-Lewis Carroll (Alice in Wonderland)

From across the “pond” as some say, Dave (from the U.K.) found his way to meeting Alison (from the USA) through their many terrific friends.  Weeks later they were head over heels for each other and months later, Dave proposed a lifetime of adventures to Alison!  She said Yes  Iceland was the half way point for all of their friends and family to meet and celebrate!  …so then the days of awesome Iceland wedding planning began!  They craved intimacy, adventure, and wanted to take their 20+ guests on an unforgettable EXPERIENCE for their wedding day in Iceland.  So all that said, follow us today as we share with you Alison and Dave’s adventure wedding in Iceland!  ::Update:: My Hotel Wedding did a lovely feature of Allison and Dave’s wedding, HERE.

Ohhhh yes, May 4th!  Being Star Wars fans, it was only fitting they go explore some of the epic areas the movies have been filmed within Iceland!  …May the Fourth Be With You!

But first we must set the scene… Hotel Ranga, served as the groups hotel “base camp” for 2 days.  It’s a fabulous boutique hotel found in Southern Iceland that screams luxury but still designates hints of earthy rustic charm.  It also is near Hekla, one of Iceland’s most powerful volcanoes.

When you have a wedding in Iceland that has guests attending, it’s important to provide your guests with a “welcome bag.”  It adds to the excitement and also aids your guests in things they may need during the adventure.  Alison and Dave did it up right!  With lots of goodies like a timeline card, eye mask (nice to have during the months of May-August when we have TONS of daylight), bandaids, Shout Wipes, Pepto (which isn’t sold here in Iceland) Hot Hands, Hangover Kit, Pancho, etc!

With our adventure weddings in Iceland, we action pack them with little room for delay. So it’s nice to create a timeline card to give to your guests upon check in (or at a Welcome dinner the evening before) so they know when and where they have to be.  Sets everyone up for success, you know?  Our favorite timeline creator: Pixels to Paper Studio did an awesome job on Alison and Dave’s!

Alison’s Iceland wedding dress was divine!  So much gorgeous detail and sooo flowy!

Alison had some awesome blue rain-boots she wore for the majority of the day but she also had some stunning Badgley Mischka’s and Tom’s waiting for her Iceland wedding reception!  Every adventure wedding bride needs 3 pairs of shoes!

Now let’s talk about her GROOM, Dave for a sec, shall we and his dapper Iceland wedding details!

His handmade suit even came with a custom tag that featured their initials and wedding date.  From the suit to the shoes, Dave was handsome!

As I mentioned, being Star Wars fans, Alison surprised Dave with themed cuff-links.

We adored Dave’s super awesome bow tie too!

Our Iceland hair and makeup team made Alison even more beautiful then she already was!  …and proofed her against rain and wind.

Before leaving Hotel Ranga, these two loved the idea of doing a “first look” so we opted to do it behind the hotel, riverside.

The structure for this Iceland adventure wedding was a tiny bit different than we typically do, but we were happy to craft a unique option for this awesome group!  All of the guests loaded onto a bus for a 1/2 day adventure.  Read further on to see the rest of the wedding adventure flow.

Alison and Dave for months, kept the adventure wedding day secret.  So when the guests arrived and saw the setup below, they were hollering in enthusiasm!

Having a Asatru (some refer to as a traditional Norse / Pagan / Viking) ceremony was important to Dave and Alison.  It’s a super fun ceremony that has old roots in our culture here in Iceland.  Not to mention who doesn’t want to hold an oath ring and drink from a horn?!

How fantastic was this offbeat waterfall as their Iceland wedding ceremony background?!

Alison’s Iceland wedding bouquet is one of my all time favorites!

As many of you know, we do not go to the tourist locations like Reynisfjara, but for the right couple we make exceptions and these two loved the idea of a champagne toast here during their Iceland wedding day adventure!

Exploring with each other during your wedding day in Iceland, creates some magical moments!

After the 1/2 day adventure via bus was complete, we transitioned with 1/2 of their group to super jeeps for a more private adventure.

Alison, Dave, and their closest family members got to explore the private side of one of Iceland’s 13 glaciers!

The fog and the rain made for some dramatic Iceland wedding photo moments!

Their nieces and nephews all got to touch a glacier for the very first time!  Talk about unforgettable moments on your adventure wedding day!

Oh la la romantic Iceland wedding moments in front of glacier ice caves… Love!

Uniquely shaped mountains like these always make me melt!  Then add in a gorgeous Iceland wedding couple and it takes it to another level!

One of my favorite parts of their wedding day was the 3rd part… We said goodbye to two super jeeps and Alison and David continued on to a super secret canyon area with a private waterfall for some intimate adventures!

The contrast of the dark and light together is AMAZING to me in this Iceland wedding photo!  Major high-fives to Alison and Dave who went into total “mountain goat” mode to get to this spot!

Once everyone got back to Hotel Ranga after the days adventure, they had some time to rest and refresh before they were invited to a BEAUTIFUL Iceland wedding reception in River Hall.

Fun Fact: The bride’s grandmother had past away and in remembrance of her, we had lavender at each place setting.  It filled the room with a 5 sensory experience!

As a sweet little party favor to all of their guests, Dave and Alison gifted them with “Let the Adventure Begin” bottle openers!  How fun!

Following the overall theme of “Adventure” and “May 4th” they had 2 beautiful handmade cakes by the groom’s talented sister!

Iceland wedding Groom’s cake!

Can I just say, I LOVE Hotel Ranga’s food?!  Seriously folks, I often drive 1.5 hours from Reykjavik just to have their delicious Mushroom Soup and Reindeer Carpaccio (pictured below), no joke! Alison and Dave’s Iceland wedding menu was fit for the best foodies!

A lovely smoked salmon dish with rye bread served as their 2nd course!

Did you know with the rental of River Hall at Hotel Ranga, you have access to their beautiful balcony and impeccable view?!  Comes in handy for Iceland wedding photos!

When Alison and I were brainstorming about something fun to decor their Iceland wedding reception dancing space (Hekla Hall) we came up with some awesome ideas but in the end LOVE balloons and candles would win!  I think we made the right choice!!

First dance magic!

So many folks forget about a “send off” for the couple at the end of the night.  We crafted something super fun for this group… complete with sparklers and an “Adventure” marque sign!

Truly an unforgettable Iceland wedding day you shared Alison + Dave!  Keep reliving it!!

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

The post Iceland Wedding at Hotel Ranga: Alison + Dave appeared first on Iceland Wedding Planner.

Although these two had been to Iceland once before, they were called back to this magical landscape to have their dreamy Iceland elopement!  Iceland is one of those countries that you can continuously visit and never see the same thing twice, forever!  Seriously folks, I live here and I am still adventuring to new places each day/week!

This winter has been one of the mildest on record for decades.  Typically in March, we have a lot more snow in the mountains and the ground, but for Stacey and Aaron, this was the PERFECT amount!  So come along with me today to witness their beautiful elopement in Iceland!

Ohhhhhhh swoon!  Look at that Iceland wedding dress!

….and Aaron’s tartan suit!

Stacey’s arrival into that sweet little black church gave me goosebumps!

Awww and Aaron’s reaction of seeing his beautiful bride was uber sweet!

Can we hit the pause button for a sec and admire Stacey’s unique Iceland wedding bouquet?!

Every Icelander will tell you that the Snaefellsnes is not only a stunning place to visit but that the peninsula is enchanted!

Don’t worry, even though it’s been a super mild winter, we found a glorious amount of snow to have for some romantic Iceland elopement photos!

Kirkjufell Mountain (and waterfall) is incredibly beautiful when it has a light dusting of snow on it… Making way for stunning elopement photos!

There are many secret places within the Snaefellsnes Peninsula to escape away from tourists… We took a little trip to one of my favorite secret waterfalls for a fun little adventure crossing rivers and such!

The Snaefellsnes Peninsula is known to have an abundance of golden sand beaches ready for you to explore!

Ever think about venturing to a shipwreck beach with crazy awesome lava rock formations?!  These two ROCKED IT!

Toasting with bubbles cliffside, is a must do during your Iceland elopement!

When the weather changes in Iceland, it’s just a wonderful opportunity to HUG harder!

…and laugh harder that you have somehow experienced 4 seasons in one day

Take a page out of Stacey and Aaron’s book and make sure you take time to truly enjoy the view too!

As if their day was not adventurous enough, these two opted in on my suggestion of heading down inside of a 8,000 year old lava tube to explore it!  Special Note:  All of these images were taken in 100% darkness!  How cool, right?!

After 10+ hours of awesome adventures, it was time to rest, refresh, and get their second wind for their Iceland wedding reception for two!

It started snowing again so sadly no Northern Lights graced us, but we mocked up a super fun nighttime wedding photoshoot instead for Stacey and Aaron!

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

The post Iceland Elopement at Hotel Budir appeared first on Iceland Wedding Planner.

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.

Matt and Elita came to us here at Iceland Wedding (Your Adventure Wedding) saying they were a 10 on our adventure scale, rain or shine.  That’s a HUGE number in our world with a lot of amazing options.  They were excited at the idea of hiking to some unforgettable spots and spending time to explore on their first day as newlyweds.  So come along with me today to see how their incredible elopement adventure day in Iceland played out!  Also feel free to checkout one of our favorite wedding blogs, Offbeat Bride where more photos from their day!

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

I love when couples choose to get ready together on their Iceland wedding day.

How pretty is this Iceland wedding bouquet?!

…and so much happening here I love!  The beard, the braid, the suit, the boutonniere!  This Iceland groom has style!

Hiking, backpacks, kisses, and ice caves, all just kinda go together during an Iceland wedding day!

Hiking to your Iceland wedding ceremony spot is a super special moment!

…and who doesn’t want to forge some rivers during your Iceland elopement!

Elita and Matthew said their vows to each other at a beautiful glacier area during their Iceland elopement adventure.

Elita forged rivers like a BOSS during her elopement in Iceland! That’s what extra boots and socks are for right?!

An elopement in Iceland goes up a notch when you partake in a traditional hot dog bbq with all the toppings for your lunch stop!

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

The post Iceland Elopement Photographer | Matt + Elita’s Adventurous Hiking Wedding in Iceland appeared first on Iceland Wedding Planner.

-John Muir

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

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

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

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

How pretty are their Iceland wedding timeline cards?

…and THESE Iceland wedding welcome bags?!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Lava Fields + Love…. Swoon!

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

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

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

Mmmmm…. Iceland wedding FOOD! Yum yum yum!

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

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

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

Their stories.

Their moments.

Their adoration for each other.

Their level of adventure.

Frankly, I’m left speechless and seriously grateful.  We have THE.BEST.CLIENTS.EVER!  To Our Clients: Thank you for choosing us, trusting us, and for having so much freaking FUN!

I haven’t even gotten around to sharing all of this past years amazingness on the blog yet, so keep stalking this space!  …and as we look ahead to this next year, um I won’t even begin to tell you about our 2017 and 2018 clients because I may dare to say some of them are our most adventurous and most unique locations yet!

Then you add into the year’s mix that we (Davíð and I) eloped in the Lofoten Islands and honeymooned in the Maldives, it took the year’s status up a notch too!  So to say it’s been a fantastic year would be an understatement.  Thank you followers for coming along with us!  Today we’re going to share a little fun flashback of our favorite moments from this past year… Enjoy!

In the meantime, I’m anxious to start with our first wedding of the year on January 3rd and days later heading back to the famed Igloo Village for another epic adventure wedding!  Cheers to this being the best year yet!

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

The views during our client’s Iceland wedding day adventures left them (and us) speechless!  K+A’s thrilling elopement is one for the books!

Can you imagine proposing in Iceland with all this happening around you?! SWOON!

One of our brides this year strapped on a pair of crampons, tied up her dress, and did some hiking around one of Iceland’s 13 Glaciers for her Iceland elopement adventure! #badass

At the end of the hike, we found our way to a gorgeous ice cave for Iceland wedding photos!

Romantic Honeymoon adventures in Iceland!

Secret Caves + Nordic Wedding Days = Endless Smiles!

Rain during your Iceland wedding day creates MAGIC like THIS for your photos! #lucky

Did you see our adventurous elopement in the Lofoten Islands? If not, go back HERE.

After we eloped in the Lofoten Islands, we waited until I was done with my high wedding season (like end of November) and took a scuba diving adventure to the Maldives!  Follow us on Instagram or on our Your Adventure Wedding blog to see more!

Oh la la the dreamy season of the Icelandic lupines (which is between June 15-July 15th)!

Ever think about getting married in Iceland in April?  These two give you a ton of reasons to!

The guests that often attend our weddings in Patagonia!

How gorgeous is this Nordic adventure wedding in Norway?!

A secret waterfall wedding in Iceland, always makes my day!  Let’s flash back to Tim and Antonia’s epic Iceland wedding day, shall we?!

This shot was taken during daylight hours but it was so dark and mysterious in this deep canyon that we brought in our own love and light during this November Iceland elopement!

Did you know there are several waterfalls throughout Iceland that you can explore behind?

.

Iceland wedding portraits in a 1,500 year old lava tube, anyone?!

Rainy Iceland wedding days with us are FUN!  Remember how hardcore these two were?

So so so much about Abby and Derek’s Iceland wedding day I loved!

The Icelandic landscape can change in a blink of an eye!  One of my favorite “Mars” looking areas!

Romantic Iceland couple’s sessions are becoming a new fave too this past year!

Iceland wedding proposals in front of ice caves?! #yesplease

We love when couples embrace the idea of exploring together on their wedding day like these two did during their Iceland elopement!

This November wedding in Iceland used every second of the daylight!

Can you imagine having this entire lighthouse on the most Southern tip of Iceland ALL to yourselves?  This amazing couple did for their Iceland luxury elopement!

Interested in an intimate Iceland wedding overlooking these gorgeous sea cliffs? Cassie and Kyle held a beautiful adventure this year!

Can I even begin to talk about Christophe and Mary’s 100+ Iceland wedding day?!

Amy and Israel had such a fun wedding in Southern Iceland!

I miss Jen and Jeff, did you see their Iceland wedding?

One of my favorite “how we met” stories gets awarded to Joe and Katie!  They had SUCH a dreamy elopement in Iceland!

Super secret lava tube cave wedding in Iceland! Did you catch Sheena and Todd’s daring day?

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

The post Iceland Wedding Planner 2016: Year End Review appeared first on Iceland Wedding Planner.

Christophe: 

NYC Digital Guru who is an epicurean of all things delicious.  Dapper from head to toe.  Addicted to super cool things like Iceland, adventure travel, and Mary.

Mary:

She is hands down the most adventurous, compassionate, and thoughtful person I have ever met.  She cares about others on a level that doesn’t exist in most people. Not to mention she is also one of the most beautiful!

Together:

They make my cheeks hurt from smiling so much by simply just being around them.  The love they radiate is contagious, serves as an example to the world and makes you want to love whoever is in your life, harder and deeper.  …and they adventure together, often.

Quickly bonding over their shared obsession for good food, adventure seeking, travel, love of motorcycles and a continuous curiosity with Iceland…. They soon found themselves ~2,100 feet up on top of Whistler Mountain the day after Valentine’s Day where Christophe got down on one knee and proposed a lifetime of love and epic adventures to Mary.  She said “yes” and Iceland destination wedding planning began!  ::Update:: Checkout more of their amazing images on the Destination I Do blog, when they featured it, HERE!

One of the most important aspects of having a wedding in Iceland was that Christophe and Mary wanted to share in an EXPERIENCE with their friends and family not just have a wedding day like they could have back in the USA (church to reception).  To their guests surprise they were invited to an epic wedding day journey beside Mary and Christophe exploring the purest areas of Iceland.  Come along with me as I share with you some highlights from their 100+ person Rugged Adventure Wedding in Iceland!  All images you’ll see below were captured by myself and other primary photographer, Jean Smith!

Also check out Destination I Do Magazine’s blog for more from their amazing day (and specifics from the couple!), HERE!

The day began in a quaint little village called Vik.  The town of Vik is about 2.5 hours from the capital of Reykjavik.  The area is known for some of the most stunning landscapes but also the most amount of wind and rain.  It’s a tradeoff risk Christophe and Mary were willing to take.  “Boots and Suits” were the dress code theme and within each guest’s welcome bag they found some helpful items to help during the adventure like a backpack for a shoe change and an emergency rain poncho.  How fun, right?

By 9:30am their 100+ guests gathered in the hotel lobby and patiently waited for the super jeeps to arrive.  They were shuttled up to the top of the hill in the village where a beautiful white and red church sits overlooking the village.

Christophe and Mary professed their endless love to each other in that sweet little countryside church.

From there, we went waterfall hunting!  After hiking for 10 minutes their group was greeted with a secret waterfall to explore!

Did you know that between all of our 9+ Super Jeeps we had for their 100+ person Iceland wedding adventure the bride and groom had the ability to talk to their guests and sync a music playlist?  You can only imagine how that increased everyone’s excitement level!

The second stop on the adventure wedding agenda was a hot dog bbq lunch in a private cave!  To get there, we forged some sweet rivers and jammed out to music.  Once there everyone ate a delicious lamb hot dog with all the sauces (Icelanders LOVE their sauces) and fixings (like raw and fried onions), toasted with Christophe’s family’s champagne (La Caravelle) and had a fun Icelandic sing-along.  The energy from all the excitement in there was intoxicating and truly an unforgettable experience!

A subglacial volcano was the next exploration spot.  It rained a lot, but the smiles just got bigger the closer we got to the glacier.  Everyone was in utter awe of the colors, depth, tones, and textures.  And even in the rain, Christophe and Mary bounced around laughing and playing together hand in hand.

The final stop for the guests was my favorite private beach.  It comes complete with epic sea arch, black sand, and a stunning glacier view.  To say everyone enjoyed would be an understatement!

The team of Iceland wedding photographers and videographers continued to our last stop with just the bride and groom….  A private canyon area where some of my favorite shots from the day were taken!

The rest of the group had about an hour to rest and refresh before they were invited to delight in an incredible four course Icelandic meal.  Many amazing toasts, endless laughs, delicious cocktails, and dancing kept the night lively. Then close to the final hour the couple cut their traditional Icelandic wedding cake for a sweet treat!

Just when you thought the night might be coming to an end, several folks in the group went on a Northern Lights hunt.  They were successful too, somewhere around 2am!  Perfect end to a fabulous September wedding in Iceland!  Our friends at Two Penny Productions created a lovely video (including those dancing Northern Lights) documenting Christophe and Mary’s adventurous wedding day in Iceland.  We encourage you to go check it out here and leave them some love!

Mary + Christophe,

Ugh. You two!!  You’re disgustingly BEAUTIFUL humans, both individually and together.  Getting to know you over the last 2 years has been a super fun experience!  I’m going to miss our 5am Skype calls and your witty emails.  But!  You will not escape me anytime I come to NYC or you come to Iceland

I cannot say it any better than my friend Pastor Egill… “Part of your home is here now.  You are home here in Iceland.”  I know you know this in your hearts, feel this, and that you will always come back to have more experiences and incredible adventures here.  I’m excited to see your marriage and journey unfold!  Lots of love and hugs to you!!

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

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

The post Vik Iceland Rugged Adventure Wedding: Christophe + Mary appeared first on Iceland Wedding Planner.

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.

So now that I have you on the edge of your seat, the story goes like this… Katie and Joe boarded a plane leaving Istanbul going to Dushanbe and were surprisingly plane seat mates.  After several amazing moments talking through the overnight flight they decided they needed to have an official “first date” upon landing.  Both having a deep desire for adventure, outdoors, and hiking, they found themselves bonding while on a 4,000 feet hike up the Laylakul Pass.

Can much even top that first meeting and first date?  Um, yeah somehow Joe + Katie topped it.  When Katie’s plans to go to Kyrgyzstan didn’t pan out, they met in Cappadocia and Joe surprised her with an all-day adventure and an unforgettable hot air balloon ride!  Swoon! Swoon! Swoon!!

So happily ever after begins then, right?  Wrong!  After countless adventures in the following years, they settled on having an incredible elopement in Iceland!  So how where they going to top their daily lives and previous adventures with an elopement?  By hiring us of course!  We are the one and only skillful and experienced providers of Iceland adventure weddings in secret offbeat locations.  ….oh oh and we came up with an EPIC Iceland wedding adventure for these two!  I invite you to come along with me today as I share with you their unforgettable Iceland elopement.

When a bride asks me, “Ann, is it a good idea for me to have two wedding dresses and a cute coat?”  My response is always YES!  I love having options and I love that a bride is fearless too, to run around in her wedding dress with no inhibitions.

Hello waterproof boots!  You are a bride’s best friend during an adventure wedding in Iceland!  Did you know Hunter Boots make all kind of crazy cute colors too?

Katie and Joe, chose to have a “first look” and exchange sweet little cards with each other at the hotel before beginning their Iceland wedding adventure!

More often than not, our adventure weddings in Iceland require a hike or a fun river crossing like this!  Katie made it look easy!

The river crossing and the hike was worth it to get to this amazing ice cave spot for the Iceland wedding ceremony!

A little after the sun started peaking over the mountains is when we began the Iceland elopement ceremony.  It was beautiful spiritual ceremony led by my favorite Iceland wedding pastor in front of a huge ice cave wall.

Once the Iceland wedding ceremony was complete, it was time to begin the exploration adventure around this amazing area!  Oh oh and of course take amazing Iceland wedding portraits too

During summer in Iceland, ice caves are not typically stable enough to go into safely.  No worries, there are tons of other amazing Iceland wedding portrait spots around!  The magnitude and the power in this area always leaves me in awe, hope you see why!

After we left the glacier area, we ventured on to one of my new favorite secret spots!

Lunch time came quick!  We decided to stop at a gorgeous private black sand beach to have an Icelandic hot dog BBQ! Yum!

We leave the beach and go to another amazing glacier area?!  Hell yes!  On with the Iceland elopement adventure for more awesome discoveries!

One of the really special things about having a wedding in Iceland is the fact that you can encounter so many natural wonders in one day.  Which allows your awesome Iceland wedding photographer to capture really dynamic images of you near them!

An Iceland elopement would not be complete without having a beautiful cliff view and a cuddle.

We are constantly on the hunt for new secret spots for our Iceland weddings and this is one of our latest faves.  I mean come on, look at those pretty mountains!

I love love love caves and am a constant seeker of them.  Katie and Joe humored me with a quick stop to this gorgeous one for an Iceland wedding portrait!

After all of those epic spots, we didn’t have one waterfall!  …unless you count the mini waterfalls coming off the holes in the glacier?!  Anyhow, we did for sure have to include one!  These two had this waterfall to themselves on their Iceland wedding day!

Dinner at one of my favorite restaurants concluded their epic Iceland wedding adventure, but not before some sweet sunset photos!

Katie + Joe,

Wow-wee!  Now that day rocked!  Eloping in Iceland was the right decision for the two of you.   So much love and so much adventure and these Iceland wedding photos exude it in each one!  I welcome you back to Iceland anytime for more secret adventures!  ?

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

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

The post Enigmatic Elopement in Iceland appeared first on Iceland Wedding Planner.

So enter in “plan b!”  Not to worry though, having an Iceland wedding with super jeeps as the mode of transport allows us to change plans on the drop of a dime.  Plus, often times the “plan b” route proves to be the better than the original, which was indeed the case!  So, let’s go darlings and be adventurers!

Amy and Israel’s whimsical wedding day in Iceland began at one of my favorite hotels… Hotel Grimsborgir in Selfoss. The ladies got ready together in one of the luxurious bridal suites early that morning.  How pretty is her Iceland wedding dress and boots?

Seriously perfect details for an adventure wedding in Iceland!

…and coordinates of their Iceland wedding location on the groom’s cuff links, how special is that?!  #love

As soon as 8:30am came (yes our awesome wedding begin super awesomely early!) their 40 guests loading into super jeeps for a full day adventure wedding day.  Their guests had no idea where the ceremony spot would be and you could feel the excitement in the air!

To their surprise, they were taken to a beautiful secret cave in the middle of a black sand desert.  When they jumped out of the jeeps and walked into the cave they were speechless.  There were chairs perfectly lined, lanterns, fancy fruit and chocolate display along with a gorgeous champagne toast!

We loved putting together this amazingly delicious champagne toast and fruit spread for everyone to delight and celebrate in after the Iceland cave wedding ceremony they had!

The next stunning spot the Iceland adventure wedding day agenda was a perfectly private black sand beach where they frolicked in the rain together until it went sideways.  But you know what is amazing about rainy weddings in Iceland….

They are not only LUCKY but always bring incredible show of end to end rainbows!

A wedding in Iceland, would not be complete without a waterfall along the path of our adventure!  But we got lucky… as several offbeat waterfalls followed along this gorgeous day’s route, each varied in shape, size, tone, and texture!

The evening brought a beautiful Iceland wedding reception that was sweetly styled with rustic local elements.  Each guest was given a local artist’s drawing of an area within Reykjavik, lava salts, and journal notebook.  How crazy sweet is that?

Not to mention everyone delighted in a lovely 4 course meal complete with a traditional Icelandic wedding cake and blue macaroons! Delicious!

We wish these two more laughs, smiles, and adventures than they can handle in a lifetime together!  Thank you for choosing us to not only plan but photograph your amazing adventure wedding in Iceland! ? ? ?

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

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

The post A Wonderfully Whimsical Wedding in Iceland appeared first on Iceland Wedding Planner.