To Seat or Not to Seat Your Guests

Seating your guests can be a tricky little decision to make but today, I’d like to give you some Iceland wedding advice for why you should and when you can get away with not…

Why should you seat your guests for your Iceland wedding ceremony?

1. Comfort of your guests (An Iceland wedding can bring in a whole new level of interesting dynamics like 16+ mph winds, sideways rain/snow, blazing sunshine, or a late starting ceremony.  A chair can make a world of a difference to the guest avoiding fatigue or becoming antsy).
2. For the sake of your EPIC Iceland wedding photographs!  No joke folks… The framing on your wedding photos will be stellar if you have your guests seated versus not.  If there is not a taller point (or your Iceland wedding photographer doesn’t come with a ladder like we do) then your photographs may not have as awesome of a depth and defining point between you two and your guests without it (Note: There are exceptions to this rule as you will read below).
3. Allows for you to have a pretty and/or formal aisle way to make your walk down (whether that means you get walked down by someone special, your strut yourself down it yourself or hand in hand with your soon to be!).
4. This also sets the scene for you to have a rockin’ exit! Hello petal throw, bubbles, or banner waving!
5. We offer Iceland wedding ceremony seating rentals… Making it very EASY on you!  See HERE for more information on items we rent.

So then you’re probably curious as to how you should seat your guests during your wedding ceremony in Iceland, right?

• VIP’s in the first row (IE, Parents / Grandparents).
• If going a traditional route and wanting people to “pick sides” then anyone there specifically supporting the bride would sit on the left hand side (lucky left!).
• Groom’s family and friends would then sit on the righthand side.
• The following rows consist of other immediate family and friends.

Additional sensitive issues to keep in mind…

• Any elderly folks should be seated in the front few rows to be able to see and hear properly.
• Any parents with small children seated at the end towards the back incase they need to step away.
• Folks who have any injuries, diseases, or disabilities seated on the ends so their equipment has space.

So then you are now dying to know what seating options are available here in Iceland for your wedding ceremony.. Some sweet and unique selections follow below and vary in price (also be sure to check out our Ceremony Rental section):

1. Standard Wooden Folding Chairs (typically in black or white)
2. Chiavari Chairs with Cushions
3. Clear Chairs
4. Benches (with and without fur)
5. Sheep Fur Stools
6. Wooden Pallets
7. Antique Chairs
8. Hay Bales
9. Driftwood
10. Icelandic Wool Blankets or Reindeer Skins

Iceland wedding locations or scenarios where you do not need to seat your guests:

1. Iceland Church Wedding (because they are already there!).
2. Iceland Glacier Wedding (it’s just not safe between the ice, potential of glacial quick sand, or the length of walk/hike to get to the perfect ceremony spot).
3. Moss Covered Lava Field (we cannot ruin nature).
4. Your Ceremony is less than 5 minutes.
5. You have under 3-6 guests attending and they are fully aware and on board.
6. You have hired a very capable Iceland Wedding Planner (Day of Planner) who can take charge and clearly direct guests to standing spots that create a nice aisle for you to walk down and your photographers to shoot through.

So what is our preference for you to have during your wedding ceremony in Iceland?  Have chairs, just do it.  They may seem like an unneeded expense at the time of planning but  when you get your wedding photos back, you’ll be so happy you splurged for them (happy comfortable guests)!

Outside of the fabulous choices for Iceland wedding ceremony decor, you should also make the decision on whether or not you will have an unplugged Iceland wedding ceremony.  Our vote is that you for sure DO IT.  I hope today has provided you with some “food for thought” as you plan your epic adventure to Iceland for your wedding!

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 Ceremony: To Seat or Not to Seat? appeared first on Iceland Wedding Planner.

To Have or Not Have an Unplugged Iceland Wedding?

Okay okay okay, Picture THIS!  So there you are in Iceland and it’s your wedding day.  You know at like a secret waterfall, cave, glacier, black sand beach, you know the usual awe-inspiring nature stuff   You’ve invited all those you love and adore and they are there in total bliss from all of magical surroundings you have chosen as your location to marry in Iceland!  …Anxiously waiting for you as you walk down the aisle, they all raise their iPhones and cameras to capture this epic moment in time for you!

<Hold your breath!>

Because, wait!  Now, let’s take it one step further like a month later and you’re reliving your amazing day through your fabulous Iceland wedding photos from your talented Iceland wedding photographer… As you flip through you remember that epic moment as you walked down the aisle and you notice everyone’s FACES are BLOCKED by their cameras and phones!

<Insert sad face!>

Then you get further into your Iceland wedding ceremony and you see in all of the beautiful overview shots, at least one guest is standing up (or standing off to the side) taking a photo or a video of you guys.  It’s sweet of that well-meaning guest, but how much more amazing would it have been had you been able to see everyone’s faces or have everyone’s full attention, reveling in your Iceland wedding day with you?

<Insert HAPPY face!>

Today I share with you 8 reasons why you should consider having your Iceland wedding ceremony be unplugged:

1. If their camera or phone is in front of their face, you cannot see their face and they cannot see yours!
2. The Sound. –Hello distraction!
3. The Flash – It can create unwanted shadows for your hired Iceland Wedding Photographer!
4. People will see your wedding day through their phone and not actually EXPERIENCING it with you in that moment. …you don’t want that do you?
5. People running around in the dynamic Icelandic landscapes can cause unforeseen injuries if they have the camera or iPhone to their faces the whole time. Not kidding folks – THIS HAPPENS!
6. Focus Beams – For the guests that are DSLR lovers, their red focus beam could show up in the photos.
7. You do not need extra paparazzi running around! 1 or 2 Iceland pro photographers is enough right?
8. My Personal Fave: By having an unplugged Iceland Wedding: No one will spoil the surprise to everyone back home by Instagram-ing or Facebook-ing photos of you, your dress, or the locations earlier than you wish!

My two cents on the topic!   So your next question is how do you communicate an Unplugged Iceland Wedding Ceremony to your guests?  A kind note like the following on your Iceland Wedding Website (or on your Wedding Program or Timeline Card) would do the trick:

“Guess What?!  You’re in Iceland!!  Please be present reveling in this moment with us!  We’ve hired someone awesome and that we trust to capture it fully (and we’ll share the photos after, don’t worry) so please sit back and enjoy this time with us without a electronic on or in hand.  We kindly ask so that throughout the day we can also see your faces and you can see ours smiling at you =)  After all, are in Iceland, so let’s savor it unplugged!”

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

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

The post Iceland Wedding Photographer Tip: Why You Should Have an Unplugged Wedding appeared first on Iceland Wedding Planner.

The groom, Jared contacted me first with a rather cute email way back in September of 2013 saying, “I’m on an initial scout attempt at epic wedding locations. Searched for Iceland and it brought me to your site.  You’re awesome, exactly what we are looking for.” And then a month or so later his bride Ciara, follows the message up with, “We can Skype soon but we’re currently moving from Alaska to Wyoming, so maybe next week?”   I totally laughed and enjoyed those notes for 2 reasons:

1. Knowing Jared after 2 years of planning, he’s a hardcore adventurer (so is Ciara), a jokester, and pretty straight to the point too! …and Ciara wanted to make sure I knew why there was a delay in their response, you know she’s the super sweet thoughtful half of this dynamic duo.
2. I am happy that even 2 years ago I was spot on my brand message of planning adventure weddings, my vibe, and obviously my virtual personality protruded its way out from my words for folks to be EXCITED when they contacted me. That’s the goal, you know?

When we started planning Ciara and Jared’s August 1^st Iceland wedding almost 2 years ago, they were in love with the idea of getting married at the magnificent Seljalandsfoss Waterfall.  But after a super exciting pre-wedding day portrait session with them the Friday before their Iceland wedding day, I walked them around the area of the waterfall.  They both looked at each other and were overwhelmed by the amount of tourists flocking the areas (it’s changed THAT much in 2 years).

As you know from reading some of my previous posts, having an Iceland wedding in summer can be a bit of a challenge due to the crowds of tourists at all of the famed Route 1 stops.  I’m very aware and conscience that not all budgets allow the luxury of having super jeeps to escape the tourists so sometimes we need to get crafty on angles, get hiking, or I present plan “b” routes on the spot.  While, there were several nook and cranny spots I suggested to Ciara and Jared, that they could have had considered to have a more private feeling at the waterfall, in the end we executed “Plan B!”  There is a little hidden gem of a sod farm nearby we instead held their intimate affair.  Between the grass covered houses, rivers, pathways, cattle, mountains and the stunning 1800’s church it felt right for them.

The morning began at the ION Luxury Adventure Hotel with my “A-Team” of Iceland Hair and Makeup Artists and we were quickly out the door and on our way to the Icelandic Sod Farm.  The Iceland wedding ceremony scene was set with gorgeous colorful rose petals and unforgettable view as Ciara and Jared forever vowed themselves to each other at that Icelandic ranch.  The Iceland wedding day journey continued onto many locations inside the historical UNESCO site, Thingvellir National Park.  Afterwards, guests were welcomed back to a lovely Iceland wedding reception at the ION.  The reception was styled as if guests were stepping onto an Icelandic ranch, it was awesome! Wooden details, burlap, moss, petals for color, and a giant cow skin rug!  Swoon!  Anyhow, we hope you delight in their lovely Iceland wedding images take by Photos by Miss Ann, below!

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

© 2015, Iceland Wedding Planner /  Photos by Miss Ann, All Rights Reserved

The post Rustic Ranch Wedding in Iceland | Ciara + Jared appeared first on Iceland Wedding Planner.

This week, we received the nicest letter in the mail (Yes, in the mail, who doesn’t love getting things in the mail still?).  One of our Iceland bride and grooms-to-be writes us saying:

“Ann & Chris,

Deciding to have a wedding in Iceland we thought was one of our best decisions we have made as a couple, until we found and then met you both!  Our engagement session was so fun, thank you for flying to DC and for having endless creative ideas.  The portraits you took in our favorite spots around the city capture us.  You guys are such a great husband and wife photography team.  You impressed us already with your blog, responsiveness, thoroughness, portfolio, but frankly your attention to detail is extraordinary and still is blowing us away.  By holding the highest standards and consistently exceeding them, you have helped us achieve an unforgettable plan for our Iceland destination wedding.  Because of you, our wedding is going to be flawless.  Thank you for your outstanding work!  Forever Grateful, E & M ”

Aww, shucks, we really have the best clients!  We are beyond excited for the upcoming Iceland weddings we have on our Photos by Miss Ann books.  Each bride and groom is from a diverse part of the world, brings different Iceland wedding locations, unique style, and a distinctive vision for their wedding adventure in Iceland and that is REALLY exhilarating for us as Iceland wedding photographers.  Okay, okay, okay, enough gushing and more Iceland wedding planning!

Our topic this week: Iceland Wedding Ceremony Music

Figuring out your music selections for your Iceland wedding ceremony can be overwhelming in your destination wedding planning.  It can be a lot of pressure.  After all, you want your guests to be excited, in awe, and inspired while taking in the dynamic scenery, finding their seat and anticipating the bride and grooms wedding vows.  Phew, tall order, or at least we felt it was when we were planning our Seljalandsfoss Iceland wedding!  Have no fear, today’s blog post will give you some ideas for doing just that because having an Iceland wedding ceremony music plan helps set the scene even more so.

If you’re planning to have your Iceland wedding at Seljalandsfoss, Skogafoss, Snaefellsness Peninsula, Vik Beach, Lake Myvatn, or Jokulsarlon Glacial Lagoon and have more than 6 people in attendance, my advice to you is that you need to rent a sound system for the courtesy of your guests.  Holding your wedding ceremony in one of the stunning natural wonders Iceland offers is incredible but do not forget your guests!  One of the frustrating things at times for outdoor wedding guests is that they cannot hear readings, vows, the exchange of rings, etc and they really want to be a part of it!

As Iceland wedding planners, we can help you secure an Iceland DJ for your event that will setup battery powered sound system with speakers, wireless microphones, and an IPOD connection.  That way, your guests will be able to hear your Iceland wedding music, understand your officiant, listen to your wedding vows, and have fun background music while you take your stunning Iceland wedding portraits!  Now that you have figured all that out, your big question is now, “What kind of music do I play for my Iceland wedding ceremony?”  We have found that our bride and grooms have had the most success thinking in terms of words and the feelings songs exude.  So think about what inspires you and your soon-to-be and in the meantime, here are a few more ideas to get that creativity flowing!

Before Ceremony Music:

• Inspirational, Light, Dynamic and Exciting.
• General rule is to begin playing 30 minutes before the wedding ceremony.

Bridal Entrance Song Ideas:

• Dreamy and Transcendent (like you’re walking on clouds).
• You can easily choose two songs for this, one for the parents to be seated, groom, and bridal party to walk down the aisle and the other for the bridal entrance.
• No music played during the Iceland wedding ceremony (unless doing a sand/knot ceremony, partaking in communion, or you see a need for filler music for another part of the ceremony, etc).

After Your Iceland Wedding Ceremony Music:

• Bouncy, Fun, and Starry-eyed!
• Typically played for 45 minutes after the wedding ceremony in Iceland.  Songs that are fun to exit the ceremony hand in hand and greet guests too. This is also enjoyable for guests to listen to while you take your dazzling Iceland wedding photographs!

So right about now, I’m sure you’re dying to know what music Chris and I planned for our Iceland wedding at Seljalandsfoss waterfall, right?  Our Iceland ceremony music picks follow below:

Before our Seljalandsfoss Wedding (Ceremony Playlist):

“Hellelujah” by The Canadian Tenors

“Color My World” by Chicago

“You Raise Me Up” by Josh Groban

“Annie’s Song” by John Denver

“Feels Like Home” by Chantal Kreviazuk

“Marry Me” by Train

“The Wedding Song” by Kenny G

Aisle Walk and Bridal Entrance:

“Somewhere In Time” by Maksim Mrvica (Such a romantically dreamy song!).

After our Wedding at Seljalandsfoss Ceremony we played:

Bride and Groom Exit Song: “Better Together” by Jack Johnson

Greeting Line & Iceland Wedding Photographs Background Music:

“We’ve Only Just Begun” by the Carpenters

“Can’t Hurry Love” by The Supremes

“My Girl” by The Temptations

“One Fine Day” by The Chiffons

“How Sweet It Is” by Marvin Gaye

“Build Me Up Buttercup” by The Foundations

“Dancing in the Moonlight” by King Harvest

“Earth Angel” by The Penguins

“Wishin’ And Hopin’” by Dusty Springfield

“Tell Him” by Exciters

“Everybody Needs Somebody To Love” by Solomon Burke

“Hold Me Thrill Me Kiss Me” by Mel Carter

“Be My Baby” by The Ronettes

** Stay Tuned for Part II of this topic in our next Iceland wedding planning post- Wedding Reception in Iceland: Music Ideas **

Keep Smiling and Iceland Wedding Planning,

Ann Peters

Expert Iceland Wedding Planner & Iceland Wedding Photographer

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

The post Music Ideas for Iceland Wedding Ceremony (Iceland DJ) appeared first on Iceland Wedding Planner.

By planning a destination wedding, you are already committing to go outside of the general wedding planning “box.”  So why not continue with adding an element to your wedding ceremony content that is as unique as your love?

Since we’re local and destination wedding photographers and own, Photos by Miss Ann, we have witnessed endless amounts of ceremonies that draw in religious, cultural, and spiritual elements and have seen them done in a hundred of different ways.  Think: unity candle, tying the knot ceremony, sand ceremony, Irish braid, crowning, hand ceremony, etc.  When we were planning our destination wedding we were looking for an alternative for our Iceland wedding.

After researching back into historical wedding ceremonies, we found it: The Love Letter Ceremony.  It gracefully combined our affection for history, our love for each other, and provided a piece of our own history with our parents as well.

The idea:

teho kasino

You and your soon to be write a letter to each other talking about the following:

1. How you felt when you met.
2. Your favorite adventure together.
3. How much you have grown from then to now.
4. Your feelings as you anticipate your wedding day.
5. Your wishes for your future together.
6. Your promise to him/her.

The Parents:

1. The bride’s parents write a letter directly to her only.  Expressing their excitement for her arrival, her childhood, successes, how proud they are, advice, etc.
2. The groom’s parents write a letter directly to her only.  Articulating their excitement for his arrival, his childhood, successes, how proud they are, and advice, etc.
3. Each set of parents then write a letter addressing the couple together stating their excitement for finding each other, the marriage, wishes for the future, and words of wisdom.

This is how described the Icelandic love letter ceremony to our guests on the back of our Iceland destination wedding timeline card:

“During the wedding we will perform a ‘love letter ceremony.’  This entails the bride and groom writing heartfelt love letters to each other prior to their wedding day.  Each of the parents have also written letters of encouragement, future wishes, and advice to make the couple’s marriage strong.  The wedding officiant will then lock the letters in a box.  The letters will be opened at a later time as a celebration and reflection of their marriage.”

How amazing, right?  It gives me goose bumps just thinking about reading them as we celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary when our parents may have passed and we may have a family of our own!  This is a very special ceremony I believe has an enormous long-term impact to all.

We hauled the box from Plymouth, Michigan to Hella Iceland to our wedding ceremony at Seljalandsfoss waterfall, then to Skógafoss waterfall and finally out to Vik Beach for Iceland wedding photos and a champagne toast!

How to create your own local or destination wedding love letter ceremony:

• Buy or build a box that will be big enough for letters and additional mementos.  We had an 8×11 box that was ~3 inches wide.  This was big enough for our letters, vows, speeches, our bouquet/boutonniere when it dried out, etc.  It was travel friendly.  We brought from Michigan to Iceland with no problem.
• Some people like the idea of it being large enough to house a bottle of wine/champagne and wine glasses – your choice!
• Have your names painted or engraved on the front.  Example, we had the following:

Chris & Ann

Iceland

April 14^th 2012

• Purchase super cute acid-free stationary.  Ours was white with a simple red heart at the top and a matching red envelope- Our Amazon Storefront may be a good source for you on this.
• Plan what you are going to write at least 30 days in advance!
• Give your parents time to plan and write too!
• Get the letters in advance and put them in the box for safe keeping until the ceremony.
• Our wording for the love letter ceremony follows below:

Wording for a Destination Wedding Love Letter Ceremony:
“Christopher and Ann have chosen as a couple to unite together in a Love Letter ceremony.

This box contains a love letter from each to the other.   The letters describe the good qualities they find in one another, the reasons they fell in love, and their reasons for choosing to marry today in Iceland.   Ann’s mother, Irene and Christopher’s parents, Donna and Bill have also written the each a letter individually and a letter to the couple expressing their hopes and advice for their future together.  The letters are sealed in individual envelopes and the couple has not seen what the other has written.
I recommend that you keep the box in a place of honor prominently displayed in your home as a constant reminder of your commitment to each other.

Christopher and Ann, should you ever find your marriage enduring insurmountable hardships, you are to as a couple, open this box, reflect while reading the letters you wrote to one another when you were united as a couple, in marriage.   By reading these love letters you will reflect upon the reasons you fell in love and chose to marry each other here in Iceland today.

The hope is, however, that you will never have a reason to open this box.   And if this is the case, you are to open this box to share and enjoy on your 25^th wedding anniversary!”
All that being said, Christopher and Ann, you may now lock the box and be forever bonded.”

Hope you enjoyed and will pass the word around… Let’s get more couples inspired by doing a love letter ceremony as part of their wedding ceremony!  ::Also see our update to this love letter ceremony here::

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

© 2012, Photos by Miss Ann, All Rights Reserved

The post Alternative Unity Ceremony Idea: Love Letter Ceremony appeared first on Iceland Wedding Planner.