Did you see the beginning of Miranda + Pete’s romantic Northern Iceland wedding at Godafoss Waterfall last week?  If not, please head back here to see!  Today we continue on with their wedding adventure in Iceland…

If you’re looking for one of the most dramatic landscapes known, you’ll find it in Northern Iceland.  It is a 2,300 year old magnificent lava field named, Dimmuborgir.  An interesting phenomena happened during this historic eruption when a lava tube collapsed, flowed around in this area, mixed with the wet sod, and the combination of the rising heat- formed these very interesting formations of lava rocks.  It is a lava field that is coined, “Dark Castles” by the locals.

The next stop of Miranda and Pete’s wedding adventure in Iceland was this fabulous location.  They hiked, they climbed and they couldn’t stop smiling over the epic-ness that was all around them!  Stay tuned next time for another super-secret location on their Iceland wedding day agenda along with their very sweetly styled Iceland wedding reception!

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

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

The post Iceland Wedding Photos in Dimmuborgir Lava Fields appeared first on Iceland Wedding Planner.

Perched on the Northeastern shores of Lake Myvatn and in the shadows of the Dimmuborgir Lava Castles, sits the beautiful jewel, Hotel Reynihlid. You’ll find 41 comfortable European styled double rooms and each room offers excellent views.  Hotel Reynihlid is truly a full service hotel that offers year round accommodations. The friendly knowledgeable staff and fabulous amenities allow you to enjoy any length of stay or host your unforgettable Iceland Destination Wedding, as it would be a perfect choice for any Iceland wedding guest size.  Reynihlid boasts a banquet space big enough for 60 people seated for a Iceland wedding reception and a lovely 4 star in house restaurant called “Myllan.” Serving beautiful local Icelandic fare not limited to lovely lamb dishes and scrumptious Arctic Char, there is something delectable for every palate.

Be sure to plan your stay with plenty of time to check out the natural wonders all around; you’ll be able to fill every moment of daylight with some really unique Icelandic adventures. But first, start your day of sightseeing, with a lovely breakfast at Reynihlid, with its extensive continental spread it will surely get you off on the right foot!

If you’re looking to become one with the natural wonders of the area you can take an easy drive to one of two of the most grand waterfalls in the world, Dettifoss and Godifoss. Both are under a one hour drive from the hotel and many other natural wonder sights are on the way. Then make sure you stop for a walk around the bubbling mud pots of Namafjall, or take a carefree stroll through the Dimmuborgir volcanic chimneys with their dwarfing towers of lava rock and brilliant earthy colors. Both locations are less than a 10 minute drive from Hotel Reynihlid. Finish your day with a dip in the natural geothermal hot baths nearby, to sooth the aches of a fabulous day of adventure in Iceland’s dazzling outdoors.

If you’re interested in day tripping around the area you can venture into the little quaint town of Husavik, where the beautiful wooden church (named Húsavíkurkirkja, built in 1907) can be found! The area would be easy to do a fun self-guided tour and of course make sure you include a lunch or dinner stop at one of the amazing local seafood restaurants that operate right at the docks. There are also several spots for you to purchase authentic handmade Icelandic wares, crafts or to sign up for an unforgettable whale watching tour. As you can see, there is enough to keep you busy for at least an entire day and it is only a short 40 minute drive from Hotel Reynihlid.

Iceland Wedding Planner’s Visit to Hótel Reynihlíð:

On a fabulous summer morning in Northern Iceland, we began our trek from the Trollaskagi Peninsula and after a 45 minute drive south we arrived in the bustling city of Akureyri. We pressed thru so that we could have lunch in my absolute favorite city in Iceland – Husavik! We spent a few glorious hours there…Sad to leave the little fishing town but we were stoked to start heading south to the area of Lake Myvatn where Hotel Reynihlid resides.

With a quick stop to Godafoss, Dimmuborgir, and Námafjall, we arrived to Hotel Reynihlid by 8pm which was just in time for a delicious dinner in their fabulous restaurant! As soon as you walk into the hotel you’re greeted with warm smiles from the staff, delicious smells coming from the restaurant, and a feeling of being “home.” The lobby invites you to pull up a chair to enjoy the view or a good book. If you travel further into the formal check-in lobby area you’ll not only find the staff ready to check you in or answer any questions but you’ll also find a little sundry shop! The shop has all sorts of Icelandic snacks, souvenirs, and nic-naks so make sure you stop and check it out!

If you head over to the left side of the lobby you will find a computer that is internet accessible so you can check your email and stay connected to the world.  Beyond that you’ll find the regular side of the bar and if you venture to the other side, you’ll find the “MannaBar” filled with high tables, couches, piano, and a large television.  What a fabulous place to hold a wedding “happy/cocktail hour” for your Iceland wedding reception!

The hallways of Hotel Reynihlid have framed photos of the incredible natural wonders throughout Northern Iceland so enjoy as you walk to your room. Iceland Wedding Planner Travel Tip: If you have anyone who has a disability and cannot make the trip up stairs, please make sure you let the staff know at time of booking to reserve a first floor room.

Upon entering our room on the second floor, we loved the instant view we had of Lake Myvatn! The room also had fabulous amenities at our fingertips, including Duke & Lyle luxury Scandinavian toiletries! After settling in we jetted down to the restaurant for dinner and we delighted in the following scrumptious delectable dishes at the Myllan Restaurant:

• Poached Arctic Char with red onion and garlic toast.
• Shoulder of Lamb with bell peppers, potatoes and red onion.
• Locally caught baked Salmon with carrots and citrus sauce.

One of my favorite things about Reynihlid is the easy access to all of the top Northern Iceland attractions such as the following locales:

• Akureyri: 45 minutes
• Akureyri Airport: 1 hour 15 minutes
• Dettifoss (Note the Iceland Nature Pass is in affect): 50 minutes
• Dimmuborgir: 8 minutes
• Godafoss: 40 minutes
• Husavik (Fishing town and the best whale watching): 40 minutes
• Myvatn Nature Baths: 8 minutes
• Námafjall Geothermal Area (Note the Iceland Nature Pass is in affect): 10 minutes
• Hvitserkur Sea Arch: 4 hours 20 minutes
• KEF Airport: 6.5 hours

In the Iceland summer months (May-September), you’re able to easily navigate the roads from Southern Iceland but in Icelandic winter months (October to April).  But we would strongly encourage you to fly from the Reykavik Airport to the Akureyri Airport and then rent a car to continue on to Hotel Reynihlid.

Whether looking for your Iceland wedding to be in spring, summer, or winter, Hotel Reynihlid can support your vows in any season! With so many activities whether sun, rain, or snow, you and your loved ones will always have something new to experience. When your day’s adventures come to an end, you’ll be able to head back to the comfort of the hotel, enjoy a glass of wine or a cocktail from Reynihlid’s full service bar and watch the sunset from the comfort of their beautiful and welcoming sun room while going over your day. All preparing you for the bedtime story of the Midnight Sun or the dazzling Northern Lights before settling into bed to catch some rest for your new adventures tomorrow.

We encourage you to contact Hotel Reynihlid for your next trip to Northern Iceland, you will not be disappointed! In the meantime, please delight in the images we photographed there this past summer when we did an Iceland Styled Session onsite there along with a few little tidbits around the area.

Hotel Reynihlid’s Contact Information:

• Website: http://www.reynihlid.is
• Address: 660 Myvatn; Myvatn, Iceland
• Phone: +354 464 4371
• Hotel Reynihlid GPS Cordinates: 65.6453341?N, -17.0626309?W

Stay tuned next time for another pick on our 2014 Top Iceland Wedding Hotel list! But just in case you missed the previous weeks posts… go back and check out our other 2 favorites from this year:

• Hotel Borg
• Brimnes Hotel & Cabins

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

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

The post Northern Iceland Wedding Location: Hotel Reynihlid appeared first on Iceland Wedding Planner.

We hope this finds you well and super excited for the fabulous week ahead of you!  Working in the wedding industry for more than a decade now, has given Chris and I a lot of insight into all different types of wedding locations and situations.  That is one of the reasons why we planned to have a destination wedding -we personally wanted somewhere different that most.

Specifically, we were interested in a location we had never photographed before, that none of our guests had been, offered dramatic backgrounds for our wedding photos, and a place that would have more natural wonders then we could count –this was Iceland for us.  In April 2012, we flew in 40 of our closest friends and family from around the world for our Iceland destination wedding at Seljalandsfoss waterfall.  Following our Iceland wedding ceremony, we had planned a wedding day adventure for our guests that included a fun champagne toast at the famous black sand beach –Vik Beach, a stop at the powerful Skogafoss waterfall and an amazing 5 course wedding dinner alongside of the Ranga River.  During our adventure wedding in Iceland, we were lucky enough to see the Northern Lights too <yes even in April>!

Ah, love + Iceland, still gets me off track every time!  Now back to today’s Iceland wedding planning topic of the week…When Chris and I photograph each wedding, one of the “swoon worthy wedding moments” we always enjoy is capturing is the kiss!  It is such an epic moment that signifies so much and is frankly loaded with a ton of firsts.

• Usually the first kiss of the day!
• First kiss as husband and wife.
• First kiss of the rest of your lives <insert corny cliché, lol!>
• The culmination of so much awaited anticipation.
• Your first kiss in front of one of Iceland’s dramatic landscapes!
• Serves as the seal of your marriage vows.
• Your first PDA in front of all you love and adore!
• The foundation of your marriage and your wedding vows (Remember, each time you kiss your husband/wife it should bring you back to that moment in time).

*Disclaimer: Alright so the rest of this post is a tad bold… But we seriously hope it stirs some dialogue between the two of you as you plan your dream wedding ceremony in Iceland.*

One of things we like to encourage our destination couples to is practice their Iceland wedding ceremony kiss.  I know it seems totally silly, but you both need to be on the same page on when and how you will.  <Insert slightly awkward moment>.  Ha, yes I said “how!”  So now that I have you thinking about the big moment and picturing yourself in it, let’s go over some helpful guidelines from our perspective as Iceland destination wedding photographers.  Without further ado here are 10 tips to the perfect wedding kiss:

1. Know when the kiss is going to be.  Will it be at the end of the vows? After your unity ceremony?  At the end of the ceremony?  Will your Iceland wedding official make a formal announcement?
2. Whose nose will be towards the crowd?  Do you care?  I personally did because I’ll be frank and say I’m not a fan of my nose.  So when Chris and I practiced our kiss for our Iceland destination wedding at Seljalandsfoss waterfall, I was adamant about ensuring Chris’s nose would be towards the crowd.  Practicing helped this be totally natural the day of our April wedding day in Southern Iceland.
3. Don’t rush it!
4. Put your hands on each other, yes I said it!  Your kiss at the end of your Iceland wedding ceremony will be way more amazing if you go from standing side by side to holding hands or embracing.  Cannot stress enough how important this is for photos so we can document that amazing connection.  So grab her, grab him and bring each other in to really kiss!
5. Make eye contact, smile, do the “slow lean in,” and tip your head.
6. Close your eyes!
7. KISS!  Now, when I say “kiss” this does not condone “making out” in front of your wedding guests.  You need to find a nice balance between the above and the millisecond kiss.  Real Iceland Wedding Example: When we said “I do” during our Iceland wedding ceremony, we opted for holding hands and we went for the “1 one-thousand, 2 two-thousand, 3 three-thousand and complete,” kiss!  That route adds to the dreamy feel your wedding photos will have and also allow for your Iceland wedding photographers to get a couple of shots and angles.
8. Iceland Wedding Photographer Tip: Sneak in another kiss ½ way down the aisle.  This makes for a gorgeous photo opportunity with your ceremony site in the background!
9. Practice!  …and repeat!
10. Share with your photographer ahead of time if you plan to do something epic like a “woohoo” with the fist, jump for joy, or first kiss dip.

We hope our Iceland wedding blog post today, will prove to be catalyst of conversation between you and your soon to be so you can be ready for the sweetest kiss ever!  Below, we share with you some super sweet first kisses!

With a smile, Ann & Chris Peters

Iceland Wedding Planners & Iceland Wedding Photographers

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

The post 10 Tips for the Perfect Kiss from an Iceland Wedding Photographer appeared first on Iceland Wedding Planner.