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.

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I was the Iceland Wedding Planner and Photographer for a super cool couple from Chicago, Illinois.  It was raining that day in Iceland, so we executed our “Plan B” ceremony location, my favorite cave.  However, when we arrived we were greeted by a 200 person film crew for a upcoming Bollywood movie.  They were there with the famed actor’s, food trucks, gear trucks,  and tons of porta potties.

I’ll be honest, seeing that many people there, I panicked slightly.  Not because I wouldn’t be able to use the location (which never happens because we always get private permission and permits) but rather, I was thinking how off schedule this could potentially make our day (excuse the OCD part of me, lol)!  The couple had no idea that anything was out of the ordinary as I jumped out of the jeep and darted to the group to have a chat.  An easy 5 minutes later the entire crew was gone

Fast forward 12 hours and I was back at the hotel finishing up the table styling for the couples dreamy reception for two.  I grabbed a glass of wine and my computer to catch up on emails and sat down in the hotel lobby…  Completely enamored in my work I do not look up when I hear a man’s voice say, “Are you that 5 foot 3 inch wedding planner that kicked our entire crew out of the cave earlier today?”  I laughed and leaned around my computer to see who was so witty.  To my pleasant surprise, a 6 foot 7 inch  Icelandic Adonis was speaking to me.  My jaw dropped and that giddy smile still hasn’t left my face!

That night, I met a man who lives and breathes adventure just as I do (maybe even more) personally and professionally.  Allow me to introduce you to Davíð… He creates special effects for all of the big movies that come here to Iceland (you know like Star Wars, Game of Thrones, Interstellar, Noah, the list is endless) and has the incredible hobby of being on Iceland’s SAR team (Search and Rescue). ….yeah swoon swoon, right?!  From that moment on, we found ourselves inseparable.

Our third date was a 7 day adventure to Isle of Skye, where we went coasteering, hiked epic cliff lines, dined at small little cafes, and discovered super secret locales!

He didn’t even bat an eyelash when I suggested we spend a month in South America! Where we ventured through Chilean wine country, Rainforests, through epic fjords, and made our way down to the famed awe inspiring region of Patagonia!

Since Davíð and I met at the “top of the world” we thought it would be fun for us to ring in the New Year together at the bottom of the world in Ushuaia Argentina!

We spent several days camping (um yeah the only man on the planet that can get me to camp in a tent) and hiking the famed “W Trek” in the Torres Del Paine National Park.  Complete with glaciers, granite towers, and moments of mountaineering!

One of the most magical set of days we spent together was within the Los Glaciares National Park where we explored the Perito Moreno Glacier and the Fitz Roy Mountains!

One of my favorite hikes we have done together was in Norway doing the hike to Trolltunga. Have you ever been to Norway?

Back to the exciting news…

After exploring 7 countries; 40 cities; and over 30,000 miles together, I proposed! …and he said Yes!

…and we are planning a wedding in the Lofoten Islands for September 14-19th!

But that’s not all of the exciting news we have to share with you… There’s more!  We are also extremely happy to announce that we will be adding a new items to our menu of services… Drone Photography and Video for your amazing Iceland Weddings + Adventure Weddings beyond!

Are you excited?!  We are too!

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

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

The post Thriving on Adventure and Love appeared first on Iceland Wedding Planner.

One of the most endearing aspects of eloping is the event is for the couple only.  The decision is rare, pure, and true.  When Farid and Vanessa from Singapore, contacted us about planning and photographing their intimate Iceland elopement, they wanted just that, a special day for just the two of them.  They also wanted to experience Iceland in a way that they would remember for lifetime.  We devised an action packed Iceland winter wedding adventure for the two of them to partake in and I went along to tell their story.

That being said, we’ve decided that Farid & Vanessa’s enticing Iceland elopement was so gorgeous we want to share it with you in three parts so you don’t miss out on any of the details of their beautiful February wedding in Iceland.  Our first segment in this series will be their Iceland wedding ceremony at our favorite lakeside country church!  Yes I said lakeside country church…Swoon!  You’re smitten already, right?

After Skyping with Vanessa and Farid, we felt this super sweet church, Thingvellir National Park, and the ION Luxury Adventure Hotel were a perfect fit for their Iceland wedding adventure.  The ION Hotel and area around Lake Thingvellir exude a very earthy elegance which is exactly what Vanessa and Farid were after for their magical wedding day in Iceland.  …and need I say more about this romantic red roofed country church?  It is totally out of a storybook!

I am continually amazed by the locations and character of all of the country churches.  The churches vary in age, history, and handcrafted details.  Chris and I stumbled upon this beautiful old church (built in 1863) on one of our trips and fell in love with it!  Even while it was pouring down we couldn’t resist peaking in the windows and planning out where we would photograph our first bride and groom at this historical Iceland church.

It wasn’t until later we found out the bride, Vanessa had already pinned (on Pinterest) a photo of this little seaside church.  Then when we were sharing photos with them from one of our scouting trips, they saw images of the church and just knew that it was meant to be their Iceland wedding ceremony spot!

Farid and Vanessa, I was so honored to be a part of your unforgettable wedding day in Iceland.  You’re adorable together and Chris and I wish you endless years of exciting adventures and love!  Thank you for being brave, bearing the crazy winds and chilly winter temperatures!  We hope these images allow you to relive your Iceland wedding adventure and this sensational time in your lives!  We also hope these beautiful Iceland wedding photos let your family and friends be a part of this unbelievable journey you shared.  Lots of hugs, smiles, and luck to you newlyweds! ? –Photos by Miss Ann

Friends, stay tuned next time for more romantic Iceland wedding photos in the renowned Thingvellir National Park… Also, in case you missed it last week, take a moment and go back to delight in their snowy Pre-Wedding Iceland Engagement Session here.

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

Previous blog posts on Iceland Weddings:

• Iceland Engagement Pre-Wedding Session
• Thingvellir National Park Wedding Photos
• ION Luxury Adventure Hotel Elopement

2014, Iceland Wedding Planner / Photos by Miss Ann, All Rights Reserved.

The post Iceland Wedding at Lakeside Country Church appeared first on Iceland Wedding Planner.

As Iceland wedding planners and destination wedding photographers, we strive each week to bring you unique Iceland inspired blog posts that motivate, elaborate, educate, and offer support to aid you for your biggest adventure yet, your wedding day!

A few of you have privately messaged us to ask how Iceland Wedding Planner began… Short Answer: Our love of wedding details, planning, destination wedding photography, and Iceland fueled it.  Long Answer: Must be over wine and a Skype session

Good news though!  You are not alone; we’ve personally been in your shoes trying to plan an unique and adventurous wedding in Iceland.  We actually held our April 2012 Iceland destination wedding at Seljalandsfoss Waterfall, took our guests for a wedding day tour by having our champagne toast at Vik Beach, stopped for rainbows and horses at Skogafoss Waterfall, held our reception on the Ranga River (in Hella, Iceland), and also organized pre/post wedding itinerary for 40 guests from around the world.  Countless hours were spent researching, phone calls, designing, creating, asking endless questions, scouting trips and networking with Iceland’s premiere wedding vendors.  All of which have led us to be an experienced leader in Iceland’s wedding industry who can now help you plan your dream wedding in Iceland.  Please feel free to contact us for more information on planning or photographing your stunning Iceland wedding day!

For this week’s Iceland wedding blog post, we are going to expand on everyone’s favorite detail: The bridal bouquet and teaching you how to preserve it!  When choosing your Iceland wedding flowers, first check out our blog post on this very topic, here.  It may be helpful to you as you Iceland wedding plan and consider the endless Iceland wedding bouquet options out there.

So it’s months later and there you are in Iceland and it’s your wedding day, woohoo!  Your Iceland florist or Iceland wedding planner delivers your wedding flowers to your hotel room and hopefully you’re in awe!  You will be if we are organizing your Iceland wedding arrangements.  Do a little happy dance and squeal a bit in excitement because you’re getting married in Iceland today!

Iceland Wedding Planner Tip:  If you have chosen a fresh flower wedding bouquet, keep them in water as much as possible when you are not holding them.

Iceland Wedding Photographer Tip: Bring a special and/or colorful broach to put on the stem of your flowers, it’s a super sweet detail that helps make your bouquet pop in your Iceland wedding portraits!  Rhinestone pins also bring an incredible elegance to your bouquets and centerpieces. <Real Wedding in Iceland Example: We had some vintage rhinestone pins mixed in with our Iceland wedding reception centerpieces and got so many compliments from our guests for this extra detail!>  See our Iceland wedding photos below for an example of wedding bouquet broaches.

Once you’re in your Iceland wedding dress, ready to walk down the aisle at your gorgeous Iceland wedding ceremony,  pack a vase (or more if you have bridesmaids) to take with you along with you as you travel throughout your wedding day adventure.  Being able to keep the bridal bouquet hydrated throughout your wedding day gives your fresh flowers the best chance to have continuous beauty during all of your Iceland wedding photo locations.  It is also a good idea to bring a small towel or wash cloth to wipe off the excess water each time you pull it out.  That way, as you travel around with your Iceland wedding photographer to iconic wedding photo spots, your dress stays dry and your flowers hydrated!  Once you arrive back to your reception spot, get them back into water if possible.  If not, this is the point that you can begin your preserving process.

Preserving your fresh flower Iceland bridal bouquet is super easy if you follow these steps <We personally did this, so rest assured it is tried and true>:

Step 1: Keep the wedding bouquet in water until it begins to wilt.

Step 2: Take a satin ribbon/yarn that is ~2 feet and on one end tie a tight knot to the bulk stem of your bouquet.

Step 3: Turn the bouquet upside down (so that it is hanging upside down) and take the other end of that ribbon and tie it to something in the hotel room (a lamp or closet hangers are perfect for this part).

Step 4: When you are leaving Iceland to go back home, wrap the bouquet in a plastic or cloth bag, add silica drying beads (if you have them) and pack it in with your clothes in the bag that you are checking <this is easiest because each county’s custom rules are different>.

Step 5:  When you arrive home from your Iceland wedding adventure, hang the wedding flowers back up in a cool dry place so they can continue to dry out.  <Mine hung in our basement>.

Step 6: After 3-4 weeks, your bouquet should be dried out and ready to be put away as your special keepsake of your wedding day in Iceland!

Back when all of our parents were getting married, fresh flowers were not as popular as they are now (silk flowers were most popular then).  As the eras have gone on, it seems as though wedding niceties have become more detailed and elaborate.  One way many years ago to preserve your wedding details was to shadow box it and display it somewhere in your home.  This is totally still an option but not everyone has the space to do this.  An idea for you from our Iceland wedding experience: Put your favorite wedding items in your Love Letter Ceremony Box!  Why?  Because it serves a dual purpose!  It helps you transport your items safely back to your home country once your destination wedding in Iceland is complete and also acts as a time capsule of your wedding day.

Although our love letter box was “locked” during the ceremony, we unlocked it once we returned from our Iceland Seljalandsfoss Wedding, so we could store the following mementos inside:

• Our Iceland Wedding Vows.
• Our Iceland Wedding Place Cards from our wedding welcome dinner and our wedding reception.
• Iceland Wedding Love Letters to each other and letters from our parents.
• Chris’s Boutonniere.
• Ann’s Iceland Wedding Bouquet <It is very small and crispy now as you’ll see from our photos below>.
• Heartfelt cards we gave to each other when we exchanged day of gifts and special cards our guests also gave to us.
• Our Destination Wedding Champagne Glasses.
• Iceland Wedding Invitation.
• Our Newspaper Announcement.

Even if you do not perform a love letter ceremony, having a special keepsake box after your wedding used to gather your details in, is a timeless idea.  How fun to grab it each year on your wedding anniversary and reminisce?  We strongly encourage you to do this, keep that newly wedded bliss going for a lifetime!  For a few of our clients, we have made a leather bound album box with one of their wedding photos on it and they used that as the keeper of their wedding relics.  Neat ideas –so think about what works best for you and your Iceland wedding details.

Iceland Wedding Planner, would love the opportunity to help you brainstorm, book, create, mock  up, and be there to ensure your amazing wedding in Iceland is flawlessly perfect.  Photos by Miss Ann would also be honored to be the one who captures such an epic time in your lives so please contact us for more details on how to make that happen!

With a smile, Ann & Chris Peters

Expert Iceland Wedding Planners & Iceland Wedding Photographers

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

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