-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.

This weeks planning wedding topic has to do with your Iceland wedding ceremony… Wedding vows!  Have you thought about them yet?  If not, I hope this blog post motivates you!

Wedding Vows are intimate expressions that are a continuous reminder of the foundation of your marriage.  On your wedding day, you outwardly profess: love, respect, and commitment to your soon to be in front of your support system of family and friends.  No matter if you repeat the solemn words from your officiant or you create your own they carry a meaning that lasts forever and should be celebrated each year in your marriage thereafter.  You need to decide as a couple whether or not you want to repeat or create your own wedding vows… so here are a few ideas to get those creative juices flowing:

• Accepting each other fully and for a lifetime.
• Through the good, bad, and unmanageable times.
• Endless and irrefutable love and adoration.
• Your lifetime promise to him/her.
• How he/she inspires you to be a better person.

There are positives and negatives to both but I will say from personal experience, creating your own is worth it in the long run.  Being wedding photographers locally in Plymouth, Michigan and specializing in destination weddings for over 10 years, Chris and I have been lucky enough to bear witness to over hundreds of wedding vows.  That being said, we know truly, how much of an impact they carry in the moment and over time.  This in turn, made us realize when we were Iceland wedding planning, how important it was for us to create our own wedding vows.

We held our Iceland destination wedding at Seljalandsfoss Waterfall on Saturday, April 14^th 2012 and had spent weeks before perfecting our Iceland ceremony wording and our wedding vows.  Today, I share with you our Iceland ceremony we compiled… Feel free to use it to generate your own ideas for your Iceland destination wedding vows but please do not publish, thank you!

Our Introduction and Welcome to our Iceland Wedding Guests:

“True marriage is more than joining the bonds of marriage of two persons.  In its right relation, it’s the uniting of two souls already attuned to each other.  When such a true bond already exists between man and woman, it is fitting that an outer acknowledgment be made. This acknowledgment is the prime object of this gathering and this ceremony here in Iceland today.  We are here to bear witness to the entry into the closer relationship of husband and wife of these beloved friends, Christopher and Ann who are already one in spirit.

You are now taking into your care and keeping the happiness of the one person in all the world whom you love best.  You are adding to your life not only the affection of each other, but also the companionship and blessing of a deep trust as well. Christopher and Ann, you are agreeing to share strength, responsibilities, and to share love.   At the end of this ceremony, you will be husband and wife, but you still must decide each and every day, that you want to be married.  Make such a decision and keep on making it, for the most important thing in life is to love and be loved.

Reading by 4 friends:  The Art of Marriage –By Wilferd Arlan Peterson

The Vows <Join Hands>:

 Chris’s Vows:  “Ann falling in love with you the last few years has been an incredible experience.  Your will, your energy and thirst for life inspires me on a daily basis.  I promise to love you, hold you and to work with you to build a solid foundation for our future to be built on.  Today, I ask that you take these hands because they are the ones that hold you.  That you take these feet because they are the ones that walk besides you.  That you take this smile for it glows because of you. And that you take this heart because it beats for you.”

Ann’s Vows:  “On this special day in one of the most amazing places in the world and I commit my life to you.  Chris, I fell in love with you for the unique qualities, abilities, and outlook on life that you have, I love you for who you are and the amazing team we make together.  I promise to love you without reservation, encourage you to achieve all of your goals and inspire you daily.   To laugh with you, and to comfort you in times of sorrow and struggles.  To grow with you in mind and spirit and be willing to face change as we both change in order to keep our relationship new and exciting… I promise to always be open and honest with you, and share hopes, thoughts and dreams as we build our lives together.  I am super excited to build a home with you that is compassionate, respectful and honorable for each other. I pledge to love you in good times and in bad, for richer or poorer, and for when you buy more British cars than our garage can hold…  I will cherish you and the family that we share together for as long as we both shall live. From this day forward, you shall not walk alone.  Today, I give you my hand to hold, my life to share and my heart to keep.”

 The  RINGS:
This ring by its shape is a symbol of the undying love that exists between you. The substance of which it is composed is a symbol of purity, which shall ever characterize your mind and hearts in all your whole life together.

Christopher please repeat after me as you place the ring on Ann’s finger:  “As this ring encircles your finger, from this day forward, so will my love forever encircle you. Wear this ring as a symbol of my love.”

 Ann, please repeat after me as you place the ring on Christopher’s finger:  “As this ring encircles your finger, from this day forward, so will my love forever encircle you. Wear this ring as a symbol of my love.”

 Love Letter Ceremony:

Christopher and Ann have chosen as a couple to perform a Letter Ceremony. 

<The box is to be presented>

This box contains a love letter from each to the other.   The letters Chris and Ann have wrote to each other describe the good qualities they find in one another, the reasons they fell in love, and their reasons for choosing to marry today.   Ann’s mother, Irene and Christopher’s parents, Donna and Bill have also written their children a letter individually and another letter to the couple together expressing their hopes and advice for their future together.  The letters are sealed in individual envelopes and the couple has not seen what has been written.  I would ask, now that the parents bring forth their letters to be placed in the box.

<Parents walk up and place the letters in the box>

 Christopher and Ann, 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 today.  Should you ever find your marriage enduring insurmountable hardships, you are to as a couple, open this box and read the letters.   By reading these 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 as a celebration to enjoy on your 20th wedding anniversary!

That being said, Christopher and Ann, I will now lock the box as an expression of sealing your life-long commitment. 

Hand Ceremony:

These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and full of love for you, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as you promise to love each other today, tomorrow, and forever.

These are the hands that will work alongside yours, as together you build your future.

These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, and with the slightest touch, will comfort you like no other.

These are the hands that will hold you when fear or grief fills your mind.
These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes; tears of sorrow, and tears of joy.

These are the hands that will someday tenderly hold your children.

These are the hands that will help you to hold your family as one.

These are the hands that will give you strength when you need it.

And lastly, these are the hands that even when wrinkled and aged, will still be reaching for yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch.

Christopher and Ann, may you always need one another, not so much to fill the emptiness as to help each other know your fullness.  May you want one another, but not out of lack.  May you embrace one another, but not encircle one another.  May you succeed in all important ways with each other, and not fail in the little graces.  Look for things to praise, often say ‘I love you’ and take no notice of small faults.  May you have happiness, and may you find it in making one another happy.  May you have love, and may you find it in loving one another every day.  Ann and Chris, you have expressed your love to one another through the commitment and promises you have just made throughout this ceremony. It is with these in mind that I pronounce you husband and wife.

The Kiss:

Although, you have kissed a thousand times, maybe more.  But today the feeling is new.  You are no longer simply partners and best friends, you have become husband and wife and can now seal the agreement with a kiss.  Today, your kiss is a lifetime promise.  Congratulations, Christopher, you may now celebrate by kissing your bride!”

*************************************************************************************************

Even just reading through these words again, really brings me back to our Iceland wedding day.  It was filled with so much love, adventure, romance, and excitement for both ourselves and our guests.  From saying our Iceland wedding vows at Seljalandsfoss Waterfall, to our wedding champagne toast at Vik Beach, to our impromptu stops at the Vik Icelandic Wool Shop and Skogafoss Waterfall, and our wedding reception on the Ranga River those words bring us right back there in the midst of that exciting time in our lives.   We hope that our Iceland wedding ceremony wording will help you as you plan your amazing destination wedding in Iceland!

We have some super exciting posts coming up in the next few weeks!  You can look forward to our Iceland wedding anniversary photos and an Iceland styled shoot featuring our favorite vendors like Flyboy Naturals!

With a smile, Ann Peters

IcelandWeddingPlanner

PhotosByMissAnn

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

The post Iceland Wedding Vows appeared first on Iceland Wedding Planner.

Having over 10 years in the destination wedding industry under my belt one thing I can always count on is… that no matter how much you plan for what the “what if” scenarios there will be something that happens on your wedding day that you did not prepare for.  Some things being within your control and others not. Having your destination wedding in the country like Iceland, where there is not a big box store like Wallyworld or a pharmacy accessible or nearby your hotel you will need to make sure you have a very thorough emergency kit.

Situation: You wake up at your hotel, it’s your wedding morning and you or your soon to be husband have forgotten one of your toiletries you usually use in your getting ready routine and the nearest convenient store is over 40 minutes one way and doesn’t open until 10am.  You’re leaving for your Seljalandsfoss wedding ceremony in less than 1.5 hours.  It is just not possible for you  or someone else to make the drive, get ready, and get back in time for the day’s events.  The store also may not have your creature comforts you are use to, so having a bride and groom emergency kit will allow the day of panic level to go down amongst yourselves and your guests.

A couple of examples of where these bridal survival kits would have come in handy (I have personally encountered these examples throughout the years):

• The maid of honor’s heel breaks.  (Iceland Wedding Planner saves the day with super glue and alternative cute shoe option as viable backup).
• The groom steps on brides train and it rips out the button (I know as an Iceland photographer, I have taken the time to sew it back up for the bride to ensure the rest of the day is flawless).
• The MOTB or MOTG’s bra strap keeps showing (A few minutes spent pinning or a few stitches will solve this quickly).
• Example from my Iceland Wedding Day: Even as a super planner who has seen and done it all I somehow had 3 mishaps happen during my Iceland wedding day I had to navigate through: 1.) I forgot my engagement ring back at the hotel; 2.) I had asked for black chiavari chairs at the ceremony site and sadly the ceremony setup was with white plastic garden chairs. 3.) Our hired in destination photographers from Toronto, Ontario were MIA several times (the day before and then again during the reception) when we needed to speak with them. I had to go the extreme of writing a note to post on their hotel door and asking the front desk to find them for me. Two of the above items, I had no control over and one my wedding day emergency kit instantly solved.  The items you have no control over you need do what you can in the moment, take a deep breath, and find a substitute is possible, and if not deal with the situation after your beautiful day is complete.

Iceland is a awe-inspiring place and that is mainly because it is not over populated with convenient stores or shopping malls.  The natives are simple people and do not require the intricate must haves as most of us have on our must have getting ready list so chances are their stores are not going to carry the items you are in need of.  Mishaps aside, there are things that you can do to prepare for these what if scenarios before your wedding in Iceland.  To combat any potential problems the day of with yourself or your guests so here is a super awesome list of crucial wedding day items that no bride, groom, or bridal party should be without!

Put together a Bridal Emergency Kit consisting of the following:

• Extra Wedding Vows
• Sewing Kit (includes pins, scissors,  thread, and needles)
• Clear Nail Polish
• Nail File
• Hairspray
• Mirror
• Shine Blotting Sheets
• Stay-Matte Pressed Powder to touch up shine
• Pain Reliever
• Static Guard Spray
• Clinique Touch Base for Eyes
• Brush/Comb
• Tissues
• Lint Brush
• Earring Backs
• Nail Polish Remover
• Baby Powder (for last minute spills on your dress)
• Shout Wipes or Tide to Go Pen
• Eye Drops
• Acid Relief
• Smelling Salts
• Tampons and Pads
• Band-Aids
• Headache medicine
• Large Scissors
• Krazy or Super Glue
• Sunscreen (if it’s an outdoor wedding)
• Bobby Pins
• First Aid Kit
• Safety Pins
• Toothbrush and Toothpaste
• Chalk
• Dental Floss or Toothpicks
• Hem Tape
• Scotch Tape
• Straws
• Tweezers
• Extra lipstick or gloss
• Matches
• Trail mix
• Hollywood Tape (or double sided tape)
• Deodorant scrub off brush
• Breath Mint
• Notepad and Pencil
• Flash Drive for any important speakers, timeline flow, to transfer of files, etc.
• Write your soon to be a day of note!

Put together a Groom Emergency Kit consisting of the following:

• Black Socks (2 pairs)
• Extra Wedding Vows
• Extra Wedding Rings
• Safety Pins
• Travel sewing kit
• Razor and travel shaving cream
• Band-Aids
• Hand sanitizer
• Shout Stain Remover
• File
• Nail clipper
• Brush/Comb
• Toothbrush & Toothpaste
• Breath mints
• Cologne
•  Extra buttons and cuff links
• Lint Brush
• Antacid
• Pain Reliever
• Deodorant
• Eye drops
• Granola Bar &Water
• $20 of your own currency and $20 of whatever your destination wedding country currency is.
• Write your soon to be a day of note!

Planning a destination wedding is no easy feat in any location.  But planning a destination wedding in Iceland creates even more unknowns especially if you have never been to Iceland.  If you are planning your wedding by yourself, before your wedding day, you can plan for every possible situation that could arise but that takes time and endless hours of research and you still may encounter a flaw.  Which is exactly why you hire a professional to create plan A, plan B, plan C scenarios in case something detours from the original plan.

Hiring experienced professionals that are not only familiar with the country, have relationships with the local vendors, the terrain, the food, and the types of available lodging allows you to relax!  At Photos by Miss Ann, we present decision options for you and your soon to be to decide on and in turn you can RELAX!  Our Iceland wedding planning and photography team also carry with us elaborate emergency kits similar to the above so we can troubleshoot any possible issues that may arise during your wedding weekend/weekend adventures so trust that you will have a flawlessly beautiful day if you hire us!

Keep Smiling, Ann Peters

Your experts in Iceland Wedding Planning and Iceland Wedding Photography, please contact us for more information!

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

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