certain locations do offer more favorable chances of spotting them however and of course, we know all of the best vantage points.  You can find more information in our blog post about the Northern Lights in Iceland.

#11-  Iceland Elopement at the historical Silfra (Where the North American and Eurasian Tectonic Plates Meet):

Could there be a more powerful spot for a wedding to take place than the exact meeting point of two tectonic plates?  The Silfra ravine is filled with crystal clear glacial water and surrounded by unspoiled national parkland.  It’s an awe inspiring location and a magical setting for an intimate elopement ceremony.

Rewind back to before tourists flooded this place, Chloe and Danny held their romantic wedding ceremony at Oxarafoss Waterfall in Thingvellir National Park.  We no longer offer this location as part of our Iceland wedding locations (too touristy) but our friends at Iceland Weddings and Honeymoons can help you!  This location does require in advance permission to hold a wedding ceremony there.

#12-  Iceland Wedding on top of a Cliff!

What better vantage point to take in all of the beauty that Iceland has to offer, than perched on the top of a spectacular cliff.  With a setting like this for your wedding ceremony, zero styling or decor is required.  Do you remember Tim and Antonia’s cliff side Iceland Viking wedding ceremony HERE?

#13-  Iceland Crashed Airplane Wedding:

For a completely unique wedding photo shoot, visit the famous wreck of a DC plane that crashed on a black sand beach back in 1973 (not to worry, everyone on board survived!).  It’s a little off the beaten track and can be difficult to find.  Of course, we know exactly how to get you here.

Update:  This location is no longer part of our Iceland wedding planner repertoire of locations as it has become too touristy (the area has no closed to driving and you must hike the 1-2 hours).  For the right couple though, we have rented ATV’s like Petra and Jan did HERE for their honeymoon adventure.

#14-  Iceland Wedding near a Historical Shipwreck:

Picture this . . .  An intimate wedding ceremony beside the ocean, framed by spectacular windswept coastal scenery and overlooked by a towering historical shipwreck.  Oooh la la!  See one of our previous elopements HERE that took Iceland wedding photos at that location.

#15-   Kirkjufellsfoss Waterfall Wedding in Iceland:

Kirkjufellsfoss is a beautiful waterfall surrounded by green fields and overlooked by the rather distinctive Mt. Kirkjufell.  As far as picture perfect wedding locations go, this one couldn’t be more photogenic.  It’s a blissful setting for your wedding portraits, or perhaps even an intimate waterfall wedding ceremony for two.

Special Note: As tourism has increased, this sweet little location in the Snaefellsness Peninsula has been overrun.  Arrive early to beat the crowds.  Before it was heavily populated and roped everywhere, we photographed some gorgeous Iceland wedding photos HERE.

#16- Iceland Wedding at a Basalt Rock Sea Formation:

Reynisfjara Beach might be the best known location for spotting basalt sea formations, but there are other, far quieter locations for spotting these spectacular lava structures.  If you fancy having one of these Icelandic artworks in your wedding photos, we know just where to find them.

#17-  Iceland Green Mountain Wedding:

Iceland’s landscape covers the full spectrum of colors and textures, from frozen glaciers to thundering waterfalls, from barren lava fields through to majestic green mountains – take your pick!  In fact, our epic Iceland wedding adventures often span all of the above in a single day.

#18-  Iceland Wedding in 2300 Year Old Lava Fields:

Iceland is a hotspot for volcanic activity, and when these magnificent beasts erupt, they certainly leave their mark on the landscape – even thousands of years later.  A visit to one of these ‘out of this world’ locations will make you feel as though you’ve landed on the moon!  Relax, it’s just one more example of Iceland’s many and varied landscapes.  No doubt there is another spectacular waterfall, glacier, mountain or beach … just a short drive away.

#19-  Sod Farm Wedding in Iceland:

If green is your color, why not consider the verdant surrounds of a sod farm wedding?  Inspired by this?  Head back to our previous Iceland Wedding Planner blog post HERE to see Ciara and Jared’s rustic ranch style wedding!

#20-  Lakeside Elopement for two in Iceland:

Iceland offers the perfect setting for an adventurous elopement.  And after a full day of exploring, it’s time to retire to yet another spectacular location and enjoy one more memorable experience.  A romantic lakeside table just for two is the ideal spot to share a toast (and some delectable local cuisine!) while you celebrate your first day of married life.

Remember these two lifetime sweethearts who wed at one of Iceland’s many fresh water lakes?  Head back HERE to experience their fabulous day!

#21-  Choose an Iceland Wedding Location that looks like another Planet!

Does a barren glacier appeal to you?  How about a jagged, rocky plain or maybe even a lava landscape or some steaming, bubbling hot springs?  Iceland has just the backdrop for you!  Just imagine exchanging your vows in one of these spectacular, otherworldly settings.

#22-  Iceland Wedding in the Snaefellsness Peninsula:

If there’s one thing that Iceland does well, it’s a dramatic landscape.  So when the locals refer to the Snaefellsness Peninsula one of the most beautiful and dramatic regions in their country, well, you can guess just how spectacular this area is.  And while the Snaefellsness Peninsula is a little off the beaten path and often overlooked by most visitors, that just makes us love it even more.

#23-  Iceland Wedding on a Golden Sand Beach:

Although Iceland is known for its black sand beaches, it’s also home to several quite beautiful golden sand beaches.  If you prefer a golden backdrop on your wedding day, these ‘off the beaten path’ beaches are well worth the trek.

#24-  Get Married in Iceland on top of a Glacier!

Imagine exchanging your vows on top of a vast sheet of pure ice.  How spectacular!  Yes, it is possible, and Iceland is one of the few locations on earth where you can plan such a magical white wedding.

#25-  Iceland Sunrise or Sunset Wedding:

What a beautiful time of day to enjoy Iceland’s spectacular landscapes all to yourself.  Don’t even get us started on all of the incredible colors and hues that make an appearance at this hour.

#26- Iceland Volcano Field Wedding:

Fancy a towering Volcano as the backdrop for your wedding ceremony?    Iceland has many active volcanoes so you have plenty to choose from!  Admire the epic view as you exchange your vows in a field of ancient lava.  Wow!!

#27-  Iceland Grass Covered House Wedding:

If you’re keen to capture the spirit of ancient Iceland on your big day, how about a wedding ceremony in front of a lovely grass covered house?  Grass covered houses were actually the traditional building style in Iceland many centuries ago, and the oldest example dates all the way back to the 9th century.  At one time there were over 100,000 of them dotted across the countryside, however a wave of modern development has all but wiped them out.  Today these beautiful grass cottages are an endangered species and only a few remain.  For a (rare) slice of history on your wedding day, why not exchange your vows in front of one of these cute, turf covered houses?

#28- Hold your Iceland Wedding or Elopement at the base of a Majestic Mountain!

Who needs props or decorations when you marry in front of a breathtaking landscape that has stood for millions of years?  A majestic mountain (or two!) is one of our favorite wedding accessories!

#29- Iceland Fishing Village Wedding:

A sleepy little fishing village complete with stunning coastal scenery. Romantic, much?  We couldn’t agree more!

#30- Iceland Blue Ice Cave Wedding (the real thing, not man-made):

Imagine exchanging your vows against the backdrop of blue ice.  Iceland’s ice caves come in many beautiful hues from clear right through to deeper blues, turquoise and even shades of violet.  Your ‘something blue’ never looked so good!

#31- Have a vibrantly textured Icelandic Highlands Wedding:

How about the beauty and the serenity of a wedding in the midst of Iceland’s vast and uninhabited highlands?  The highlands are home to many of Iceland’s most spectacular sights, from mountains to glaciers, waterfalls to lava formations.  This pristine wilderness area is only accessible at certain times of the year, so some forward planning is required if you want to ensure that you’re able to visit this piece of paradise for yourself.  We would love to be your wedding day tour guides!

#32- Marry in Iceland at the famed Southern waterfalls Skogafoss or Seljalandsfoss:

If you’re dreaming of an epic backdrop for your Iceland wedding day, it doesn’t get much more impressive than this.  Skogafoss and Seljalandsfoss are two thundering waterfalls located in the south of Iceland.  They are actually located just 30 minutes apart, so you can easily visit both on your wedding day.  And if the sight of a towering waterfall isn’t breathtaking enough, you can even walk behind Seljalandsfoss or hike to the top of Skogafoss for a totally different perspective.

Can you picture your wedding against any one of these drop dead gorgeous backdrops?  If you’re looking for more inspiration, you’ll find plenty on our Iceland Wedding Planner blog, and if you’re keen to learn all there is to know about weddings in Iceland, head over to our FAQ page.  Or perhaps you’re ready to start planning your own epic adventure wedding or luxury elopement in Iceland.  Perfect!  You can get in touch with us here.  We can’t wait to hear from you!

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

The post 32 Iceland Wedding Locations That Will Leave You Speechless appeared first on Iceland Wedding Planner.

In February the Icelandic landscape is often covered with winter snow, and the temperatures hover around freezing.  At times it may feel colder due to the high winds.  The bright side to this time of year though is the Northern Lights can be abound on clear nights.  The ION Luxury Adventure Hotel is one of the best locations in Iceland to watch an Aurora Borealis show because of low light pollution and the primo view in the Northern Lights Bar.  As you may remember from our previous Iceland wedding location post here on the ION Hotel, the bar has floor to ceiling windows that allow their guests to be immersed into the landscape of Iceland very easily on cold winter nights.

Several months ago, we started to plan an idyllic Iceland elopement for a couple that requested the ION be their wedding host hotel… Yippee!  Our Singapore couple, Farid and Vanessa, chose Iceland in search of unique sights and the Northern Lights for their destination wedding adventure.  Living where the average temperature year round is 86°F (30°C), they very bravely embraced the challenging Iceland winter conditions and outdoor adventures with a smile.  Iceland Wedding Planner, created a fabulous wedding week itinerary for them which included items like a private visit to the Blue Lagoon, dog sledding, glacier hiking, waterfall hunting, and a full wedding day adventure from sunrise to sunset.

To kick off Vanessa and Farid’s wedding adventures the evening before the big day; we photographed them at dusk around the ION Luxury Adventure Hotel.  Having their engagement session in Iceland created an earthy rustic, experience.  The moss and snow covered lava fields, geothermal steam, winding roads and Mount Hengill all served as fantastic backdrops for us.  Oh my, was it mystifyingly romantic!  Without further ado, please delight in Vanessa and Farid’s engagement session in Iceland!  Then make sure you come back for their enticing Icelandic elopement posts!

• Iceland Lakeside Country Church Wedding
• Thingvellir National Park Wedding Photos
• ION Luxury Adventure Hotel Elopement

With a smile,  Chris & Ann Peters (Iceland Wedding Photographers & Planners)

2014, Iceland Wedding Planner / Photos by Miss Ann, All Rights Reserved.

The post Iceland Engagement Session | ION Hotel Wedding Photographer appeared first on Iceland Wedding Planner.

Thanks for joining us this week!  We had the pleasure of photographing our first Lebanese-Ecuadorian wedding earlier this month.  The wedding was rich in cultural elements that we just loved!  The gorgeous venues were the Islamic Center of Greater Toledo, Wildwood Manor for wedding portraits and Central Park West for the reception.  Emad (Lebanese) and Melanie (Ecuadorian) actually met during medical school in Ecuador and held a friendship of 5 years before they ventured down the path of newly wedded bliss!  Both coming from very opulent cultures, they decided to plan a wedding that not only featured their love and commitment, emanated two cultures, but also celebrated the combining of two families.

The bride, Melanie brought in several traditions from Ecuador, such as her family made wedding dress and Latin music.  The groom Emad, with his strong roots in the Lebanese culture,  brought traditions such as an Islamic wedding ceremony (signing of contracts), elaborate entrance to their reception,  Dabke dancing (a type of Arabic group folk dancing), and a tossing petals exit.  This wedding hands down was one of the joyous and most energetic wedding days I have ever had the honor of being a part of.  My cheeks hurt from smiling by the end of the night!

This remarkable wedding leads perfectly into our topic today… Culture + Weddings!  Incorporating your cultural sparkle into your wedding day can really add meaning for both you and your guests.  It doesn’t have to be the entire tradition either; it could simply be a portion.  There are several different ways you can adapt a cultural tradition to complement your wedding day so I encourage you to think outside the box!  Even if you’re not having an Iceland destination wedding you can still think about adding in a few of these elements you admire or to embrace your ethnic backgrounds.

Several of our favorite cultural wedding traditions are featured in the list below:

• African Wedding Traditions: “Jumping the Broom.”
• Asian Wedding Traditions: Both the bride and groom wear white.
• English Wedding Traditions: Putting a sixpence under the brides shoe (lucky left) to signify good fortune and prosperity.
• Dutch Wedding Traditions: Create a “wish tree” as a guest book.  Your guests pin a happy note or valuable piece of advice to its branches.
• French Wedding Traditions: The groom walks his mother and mother-in-law down the aisle to be seated at the ceremony.
• Hungarian Wedding Traditions: The bride shares a dance with her mother and grandmother.  (This is actually a tradition we had at our own Seljalandsfoss Iceland wedding).
• Icelandic Wedding Traditions
• Indian Wedding Traditions: Mehndi art is performed, which is the intricate painting of the bride’s hands and feet. Most Indian weddings also span over several days.
• Irish Wedding Traditions: Incorporate a Celtic love knot or a “tying of the knot” ceremony.
• Italian Wedding Traditions: May include having Jordan Almonds as a wedding favor (representing that marriage is sometimes bittersweet).
• Lebanese Wedding Traditions: Sacred ceremony with family members only, Dabke dancing, and extravagant entrances/exits.
• Spanish/Latin Wedding Traditions: Guests form a circle around the bride and groom while they partake in their first dance as husband and wife.
• Scottish Wedding Traditions: Include some of my favorite traditions such as having flower petal aisle way, a bagpiper for ceremony music, and a hand fastening ceremony.
• Swedish Wedding Traditions: The bride often has 3 wedding rings to represent following: engagement, marriage, and future outlook to motherhood.

Below, you will find a few more ideas that are embraced across many cultures during wedding planning…

Traditions to Consider While Planning Your Iceland Wedding:

• A special headpiece instead of a typical veil.
• Carrying a handkerchief made from your/husband-to-be’s christening gown, mothers, MIL’s, or sister’s wedding dress. (Iceland Wedding Planner Tip: If you’re not a fan of holding it…The fabric could easily be pinned on the underside of your dress or fused into your wedding bouquet).
• Plan an Iceland Welcome Dinner for your guests the evening before your wedding day.  In many cultures they turn the wedding day into a wedding weekend so it truly feels like a really special once in a lifetime event.
• Our favorite Old English rhyme for a lucky wedding day: “Something Olde, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue, a Sixpence in Your Shoe.”
• Having two wedding dresses (Iceland wedding ceremony dress and an Iceland wedding reception dress) can really add an element of glamor to your wedding day.  Many cultures have the bride changing throughout her wedding day.
• 4 Words: Day of Wedding Gift!

Iceland Traditional Wedding Ceremony Ideas:

• Keep the surprises going and do not see each other before the wedding ceremony! (Iceland Real Wedding Example: Chris and I stayed together the night before but then we parted ways after breakfast.  That way, his first look at me was down the aisle.  This moment turned out to be the most adoring smile ever!
• Both parents giving the bride and/or groom away during the ceremony.
• The bride and groom walking down the aisle way together at the start of the ceremony.
• Cultural decorations such as having certain flowers, lanterns, archway, or a special canopy.
• Special Blessing or Poem in the native language.  Can be said during your Iceland wedding ceremony, used as a toast, or simply on display at the reception.
• Petal Toss (Showering the bride and groom with rose petals on an entrance or exit).
• During your wedding ceremony in Iceland, incorporate having a meaningful Love Letter Ceremony.  Years later we are still so excited we did this!  So much that we have decided to write a letter to each other every year on our Anniversary.  See our Love Letter update post here.

Iceland Wedding Reception Ideas for Cultural Traditions:

• Food (having several served courses or a certain type of ethnic food).
• Serving a dessert that is different than a traditional wedding cake (Example, an Icelandic wedding cake is traditionally a Kransakaka.  We personally decided against both of those items and served our guests chocolate lava cake with vanilla ice cream).
• Memorial station or flowers in remembrance of those who have passed.
• Carrying the bride over the threshold.
• A wedding favor that incorporates your culture in some way.
• Several cultures have the breaking of plates, glasses, or vases during the reception to signify “new beginnings.”
• Incorporate your parents/grandparents wedding memento (such as champagne flutes).
• A special dance to your countries customary music.
• Releasing wish lanterns at the end of your wedding night.  Each guest makes a wish for the newlywed couple!

We hope today’s you have fallen in love with a few of these traditions and they got you thinking about possibly incorporating them into your own local or destination wedding in Iceland.   We leave you today with Emad and Mela as our wedding photo inspiration!

Emad & Mela, thank you for choosing Photos by Miss Ann to tell your wedding day story!  As we said above, your wedding was one with so much energy, love, and excitement it will forever be one of our favorites.  We hope you are able to relive your wedding day through our images now and in decades to come!  Enjoy…

With a smile,

Ann & Chris Peters

Experts in Weddings in Iceland (Feel free to contact us here).

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

The post Cultural Weddings appeared first on Iceland Wedding Planner.

Welcome to Part 3 of 3 of our series on destination wedding invitations.

A few weeks ago, we featured the fun topic of Extravagant Destination Wedding Invitations and last week, we chatted about Creative Destination Wedding Invitations for Iceland Weddings that were of a moderate cost and added in few unique inclusions.  Today, we are going to talk about the final level and option for destination wedding invitations: the whimsical kind!

One of the really wonderful things about having a wedding invitation that has minimal frills but still is fanciful, is that you save on you wedding budget.  Who doesn’t love that?!  Having no specific needs for elaborate inserts, visuals, extra envelopes, (etc.,) really decreases the costs that can quickly emerge as you design your local or destination wedding invitations.

I’ve peaked your curiosity you say?   So you’re dying to know what is classified as a whimsical invitation design, I bet.  According to us, it is an invitation that is vibrant in color, has a dreamy font, eloquent in statement and most of all reflects you as a couple!  An invitation that makes your guests say, “Aww, how cute are they?!  I cannot wait for their wedding!”  We’re seeing a new trend emerge that takes a lighter and even humorous approach to the usual RSVP/Reply Card for weddings which add in some guest banter like inserting your own wedding “Mad Lib” for your guests to fill in (example below).  That option may be something you’ll want to consider if you’re not head over heels about the typical reply cards.

The invitation does not need to be elaborate in fact; many guests appreciate the frankness of a modest destination wedding invitation rather than having the cutesy frill inclusions.  They simply just want to know who, what, where, and when.  Each to his own, right?  I can appreciate all sides particularly when this side of the fence can be a significant Iceland wedding budget saver.  Especially if it means you can allocate those funds toward other things like having an awesome  destination wedding planner and a husband and wife Iceland wedding photography team! =)

To give you a real wedding in Iceland example, one of our favorite couples for 2014 made the unique decision to email their wedding invitations to their 50+ guests.  They plan to have each guest respond via their fun wedding website (Think: Iceland destination wedding RSVP).  This could easily be a savings of $200+ USD depending on how large your guest list is.  So now I’m guessing the big question you have is how do you execute this idea properly?  Good question!

Here’s our advice on the steps to a flawless destination wedding invitation timeline:

• First, set a wedding date that is more than 10 months before your desired date.  If you have done so, make sure you send out Iceland Save-the-Dates several months before so your guests know to reserve that time period ahead of time (emailing this is an option too!).  But giving everyone an opportunity to plan/save ahead time is proper wedding etiquette.

• Second, know your vision for your wedding day… do you want it to be soft and sweet, bold and adventurous, or an in between neutral mix?  Figuring this out will allow you to choose colors and the vibe your invitation will exude to your Iceland wedding guests.

• Narrow down what you would like to include with your destination wedding invitation (see last week’s post here on what is usually included).  [Invitation wording can be tricky but don’t fret; we’ll have a future blog post guiding you on this subject!]

• Have your awesome Iceland Wedding Planner design/find/present to you unique options for your wedding Iceland wedding invite.

• Discuss with your fiancé(e) the pros, cons, and feel of each option.  Which option reflects the two of you and your wedding style best?  How do you think your guests will react?

• {If printing} Decide on your favorite and get them ordered! (Iceland Wedding Planner Tip: Order 8+ months before your big day to avoid rush charges).

{Step by Step Directions: If Emailing Your Wedding Invitation}

1.   Create a wedding only email address that will be used strictly to catch all of your Iceland wedding guest RSVP’s (IE, EmandPenIceland20XX@gmail.com).  This makes life more organized if your guest list is larger than 10 people.

2.   Setup an RSVP page on your wedding website and also input your meal choices if possible (so you do not need to collect this information separately).  Note: If having an Iceland Wedding Welcome Dinner (Iceland Wedding Rehearsal Dinner), you may also want to have folks RSVP at that time as well.  Or else send another RSVP for that event 3-4 months before.

3.   Collect everyone’s email addresses (if you haven’t yet).

4.    Plan to email the invitation ~8-12 months before your wedding date and give your guests 2.5 months to acknowledge and reply.  For instance, if getting married in Iceland in October 2014 you would want to send out your wedding invitations no later than November 2013 and ask for your guests for the favor of their reply by February 1^st 2014 (8-9 months before) or sooner.

Two options on how to approach actually emailing the wedding invite:

•  Blind Copy (BCC) your guests in a mass email wedding invitation.

• Personalize to each guest (our recommendation to you).  If personalizing, you should formally invite your guests.  For instance, address by saying, “Ms./Mr. & Guest” or “Mr. & Mrs. Christopher Peters.”  Wedding invitations are formal so it is important to still convey that even through an email.

5.    About 3 weeks before your requested RSVP date, plan to send out a follow up email gently reminding your Iceland destination wedding guests about finalizing their decision.  Usually when people get that kind reminder they will jump into gear to request time off, book flights, reserve a room at your Iceland wedding host hotel, and browse around your wedding website for your pre/post wedding itinerary.

6.    Any stragglers that have not responded two weeks past your requested response date I would email them a personal little note checking in to make sure they received the email invitation and were able to open it.  That simple, leave the ball in their court with no pressure and if more time passes (another 2 weeks) and no response call them.  Whoever is closer to the friend or family member reach out to them individually and understand what might be keeping them from replying.  Is it a timing issue, money, travel fear, inexperience, etc?  See what you can do to help get them there.  …and if nothing, do not worry yourself over it, you tried your best to accommodate their situation.

7.    At the 90, 60, 30 day countdown to your wedding day in Iceland send an email or write a blog post about your excitement and share your activity itinerary with your guests.

8.   If you’re a super planner like we were, calling your guests 15 days before to ask them if they had any questions is a really sweet gesture especially to those who do not travel all the time.  That call will give them confidence!  [Personal Experience: The majority Ann’s family members had never traveled outside of the Midwest, so many of them had anxiety over traveling to Iceland.  That phone call days before gave them the boost they needed to put on their “adventurous game face.”]

9.    Remind your guests it’s a good idea to bring the wedding invitation, a copy of their passport (along with the real thing), and travel itinerary so that they can quickly get through customs with no issues.  Feel free to also share with them our previous blog post on what to pack as an Iceland wedding guest here.

Hopefully you found the above a pretty straightforward timeline on how to execute your destination wedding invitations.  Below, you’ll find some gorgeously fun examples of some whimsical Iceland destination wedding invitations.  We’d like to thank Brian & Tiffany for allowing us to share some of their Iceland wedding invitation options they were considering and Paisley & Robert as well! Thank you!  Lastly, we’d like to give our compliments to the two gorgeous vendors that worked with us on some of these design elements within the invitations below:  Thank you May and Belle and Wedding Chicks!  Check them out!  [As a side note about May and Belle: She is a talented designer from Australia who creates map related stylish wall art and a few are geared specifically for weddings, so fun!  She so beautifully created the Iceland heart map used in Paisley & Robert’s Vik Beach wedding invitation you see below].

In case you’re finding this blog post at the end of this series; feel free to go back to our previous posts for additional Iceland wedding inspiration:

Creative Destination Wedding Invitations for Iceland Weddings (Part 1 of 3)

Extravagant Destination Wedding Invitations (Part 2 of 3)

Otherwise, we hope you have enjoyed our posts the past few weeks as much as we did creating them.  These posts made us feel like newlyweds all over again swooning all over these choices and details!  If you’re planning a wedding in Iceland, love details, adventure, and awesome photography- we’d love to hear from you feel free to contact us!

With a smile,  Ann & Chris Peters

Iceland Wedding Planner & Iceland Wedding Photographers

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

The post Whimsical Iceland Wedding Invitations (Part 3 of 3) appeared first on Iceland Wedding Planner.

Hey hey hey! Wake up and smile because it’s a gorgeous day!

The level of excitement I have for this post is off the charts!  Hope you’re as excited as we are to talk about elaborate destination wedding invitations.

Deciding to have a destination wedding anywhere is a really unique and special decision.  But choosing a destination wedding location such as Iceland, Greenland, or the Faroe Islands takes a lot of guts and commitment!  Not only in the planning stages does all that bravery come into play, but also on your actual wedding day as well because of the ever changing weather and dramatic scenery.  Your Iceland destination wedding invitation should follow suit and entice your guests to be brave and join you on this lifetime adventure.

Let’s be straightforward… Your destination wedding guests first reaction to your seeing your wedding save-the-date location as Iceland will be shock and they may have the initial response of “Why would I ever want to go there for a wedding or vacation, its cold?!”  Iceland Wedding Planner Tip: Educate them and prove them wrong!  That being said, today we are starting an awesome 3 part series on different types of destination wedding invitations to help you decide which kind of invitation suits you best- So welcome to part 1 of 3!

Did you realize there are different levels of wedding invitations?  Wedding invitations do not always just give the nitty gritty details of your wedding day, but many times they tell the story of your love, location,  why you chose it, and why your guests should want to visit to see you marry there!   One of the most impressive ways to do this is to give your guests an extravagant destination wedding invitation.  Hands down, the most amazing wedding invitation we have seen is from the super cute husband and wife team, Bri and David the owners of AtlasArtistry.  This dynamic duo was so much fun to work with!  Bri and David actually started their company shortly after they personally struggled to find a “knock your socks off” wedding invitation for their own destination wedding in South America.

They delight in the details just as much as we do so it was a no brainier for us to commission their services for one of our Iceland 2014 clients.  I won’t go into all of the wonderful specifics of their process (because that is fun in itself!) but they are extremely professional, very detailed, take serious pride in their work and the quality of the end product is outstanding.  When the invitation package arrived it was beautifully addressed (Bri has the best handwriting ever), carefully wrapped, packaged, and the invitations were secured safely inside.  These weren’t even our wedding invitations and Chris and I gathered around the dining room table together to as if it was Christmas morning!  Ha, totally happened!  We were totally welled up with excitement for our Iceland destination wedding couple who are going to say their Iceland “I do’s” beside of the Jokulsarlon Glacial Lagoon in 2014.

I think my husband said it best when he opened the invitation… “The old world charm the book exudes seriously transports you the moment it is in your hands.”  He’s right you feel the weight of the book, the key, the texture of the twine, see the romantic seal and it all blends together to create such an incredible experience.  Albeit your guests will get goose bumps as they untie this exceptional destination wedding invitation!  I know we did!  Once you open the invitation you quickly realize that it’s a real book and it has been painstakingly fastened and then hollowed out to create cubby hole.  In this spot you find the wedding invitation passport that is 100% customized to your wedding adventure.  The passport is very authentic looking and includes such components as the following:

• Live passport page featuring the couple.
• Engagement photos.
• Official date, location, and time of ceremony.
• Wedding day itinerary.
• Iceland wedding menu.
• Post Iceland wedding itinerary.
• “Your Adventure Awaits…” beginning page and “Our Happily Ever After Begins…” final page.

Your wedding guests are instantly transported to Iceland with this extravagant destination wedding invitation.  Inside the cubby hole, you will also find matching fun luggage tags featuring the airport code yours guests will be flying into on one side and on the other an area for your guest(s) information.  On the left hand side you see a pocket which holds various elements that really grab your guest’s attention like mock plane tickets to Iceland that are customized to each guest name (and QR code), a mini Iceland travel brochure, and a fun destination wedding checklist.

Having crazy awesome details like this included in your destination wedding invitation makes it a very real experience for you, your guests, and for sure amps up the excitement for your big day.  For an impressively elaborate destination wedding invitation such as this or something similar you can expect to budget around $30-60 USD per wedding invitation plus packaging and postage to each of your guests.  I cannot say enough good things about this stunning wedding invitation so without further ado, please experience it yourself through our Iceland wedding invitation photos below.

In case you have just found us… check out our other posts within this awesome series:

Creative Iceland Destination Wedding Invitations (Part 2 of 3)

Whimsical Iceland Wedding Invitations (Part 3 of 3)

Many Smiles and Positive Planning Vibes Your Way, Ann Peters

Iceland Wedding Photographer and Planner

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

The post Extravagant Destination Wedding Invitations (Part 1 of 3) 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.