It’s that time a year again… Where we share our picks on the “Top Iceland Wedding Hotels” and this year we have some really brilliant ones!  So please stay tuned over the next several weeks to learn who made it this year!  In the meantime, when thinking about my favorite hotels in downtown Reykjavik one specifically comes to mind that seriously makes me swoon: Hotel Borg.

I’ll step away for a moment and allow Beth to fill you in our experience!

–Ann Peters (Iceland Wedding Photographer & Planner)

Hard to sum up very many places with one word, but Hotel Borg does just that; FABULOUS!

Like stepping into vintage Hollywood with a modern flair, Borg has left no amenity behind while designing a boutique hotel around comfort and relaxation, even though its fully equipped for any business travel or lavish event. An easy 45 minute drive from the KEF Airport, Hotel Borg would be an exquisite location for your Iceland destination wedding group. With 56 stunning art deco rooms to fit every need, and an addition of 43 more in 2015 it’s idyllic for any group size. Golden Hall is a gorgeous reception space and is truly dreamy with its stunning use of lighting, elegant framed mirrors, and architectural touches that can accommodate 50-75 people for your unforgettable Iceland wedding reception!

Set perfectly in what you could call the “town square” of downtown Reykjavik, Borg is centrally located to tourist attractions, dining, shopping, and varied nightlife! Especially with Reykjavik’s convenient positioning between local culture and the nearby options of multiple whale watching and sea excursions, the Golden Circle, and the majority of southern Iceland’s most beautiful attractions are all within about a two hour drive. So Hotel Borg ‘s supreme location provides the ability to fit so much adventure into any length of stay!

With beautiful views of the city, harbor, and “Midnight Sun-sets” the hotel offers many different styles of amenities. As soon as you walk in, the lobby is warm and inviting, with lovely décor and lighting, and refreshingly friendly front desk staff that is available around the clock to help with every request. Hotel Borg is so helpful with assistance in the booking of any adventure big or small, and is a local excursion transfer spot for most activities that makes any outing super convenient.

The lovely room’s at Borg emit luxury with posh linens, spa style bath products, and functionally designed layouts that allow for the transition from work to play with the ultimate of ease for any traveler. Modern baths with heated marble floors, towel warmers, and deep soaking tubs that will pamper any bride, groom, or newlyweds! The lush robes and slippers will help in your relaxation for your big day. All of the rooms have lovely views, but the balcony room suites are a fantastic mini escape while planning your next big adventure or just remembering the highlights of your epic Iceland wedding day over a glass of wine.

Within Hotel Borg, the option of the restaurant is a daily or nightly option, with every day starting off with a fanciful spread for breakfast that should complement even the pickiest of palates. A full dinner service is offered nightly as well along with the most lavish of special event menu options for a welcome dinner or for your wedding feast! If a cocktail is what your taste buds are pleading for then Borg is connected to a great little watering hole, offering lovely craft cocktails, small bites, and because who doesn’t love fresh popped truffle popcorn! If you’re adventurous side wants to go out and explore beyond the hotel for libations or local cuisine then the options are limitless and all within the shortest of walking distance of this fabulous Iceland hotel.

Hands down one of the best and most beautiful hotel’s in Iceland to stay… Borg offers something for every discerning kind of taste. There’s nothing like popping a bottle of champagne on one of the beautiful balconies overlooking downtown and watching the fiery colors of sunset at the end of a long day of adventure!

With a smile, Beth Golden (Iceland Wedding Videographer & Planner)

Hotel Borg Contact Information:

• Website: http://en.hotelborg.is
• Address: Posthusstraeti 11; 101 Reykjavik – Iceland
• Phone: +354-551 1440
•  Hotel Borg GPS Coordinates: 64° 8,824’N, 21° 56,324’W

© 2002-2014, Photos by Miss Ann, All Rights Reserved

The post Hotel Borg: A Fabulous Iceland Wedding Hotel appeared first on Iceland Wedding Planner.

Since Beth and I are down in Atlanta, Georgia (Hotlanta) for the weekend at Chris + Kim’s local celebration we thought it would be a PERFECT time to wrap up their Icelandic elopement!

Before we start talking about the conclusion of their Iceland wedding day, we must first go back to the start. Let me preface this perfectly played story with this disclaimer: Iceland Wedding Planner and Photos by Miss Ann, never ever takes on a wedding that is scheduled for the same day we are flying in for obvious reasons….

But Sunday, June 22^nd was literally Chris + Kim’s last day in Iceland and they wanted to end the trip in an EPIC way by getting married! How could we say no to such a gorgeous and amazing couple? After Skyping with them we couldn’t… so we made an exception to the rule! Because we had a wedding in Plymouth, Michigan the Friday before we weren’t able to drive to Toronto until Saturday and we then flew overnight to Iceland. We (Beth and I) literally landed at 6:45am Sunday morning at KEF, grabbed our bags, and were at the doorstep of our favorite Iceland Florist by 8:15am.

By 9:30am we arrived at the fabulous and luxurious Hotel Grimsborgir in Grímsnes which served as the base-camp for Chris + Kim’s marvelous Iceland wedding adventure. They had a stunning 2-story luxury apartment along the river Sog (Iceland’s largest fresh water river).

Thankfully our awesome travel karma was in full force and we made every stop on time, phew! Beth went to work styling our plan for the stunning gazebo that would hold Chris and Kim’s intimate Iceland elopement dinner later. The rest of my team (Iceland Hairstylist and Iceland Makeup Artist) were already there working on getting Kim ready, while I hung her dress from the house (Ha, totally happened) and delighted in photographing her Iceland wedding day details.

Now, just because you elope in Iceland, doesn’t mean that takes the element of surprise out of anything… You can still stage an Iceland first look between the two of you and in fact we encourage it as you’ll see below it was a really special moment for Kim and Chris.

From our previous Iceland wedding blog posts you saw their Iceland wedding day agenda carried on to the following locations:

• Reynisfjara Cave (Vik Beach)
• Dyrhólaey Cliffs
• Skogafoss Waterfall

Drawing close to 9pm under the midnight sun, Kim and Chris headed back to Hotel Grimsborgir to delight in their private gazebo dinner overlooking the river and the mountains.  The reception space from head to toe was tailored in bright white, but earthy tones and fabulous textures like moss, lace, and burlap. We loved doing the surprise reception styling for them!  As soon as the couple headed in to their secluded dreamy escape they were all smiles. They were over the moon with each other as they drank champagne and started in on their 3 course Icelandic wedding meal.

From start to finish the day felt like a destination wedding day should… full of love, adventure, awe-inspiring scenes and Chris and Kim savored every second of it. Please enjoy their Iceland wedding reception photos and Iceland wedding video below!

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

[wpvideo YSd6vn4Y]

© 2002-2014, Photos by Miss Ann, All Rights Reserved

The post Dreamy Iceland Summer Wedding Reception | Kim + Chris 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 stopping by our Iceland Wedding Planner blog today to check out our third installment on the very best and most unique Iceland wedding hotels!

Hveragerði (pronunciation found here) in Southwest Iceland, is known as the hot spring capital of the world.  It is only 45km from downtown Reykjavík, but still far enough away to offer a spacious country feel.  This fabulous and historical city is home to one of our favorite Iceland wedding hotels, Frost and Fire.  It is unlike any other hotel in Iceland, because of its distinctive experience.  There are very few hotels in the world that are built on active geothermal land.  The property also borders alongside of a river with hiking trails, and a waterfall.  Being outside of the city limits of Reykjavik also allows the chance of viewing the Northern Lights during the winter months.

The first rooms of this boutique hotel were built in 1995 and it has continued over the years to expand along the banks of the Varma River.  Presently, Frost and Fire has 19 rooms with 4 more on the way to completed by this summer.  The location, the wilderness that surrounds, and staff really set Frost and Fire a part from others in the area.  The river Varma which flows behind the hotel never freezes because of the geothermal heat exiting the ground.  The steam vents around the property exude volcanic gas, bubble, and hiss.  It’s a pretty sight to see especially at night, as it creates a dreamy and romantic atmosphere.

Iceland Wedding Planner’s Visit to Frost and Fire:

From the moment we first­ heard about Frost and Fire in 2012, we were so excited to stay there.  Frost and Fire is such a unique location for couples planning an Iceland wedding that we had to try it out ourselves.  We had made the drive that December morning from Hali Country Hotel in Hofn to Frost and Fire in Hveragerði.  From Route 1 you turn onto Breiðamörk Road which takes you into the town of Hveragerði.  It has a well maintained historical downtown.  So if you have time to spend, check it out!

As you head further up the road towards Frost and Fire you will be passing by the Varma hot spring river and Reykjafoss waterfall on the right hand side.  This charming waterfall was once the site of a wool factory (1902 – 1914) which ran its electricity from the power generated by the waterfall.  Now stands just a ruin of the factory’s foundation, but the old world stones provide a fabulous backdrop for some really gorgeous Iceland wedding photos.

If you continue down the road, you will find Frost and Fire’s entrance on the right hand side.  Once you park and step out of the car you may smell a tinge of sulphur and see steam rising from mounds in the ground.  You check in at the main building where the restaurant Varma is.  No matter the hour you check in a staff member will greet you with a warm smile, give you direction to your room, and explain the wonderful amenities.  We felt so welcome and thrilled to be there!

Our room was in the main building on the far left side near the pool.  The walk to our room was decorated by wall hangings from local Iceland wool artists.  Inside of the room was bright, fun, and inviting.  It was very clean and offered all the comforts of home (queen size bed, hairdryer, warm towels, sandals, robes, TV, and coffee).  To our surprise, our room also offered a phenomenal balcony that gave us a direct view of the rippling Varma river.

After settling in to our romantic abode, we changed and decided to give their spa facilities a whirl.  They have a 39 foot geothermal heated swimming pool, hot tubs, a circulation relaxation room, and a sauna which all guests have the ability to use at any of time during their stay.  They also offer massage and acupuncture services onsite by appointment.  The swimming pool and hot tubs were our personal favorites during our stay, especially at night.  Feeling the cold air rush beside you, seeing the stars, and steam rising from the ground created a romantic and mysterious setting that is unforgettable.

In the restaurant Varma, they serve traditional Icelandic foods such as an appetizer titled, “A Taste of Iceland” which is a mix in season traditional foods like smoked puffin/goose, Icelandic langoustine, Artic Char, etc (2,200 ISK / 20 USD).  They also have other interesting menu items to choose from like Fish Stew (2,800 ISK / 25 USD) and Grilled Horse Tenderloin (4,440 ISK / 40 USD).

We had kept our fingers crossed for seeing the Northern Lights that night but sadly our clear night turned into a downpour of rain for the remainder of our stay.  But had we been graced by the Northern Lights presence, a staff member would have come around and knocked on each guests door to let them know to come out.  When we turned in for the night we kept the sliding balcony door open slightly to hear the sound of the river rushing, it was so relaxing to sleep to!

A European style breakfast is included with your room stay each morning and is served in the Varma restaurant.  You can anticipate fresh fruit,  different types of rúgbrauði (rugbread), cereals, meats, cheeses, liver oil shots, coffee, juices, and a special boil an egg station.  Guests are invited to try their hand at boiling an egg in the geothermal ground outside.  What a unique experience!

Despite the sideways rain during most our stay at Frost and Fire, we still enjoyed every second of it!  Before leaving Frost and Fire, we took a 10 minute walk down the path south of the hotel and enjoyed the wool factory ruin and Reykjafoss waterfall.  There is a flat area to the left side of the waterfall that would be perfect for a intimate Iceland waterfall wedding of 20 people or so.  In case of rain an alternative option could be Hveragerðiskirkja Church only minutes away.  The closest natural wonder attraction to Frost and Fire would be the Geothermal Park where you can take a dip in warm hot springs, bake bread with heat from the ground, or hike.  If you visit in the summer they are open every day otherwise you must call ahead.  Frost and Fire is a great base camp if you intend on doing a self drive tour of the Golden Circle as it is close proximity of Gulfoss Waterfall, Geysir, Kerid Volcanic Crater Lake, Skálholt, and river rafting on Hvítá.

Frost and Fire is an optimum location for Iceland spring and summer weddings.  With a waterfall on the pathway south of Frost and Fire’s property, it provides a grand natural backdrop. What a romantic walk it would be for guests and the bride to take.  So dreamy!  The hotel and restaurant can accommodate an Iceland destination wedding of up to 50 people.

We had a wonderful time chatting with the owner, Elfa Dögg Þórðardóttir about Iceland destination weddings at Frost and Fire.  She offered this advice to couples planning an Iceland wedding, “Have enough time for hotel reservations, since we get fully booked over the summertime.  Use the amazing nature.” We very much agree with Elfa too!  If you’re planning an Iceland summer wedding you should try to book at least 12-18 months before to ensure your first choice on location.  Frost and Fire is already taking bookings into 2015, so do not delay if you’re interested in staying here on your Iceland wedding day, honeymoon, or romantic getaway.

Frost and Fire’s Contact Information:

Website: http://www.frostogfuni.is/
Address: 810 Hverhamar; Hveragerdi, Iceland
Frost and Fire GPS Coordinates: 64.006122 N” -21.184113 W”
Phone : +354 483-4959
E-mail: info@frostogfuni.is

Thanks for stopping by our Iceland Wedding Blog today and checking out Frost and Fire.  Remember to go back to our other posts in this series too as you plan your Iceland wedding adventure:  Hali Country Hotel and Hotel Laekur.  Make sure you come back to read about our final location that topped our favorite host hotel list for 2013, you won’t want to miss it!  If you’re a couple who has decided on Iceland as your destination wedding location, congratulations!  We’d love to chat with you more about your dream wedding in Iceland, be your wedding planners and Iceland wedding photographers!  Please feel free to contact us directly here.

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

2002-2014, Photos by Miss Ann, All Rights Reserved.

The post Iceland Wedding Venue: Frost and Fire appeared first on Iceland Wedding Planner.

Choosing Iceland as your honeymoon location is a really special decision.  Iceland is not the “typical” honeymoon spot filled with relaxation, palm trees, 80 degree temperatures and white sand beaches.  Quite the opposite for temperature and terrain.  But for adventure seekers, our cup runneth over! A place that is epically pure, beautiful, unforgettable, offers unique activities, and is unlike anywhere else on the planet.  Iceland truly offers you another world experience.

Southeast Iceland houses one of the country’s most beautiful natural wonders, Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon (pronunciation found here).  A receding glacier created this gorgeous sight of multicolored icebergs within a lake.  But, as many of you will find out as you start planning your trip to Iceland, the Jökulsárlón Glacial Lagoon is ­­more than 5 hours one way from downtown Reykjavík.  Driving there and back in one day can take its toll and bus tours out of Reykjavík just isn’t for everyone.  Staying the night at Hali Country Hotel in Hofn is a great escape from the long drive.  Hali Country Hotel is only a few miles from this spectacular glacier lagoon.

Hali Country Hotel made our favorites list this year for so many reasons!  They are a year round boutique hotel that can easily accommodate Iceland honeymooners and elopements. They also have a historical exhibit onsite to the great writer Þórbergur Þórðarson (1888 – 1974), and a dynamite restaurant on the property that serves the traditional Arctic Char.   You get a private experience especially if you are lucky enough to book one of their newly built stand alone condos.

This country escape was built in 2005 and has continued to expand over the years as it grows in popularity.  Currently Hali has 23 double bed hotel rooms, a guesthouse with 6 double beds, and 2 condos with 2 double beds in each.  They book 1 year in advance, so make your plans early.

Iceland Wedding Planner’s Visit to Hali Country Hotel:

The evening before, we had stayed at Hotel Laekur in Hella, Iceland.  We had an action packed schedule for our 5 hours of daylight that day.  We explored off the beaten paths from Hella to Kirkjubæjarklaustur in daylight.  Once dusk settles, the road can be tough to drive in the rain and in the dark so be careful!  After many twists, turns, and one way bridges you’ll find Hali Country Hotel nestled between the Vatnajökull Glacier and the Atlantic Ocean, slightly off of Route 1.  We arrived around 6:30pm that November evening and the outside of the main building looked beautiful lit up.

Our fabulous hosts Torbjörg Arnórsdóttir and Fjölnir Torfason, gave us the opportunity to try out their newest addition to the property, their yellow honeymoon cottage.  We stayed in the upper portion of the cottage and it was beautiful.  As soon as you go up the stairs and enter in to the main floor, there is a large living room, fully furnished kitchen with all new appliances, coffee machine, pots, pans, glasses, etc.  The owners have not left out one detail.  On the other side of the cottage there are 2 bedrooms with double size beds that are lush and comfortable.  The bathroom just outside of both rooms is well done and offers a view of the coastline.

Once we settled in to our Icelandic honeymoon cottage, we took a short walk back to the main building to grab some dinner.  All of the staff at Hali Country Hotel, were professional, and offered us very quick service.  The dining area is delightfully simple offering a nice space for their guests to dine.  The walls are adorned with photographs from some really amazing Icelandic landscape photographers and really adds to the overall ambience.  At this point, we had not been able to visit the glacial lagoon and seeing those photos throughout really added to our excitement.

Hali Country Hotel Restaurant is well-known for their Arctic Char and lamb raised at the Hali Farm.  Have you heard of Arctic Char before?  It is a delicious cold water fish that is most often found in the Nordic countries.  The fish tastes like a mix between salmon and trout (smooth taste, not fishy at all).  All of their ingredients for their menu are sourced locally, were incredibly fresh and scrumptious.  We delighted the following items during our stay at Hali:

• Traditional Icelandic Meat Soup (1,250 ISK / $11 USD)
• Artic Char with salad, and roasted potatoes in a garlic dill sauce (3,500 ISK / $31 USD)
• Grilled Lamb, vegetables, potatoes and homemade gravy (4,400 ISK / $39 USD)
• Traditional Icelandic Skyr with ice cream and whipped cream (900 ISK / $8 USD)

A traditional European breakfast is served to all guests in the morning.  It was a very nice spread filled with lots of cereals, meats, cheeses, coffee, and juices.  One thing we did find very surprising during our stay at Hali was the wind, it was incredibly fierce and just reminded us of nature’s power in Iceland.  Even our host at Hali Country Hotel, Torbjörg says that her favorite thing about Iceland is that, “The magnificent nature is totally different from other parts of Europe. The power of nature and weather which you cannot control, but must adjust to.”  And adjust we did.

In the same building as the Hali restaurant, the museum and heritage centre offers opportunity to learn more about the famous writer Þorbergur Þorðarson and a chance to learn more about the difficult lives Icelandic farmers lived during that era.  We found the museum gave a great illustration on how local life was during that time.

In speaking with one of the owners, Torbjörg about weddings she boasted the following advice, “Expect Icelandic weather to be unpredictable and not always possible to be outdoors. Not even in the summer time.”  Although there is no indoor wedding ceremony option onsite at Hali Country Hotel, Kálfafell Church is within 10km and a perfect “plan b” option.  If you had good weather for your Iceland wedding day, the Skaftafell National Park, Vatnajökull Glacier, Jökúlsárlón Glacier Lagoon are all within minutes of this serene country escape.

Hali welcomes Iceland destination weddings for groups less than 40 people in the off season months.  If you have a group, are a couple on your Iceland honeymoon, or it is just the two of you eloping, feel free to reach out to the Hali team to see if they have availability for your stay.

Hali Country Hotel’s Information:

Website: http://hali.is/
Hali Hotel GPS Coordinates: 64.129671 N” -16.017823 W”
Address:  781 Höfn í Hornafirði, Iceland ?
Phone: +354-478 1073 / 867 2900
Email: hali@hali.is

We hope today you have enjoyed our feature on Hali Country Hotel and will consider them as you plan your trip to Iceland.  If you are interested in having your wedding in Iceland at the Jökúlsárlón Glacier Lagoon, Skaftafell National Park, or on top of the Vatnajökull Glacier we would love to help you plan and photograph your dream wedding!  Please feel free to contact us directly here for more information on making that happen.  In the meantime, Happy New Year and we hope 2014 proves to be your best year yet!

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

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

The post Iceland Honeymoon: Hali Country Hotel appeared first on Iceland Wedding Planner.

We’re back and super excited to kick off our newest Iceland Wedding Planner blog post series!  Over the next several weeks you can look forward to exploring some unique and outstanding hotels in Iceland that made our favorite list this year.  So whether you’re going to Iceland to celebrate your wedding day, honeymoon, anniversary or just planning a romantic adventure trip, we will be sharing with you some of their most beautiful places to stay.

Did you know there is a hidden gem in Hella, Iceland?  Hótel Lækur (Pronounced in English: Hotel Lie-kere) is a super sweet Southern Iceland country hotel 10km off of the infamous Route 1.  Just built at the end of 2012, Hótel Lækur is one of Iceland’s newest hotels that offer an epic countryside view of the Northern Lights (most often seen between November-March).  We had the pleasure of staying there for one evening and are already carving out time to return!

The owner Gunnar and his family spent 2012 remodeling a country barn into this now a delightful 13 room hotel.  The handcrafted details throughout the hotel create an overall warm bucolic appeal.  The hotel is a family run horse farm, and offers 1-8 hour adventure trips around the area.  There is also a fabulous restaurant onsite that offers a delicious traditional Icelandic breakfast and supper. The starting price for a room at the Hótel Lækur begins at approximately $125 USD depending on the season (breakfast included).

Iceland Wedding Planner’s Visit to Hótel Lækur: 

We started our journey in downtown Reykjavík, about 100km from Hótel Lækur.  This was our first time visiting Iceland in November / December.  During this time of year you have about 5 hours of actual daylight (Sunrise ~10:45am and Sunset ~3:45pm).  You do have a prolonged dawn from 9:30-10:30am and dusk from about 3:45-4:15pm.  Even in the pouring rain and at times a snowy mix through the mountains, the scenery was still awe-inspiring.  It was tough for me to contain my urge to want to make stops every 15 minutes to take in the stunning scenery!

Coming from either way on Route 1 you will clearly see the large “Hótel Lækur” sign from the road pointing you 10km down the road, Gunnersholt to Hróarslækur.  The road is paved until the last few kilometers but is extremely well kept.  Our excitement grew each time we saw another teaser Hótel Lækur sign, we were so excited!  Once we approached the final sign leading us to the left turn down the hotels private road, we saw Hótel Lækur’s stunning horses.  Regardless of the pouring rain and wind, we pulled over, got out, and made friends.  The horses had beautiful colors, were well kept, incredibly friendly, and allowed us to pet and photograph them.  So sweet!  Next time we return, we are for sure going to book a riding adventure with these spectacular horses!

We continued down the stone driveway that dead ends to the hotel.  It was just as beautiful as all of the photos online depicted.  Hótel Lækur backs up to a river and offers a perfect view of Mount Hekla (on a clear day).  We were immediately greeted by the owner, Gunnar’s welcoming smile. He proceeded to take us on a tour of their hotel.  During our visit they were in the midst of completing the installation of their new outdoor hot tubs.  How soothing will it be to soak in the warm water with the view of the river and mountains!

We were in Room #5 located above the dining room.  There was an outside entrance with a cute little patio set and our room boasted both a view of the river and a sight in the direction of Mount Hekla.  Upon entering, the room was bright, clean, warm and cozy.  With all the basic amenities of home we were quickly settled into our Icelandic country escape.

That afternoon we went down to the reception dining area and happily found our host brewing fresh coffee!  Yum!  After tirelessly traveling, having been awake for more than 36 hours straight, and battling sideways rain, a late afternoon cup and connecting to their WiFi was heaven sent!  We then spent some time chatting with the owner for a while about weddings and how popular having a destination wedding in Iceland has now become. So much attention has been brought to Iceland over the last 2 years because of movies and TV shows filming around the country. The film crew of the upcoming blockbuster Noah even stayed at Hotel Lækur!

The dining room feels warm and inviting, like when you visit family on the holidays.  The walls are decorated with local artist’s work adding an excellent touch to the feel of the room.  The theme of being family run comes out in passion put into the home cooking.  Dinner was served at 7pm.  While dining at Hótel Lækur, each of the 3 courses were formally introduced by the chef (Gunnar’s son).  We delightfully dined in the following courses:

First Course:

A traditional Icelandic appetizer plate was served featuring the following fresh foods:

• Smoked Trout (Caught in the river behind the hotel and smoked in a nearby town).
• Rúgbrauð (Icelandic bread which is traditionally cooked in the ground from the geothermal heat (ours was cooked in the oven). It was some of the most amazing sweet bread we have ever had!).
• Caramelized onions, and dill pickle savory cream sauce.

The combination was exquisite to the palette. Each bite you could taste the sweet, savory, and the smokiness of the fish.

Second Course:

Our mouths were watering as soon as the beautiful main course was set down in front of us.  It was a beautifully plated dish consisting of the following items:

• Fresh Salad: Topped with an assortment of roasted pine nuts and Icelandic spiced feta cheese.
• Beef Tenderloin.
• Roasted Potatoes.
• Sautéed Garlic Mushrooms in a Cream Sauce.

Our main course was fragrant and fresh and left us eagerly awaiting the final surprise course.

Third Course:

Chris and I are both big fans of dessert and were thrilled when the Hótel Lækur team brought us something we had never had before!

• Date cake with vanilla and chocolate ice cream.
• Refreshing Kiwi in a chocolate sauce.
• Homemade date chocolate.

Combining all of these flavors and the fact that every bite we had was homemade really made our dining experience exceptional.  Bravo Hótel Lækur on a job well done, we were left impressed!

Hótel Lækur can handle up to 40 people in their dining area.  Above the dining area there is also lounge where you can relax and enjoy an Icelandic beer or a cocktail before or after dinner.  They are also happy to accommodate anyone in their restaurant who is vegetarian or needs gluten free option, just ask ahead of time.  On an extra note, they offer coffee and tea 24/7 for their guests in the dining area.

After dinner we retired to our room.  Since it had been raining and cloudy all day, we were not really expecting to be graced with an appearance of the Northern Lights.  But, knowing the chances would be slim we still found ourselves getting up every hour or so to go out and check “just in case.”  The good news is that Hótel Lækur keeps an eye out for you and offers a wake up knock too to ensure you do not miss the fabulous showing of the Aurora if they come out.  Luckily the clouds parted for a short time between 1:30-2am and we were marveled by their presence!  Hótel Lækur is a beautiful spot to photograph the Northern Lights.  They have this great little hillside you can setup your tripod on and capture the hotel in the foreground and Mount Hekla in the background.

Morning at Hótel Lækur brought hot Icelandic coffee and a traditional European breakfast spread.  You can expect items like oatmeal, warm Icelandic Rúgbrauð, cereals, meats, cheeses, date cakes, and various juices to be a part of their banquet.

Hótel Lækur held their first destination wedding this past summer and have several booked for the upcoming year in 2014.  In our opinion, this hotel would be a charming location to hold a destination wedding in Iceland because of the exclusivity of the location, country feel, and opportunity to view the Northern Lights (no light pollution).  If you also book early enough you have the option of renting the entire hotel for your group.  Hótel Lækur also has enough acreage on the property to host your Iceland wedding ceremony along the river behind the hotel or with Mount Hekla as a backdrop.  Not to mention they are also minutes away from the historic Keldur and Oddi Church, Thórsmörk Mountain Ridge, Seljalandsfoss, Skogafoss and Gullfoss waterfalls.  This location can also easily be your gateway to all of the epic natural wonders Southern Iceland has to offer and we encourage you to check them out!

Hótel Lækur’s Information:

• Website: http://hotellaekur.is
• Hróarslækur Horse Rental
• Hotel Laekur GPS Coordinates: 63.8469134 N’’ -20.17052 W’’
• Address:  851 Hróarslæk; Hella, Iceland
• Phone: +354-466-3930

We hope you have enjoyed our first installment of our newest series!  Are you contemplating having an Iceland destination wedding or an Iceland elopement?  Iceland Wedding Planner offers the best of both worlds… Wedding planning and photography in one package!  Feel free to contact us to get the conversation started about your dream wedding in Iceland!

With a smile,

Ann & Chris Peters

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

The post Iceland Wedding Hotel: Hotel Laekur (Hella, Iceland) appeared first on Iceland Wedding Planner.