One of the most dynamic drives I look forward to doing in Iceland is the West Fjords. It is such a thought-provoking area! Seriously, exploring this section is one of my favorite things to do in Iceland. Every finger of the fjords leads me to some uncharted spot that feels like I alone have just discovered it! This was especially true in my visit to Hotel Ísafjörður. I think during my entire trek upon entering the peninsula I only passed one car. While on my way to this fabulous hotel I discovered several off the beaten path locations that were just magical… like super-secret waterfalls, caves, hot springs, and other picturesque Iceland wedding locations!

I came from the southwest side of the fjords and in going this way I went through about a 5ish or so mile tunnel and as soon as the tunnel ended the beautiful harbor town of Ísafjörður magically appeared! The town is storybook, nestled at the base of mountains, big fishing boats lining the water’s edge, and such super cute store fronts in the quant downtown! So when I pulled up, I couldn’t help but have a silly grin of excitement on my face when I arrived at Hotel Ísafjörður!

The building on the outside is splendid… Each side of it offers a unique view of either the mountains, harbor, or the sweet little downtown! Parking was easy and check-in was a breeze. The staff was friendly and more than accommodating to any questions I had. The rooms were exactly what I needed that evening! Epic view of the nighttime harbor, comfy beds, and a desk for me to catch up on emails! Once I got settled in I went downstairs to the restaurant to delight in their wonderful local deliciousness.

Hotel Ísafjörður has a gorgeous private conference room area that offers the following to your potential wedding guests:

• Gorgeous gaping windows that offer extraordinary mountain views.
• Dynamic ceilings.
• Stylish seating.
• Mounted projector (if needed).
• Square tables you can configure into any Iceland wedding reception dream setup you had in mind.
• Exceptional English speaking staff.

So why would Hotel Ísafjörður be a perfect location for your Iceland wedding adventure in the Westfjords? Well…It’s hands down one of the best hotels in the fjords that can lodge a large group both in accommodations, but they also offer an exceptional quality for your Iceland wedding menu. There are 36 double rooms available which means they can easily provide brilliant service to your 50+ person wedding. This fabulous hotel sits within the capital of the Westfjords – Ísafjörður which is 5 hours 30 minutes from downtown Reykjavik and 6 hours 15 minutes from KEF Airport.

Amenities:

• Free Wi-Fi
• Private Meeting Rooms
• Coffee/Tea Makers in Room
• Hairdryers
• Private Bathrooms
• Comfy double beds!
• Fabulous restaurant
• Located in the heart of downtown Ísafjörður
• Nearby Attractions include: Ísafjörður Harbor, Skiing, Kayaking, Maritime Museums, Dynjandi waterfall, bird watching, hiking, biking, Raudisandur Beach, and Hellulaug hot spring.

Hotel Ísafjörður’s Contact Information:

• Address: Silfurtorg 2; Ísafjörður, Iceland
• Phone: +354-456-4111
• Website: http://isafjordurhotels.is/torg_english/
• GPS Coordinates: N66° 4′ 20.838″ W23° 7′ 11.962″

Well folks, that wraps up our 2014 list of Iceland’s Best Wedding Hotels! We hope you have enjoyed reading about them and now we encourage you to get out there and delight in them!

Stay tuned next week for a really exciting announcement!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! No joke, come back!

With a smile, Ann Peters (Expert in Iceland Wedding Adventures)

© 2012-2015, Iceland Wedding Planner, All Rights Reserved

The post Iceland Westfjords Wedding: Hotel Isafjordur 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.

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