Do you ever get those?

Living in Iceland, I get them a lot when I ice climb, hike, SUP, and of course while scouting secret Iceland wedding locations.  But on Iceland wedding days, it’s somehow amplified.  No joke!  I almost hyperventilated in excitement over the below image.  Right light, right mountain, and what an amazing couple!  When all of those elements come together my mind is blown!

Cross those fabulous things with adding in some epic Icelandic wildlife and this Iceland elopement went off the charts!  Do you see the sneaky little seal who photo-bombed the Iceland wedding ceremony?

Another thing that makes me smile during an Iceland wedding photo adventures, is surprising my clients with new super secret waterfalls.  These two didn’t even bat an eyelash when I told them the hike time!  ? ? ?

When you have an early April wedding in Iceland (which this fab couple did) you can usually expect some snow still lingering (unless we’ve had a more wet than snowy winter).  This often times adds to the dramatic landscape giving you the vibrant greens, browns, and whites like the beautiful below Iceland elopement wedding portrait!

Weddings in Iceland with us equal adventure, that simple.

Ideal for couples who love the outdoors (and will run around in them rain or shine), enjoy hiking, crave wedding photos in dynamic locations, and are wanderlust addicts.  Imagine yourself discovering uniquely shaped glaciers like this couple did!

Here at Iceland Wedding Planner, we are providers of EXPERIENCES, not just a “wedding day”  We stay away from  churches and the usually flooded tourist locations, so that there are not 100+ people Instagram-ing your wedding.

We prefer to have our clients totally immersed and connected to TRUE and PURE Iceland.  The unknown. The untouched. The places that will leave you in utter “Awe” and get you totally addicted to this island!  If adventuring to secret waterfalls, caves, cliffs, glaciers, private beaches and rock formations sound like fun to experience on your wedding day in Iceland… Contact us to get that exciting conversation started! ?

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

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

The post Iceland Elopement | Adventure Wedding Photography appeared first on Iceland Wedding Planner.

You could spend days driving through these magical fjords adventuring!  Very easily, you could spend a day discovering the beautiful beaches within the Westfjords such as the beautiful Rauðisandur golden sand beach.  Waterfall hunting as an additional day is so much fun!  Then heading to the High North area of the fjords hiking and bird watching around the cliffs of Bolafjall.

Hot spring and warm geothermal pools are throughout the Western Fjords as well, ready to be discovered by you!  Yet another day, can be spent exploring the many fishing villages throughout the area such as the Djupavik herring factory ruins or the famed village of Ísafjörður!  Do you remember the amazing hotel we featured a few years ago that is tucked within that amazing little town?  If you cannot recall, feel free to back here to explore that Iceland wedding post!

One of the many waterfalls found within Iceland’s Westfjords is the famed, Dynjandi Waterfall.  There are many levels of the waterfall you can explore so take your time to discover every inch!  Maybe even plan a picnic?  The view from the midpoint and the top of the waterfall is quite unforgettable too!

The days I have spent running around the Westfjords, I have been lucky enough to stumble upon several secret waterfalls we would love to share with you as a possible Iceland wedding locations!  …Think: Just the two of you and countless sheep as your audience as you say your memorable Iceland wedding vows to each other! <3

I usually get an email every month from a couple wondering if they can hold their Iceland wedding or elopement in a castle… I sadly always have to respond letting them know there are no castles in Iceland (and maybe they should try Scotland).  But!  There is a gorgeous ruin of an old farm house that resembles the closest thing to a “Castle” in Iceland.

We would love the opportunity to plan your Iceland Adventure Wedding here in the Westfjords.  Feel free to contact us for more information on making that idea your reality!  In the meantime, enjoy a few photos of the fabulous Icelandic Westfjords below.

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

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

The post Iceland Wedding Locations | West Fjords appeared first on Iceland Wedding Planner.

This week, you’ll find our photo company, Photos by Miss Ann featured on Huffington Post for a Lapland Elopement at the Igloo Hotel.  You’ll also find Richard + Angela’s awesome Iceland wedding featured today on MyWedding.com!  Okay okay, now go bask in the romance of Northern Iceland!

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

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

The post Northern Iceland Wedding Featured on MyWedding.com appeared first on Iceland Wedding Planner.

Thanks so much for stopping by our Iceland Wedding Planning and Photography Blog- we so appreciate it!  My apologies so many days have lagged between my last post, but I have been tackling a big life move, along with working through our busiest part of wedding season!

We hope you enjoyed Tara and Landon’s fabulous wedding ceremony on a glacier in Iceland!  If you missed it, please take a moment and head back here to see or here for their Iceland pre-wedding session.  This week, we share the next part of their exciting Iceland wedding adventure… Enjoy!

Once we all returned to base-camp of the Mýrdalsjökull Glacier (Katla Volcano), the epic journey continued on at the striking Reynisfjara Cave & Iceland’s most well known black sand beach.  This stretch of beach is often referred to as Vik Black Sand Beach, but it’s not!  The correct name is Reynisfjara Beach and it can be easy to miss from Route 1 so if you’re driving east and come to the downtown of Vik, you went too far!

That Iceland summer day brought a foggy low cloud afternoon but that all added a very mysterious element as Tara and Landon playfully walked around hand in hand against the shoreline.  After a quick lunch stop for an Icelandic hot dog near our favorite shop Icewear / Víkurprjón, the bride and groom caught their second wind and we headed to the very foggy Dyrhólaey Cliffs and Lighthouse, it was eerie but oh-so dreamy at the same time!  Please delight in these ethereally romantic images <3  …and stay tuned next time to see a very surprising spot for Iceland wedding photos!

Hugs and Smiles to You,

Ann Peters (Iceland Wedding Planner & Photographer)

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

The post Iceland Black Sand Beach Wedding Photos (Vik Beach Cave) appeared first on Iceland Wedding Planner.

The Icelandic Weather

More often than not, your outfit for the day may be dictated by preparing for the Icelandic weather.  After all, you could encounter rain, blizzard-like conditions, gale force winds, sand storms, freezing temps, etc.  Additionally, it’s important to also research the time of year the couple is getting married and the region of Iceland in as well.  Truly so many factors to consider!  Furthermore, the best way to figure out what to wear to an Iceland wedding would be tracking the weather on Vedur.is.

What to Wear to an Iceland Wedding Adventure:

As a general rule, remember that weddings are semi-formal regardless of the location, but the translation of that to an adventure wedding in Iceland is as follows:

• Boots and Suits (meaning nice on top for photos and rugged on the bottom to navigate comfortably through the terrain).
• Ladies, we would encourage you to wear something nice with FLAT shoes / boots.  This could mean a cute warm long sleeve dress with fleece lined leggings, layers, and like an awesome pair of hiking or Sorel boots

Overall, if you are attending a wedding we have personally planned…. For sure, you will need hiking boots and waterproof outerwear.   Further, we also encourage you to bring a “go bag” which contains things like layers, extra socks, extra shoes, Hot Hands, and snacks.  Iceland Wedding Planning Tip: Ask your couple further on how to prepare (will vary depending on their Iceland wedding locations).  Additionally, it is also proper etiquette to ensure you do not wear anything that will draw attention away from the couple.  Below we have compiled our list of “do not ever wear to a wedding” items.

What NOT to Wear to an Iceland Adventure Wedding:

• Jeans (they will get wet and uncomfortable).
• Shorts (you will likely be cold).
• Tee-shirt (on the outside, not nice enough for photos).
• A fluorescent colored shirt/dress.
• White/Ivory/Champagne colored dress or suit or coat.
• Skimpy Dress (you’ll freeze).
• Animal print or camouflage.
• Trainers / Running Shoes (trade them in for hiking boots if your couple is doing an adventure wedding)
• Heels over 2 inches (save them for the reception!)

Now that you know what you should never wear to an Iceland adventure wedding, we’re going to narrow down what wear to an Iceland wedding.  Firstly, you may find our previous blog post on “What to Pack,” helpful as you pack for that Iceland destination wedding.  Secondly, the best way to communicate your desired attire for your guests would be through your wedding website.  For example, is easy to include a section focused on this topic on your webpage explaining the expected attire.   Thirdly, some example Iceland wedding scenarios below you can draw from as well as you educate your guests on this topic…

What to Wear to a Iceland Waterfall Wedding:

When you decide to get married at a waterfall in Iceland, there is a lot to consider!  After all, how do you plan a waterfall wedding?  Next, if the wedding in Iceland is happening at a waterfall please consider the following advice:

• Clothing: Layers!  Wear warm enough clothing to be outside in for 1-2 hours at a time in temperatures just above freezing or lower.  Why?  Because no matter the time of year you visit Iceland the wind can plummet the temperatures to be below freezing.
• Outerwear: Rain Gear and/or a Parka depending on time of year and how cold you get!  Maybe even both are good to have!
• Recommended Shoes: Hiking Boots (our faves are Salewa), low wedged heels (think Sorel’s or Sperry’s) or Hunter Rain Boots.  Regardless of shoe type please make sure they are closed toe!
• Reception: Bring cocktail attire to change into for the Iceland wedding reception if your couples says to!  For instance, some couples may encourage you to stay cozy / comfortably casual for part two, the dinner.

Furthermore, we would love to share specifics of what guests have previously worn… First, may opt in for a suit and tie (no shame in rocking long-johns or Smartwool underneath!).  Second, others guests wore dresses with lined leggings and boots.  Third, all of guests wear / brought a coat and simply took it off for a few minutes when participating in Iceland wedding photos.  Next, the majority of guests change into cocktail dresses upon the return for the Iceland wedding dinner!

What to Wear to a Glacier Wedding Ceremony:

If you’ve visited a glacier before, you know they are ever changing from day to day and season to season.  Therefore, it is best to consult your Iceland Wedding Planner on what the anticipated conditions could be and what to wear to an Iceland wedding at a glacier.  Also be aware that there can be a different in how to dress if planning an ice cave wedding or one just at or in front of the glacier.

Firstly, going to either one, proper hiking boots are a must.  Why?  Because there is uneven ground that can easily twist an ankle.  Second, there can be a chance you’ll encounter glacier quick sand or need to cross a river so boots are beneficial regardless of the terrain.  Third, weather can be more volatile at the glacier areas so dressing in layers becomes a MUST.

Forth, making sure you have waterproof outwear (with a hood) is important too as the wind can be insane and sideways rain or sleet isn’t nice if ill prepared.  Likewise if you’re heading up to one of the countless the glacier areas in Iceland, you have hired a local professional that will provide required safety gear, wear it!

How to Dress for a Cave Wedding Ceremony:

Heading to a natural cave in Iceland to witness a wedding ceremony is the most indoor yet, outdoor experience you can have.  To illustrate, here you can get away with more formal attire and still be comfortable.  Meaning, not aerating the landscape or falling on your bottom.  Also, if you’re working with a local Iceland Wedding Planner there is an opportunity to bring in rentals like heaters, firepits, etc to warm the place up!

But that being said, what to wear to an Iceland wedding in a natural cave?

• Layers – Continuous theme for having an Iceland adventure wedding with guests!
• Coats- Wind still blows into the cave and sometimes if a sunny day outside, it’s colder inside the cave than out!
• Boots- Are still suggested as depending on the weather or season there can be ice on the floor, mud, and for sure dirt no matter what!  Therefore, we would shy away from any open toe shoes unless you do not mind dirty feet!

Iceland Church Wedding Location:

Having a church wedding in Iceland is the easiest option for your guests to dress because it is the same as it is for any local or destination wedding elsewhere.  You can keep it simple and offer the following as suggestions to your guests:

• Semiformal attire or casual depending on your vibe!
• Whatever shoes you wish!  However, a pair of comfortable walking shoes (if you plan on having a little country or city tour after) could come in handy.

Basic Iceland Adventure Wedding Attire:

In conclusion, if you have decided to hold your destination wedding on one of Iceland’s many rugged landscapes make sure you prepare your guests for your adventure!  Via your wedding website or email are the best routes so folks having something to look back on and find as they pack.  For instance, give your guests ideas on what they may need…

• Hiking poles.
• Dress in layers (state what the average temperature may be on your wedding date).
• Dress to possibly withstand high winds, rain and / or sand storms (IE, layers like long johns or Under Armour).
• Waterproof coat with a hood.
• Wear hiking boots.
• Gloves & Hat.
• Sunglasses.
• Sunscreen.
• Be prepared to walk on uneven surfaces, loose rock, mud, or sand.
• Plan to encounter strong wind gusts, sometimes gale force gusts!
• Make your guests aware of how long they may be outside (IE, 20-40 minutes at a time, etc).
• If applicable: Cocktail Attire for indoor reception / dinner.

Hope this gets you thinking!  In the meantime, we hope you have enjoyed today’s post on what to wear to an Iceland wedding!  Furthermore, if you’re a client of our Iceland Wedding Planner team, please link your guests to this page via your wedding website.

Lastly, feel free to contact us if interested in planning your own exciting adventure wedding in Iceland!

© 2002-2023, Photos by Miss Ann, All Rights Reserved.

The post What to Wear to an Iceland Wedding (Updated 2023) appeared first on Iceland Wedding Planner.

Our first milestone is here… It has officially been a year since Chris and I started this Iceland Wedding Planner Blog, whoa that went fast!  Since October 11^th 2012, we have brought you 44 Iceland wedding planning blog posts.  We’re thrilled that over 100 countries have found their way to our blog and generated almost 25,000 views in just our first year!  So today, we’re celebrating our enthusiasm with a bottle of bubbles and toasting cheers to YOU!  We appreciate you as our reader, your interest in Iceland destination weddings, and all of your curious inquiries!  Thank you!  Hopefully over the past year you have fallen in love with Iceland even more through our posts, and been able to experience our passions as a husband and wife team photography team.

Now back to the anticipation of today’s post:

One of the most surprising things about Iceland to us when we first visited was the lack of fences, barriers, and restrictions they have on their natural wonders.  This is the opposite of what we were use to in the United States.  It seems like just about every natural wonder in the United States has some sort of constraint from “really” experiencing it.  For instance, if you go to Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming to see “Old Faithful” Geyser you can’t get very close do to fences and barriers.  In Iceland, you are almost in arm’s length of the Big/Little Geysirs and you can walk right up to the waterfalls if you choose.  Iceland offers you an up close and personal experience to all of its natural wonders.  With no restrictions, it really sets the scene to have dynamite Iceland wedding photos.

The past 2 weeks we have familiarized you to two of Iceland’s easiest waterfalls to marry at.  And by easy, we mean easy to transport your guests to/from the location, and have shortest walks from the parking lot to the falls.  In case you missed those previous posts, feel free to go back and check each of them out here:

Seljandsfoss Waterfall

Skogafoss Waterfall

::Warning::

Since this post was originally written in early 2013, tourism has grown to an unruly amount.  The space has changed and the amount of tourists coming here each hour is out of control.  We do not suggest this waterfall as an Iceland wedding location if wanting any sort of intimate feeling ceremony.

Now if you’re interested in having a more intense Iceland wedding ceremony or are looking for an overwhelmingly unique location for your Iceland elopement, then today’s post will provide you with some really striking ideas!  The reason why many of these waterfalls are not as popular for weddings with many guests is because of the location.  Several of these waterfalls require extra transport time, hiking, and in general take a lot longer and more effort to get to.

First up on our list today is Dettifoss Waterfall which is found in Northern Iceland.  This is Iceland’s version of United States’ Niagara Falls.  Dettifoss Waterfall stands at an enormous at 150 feet tall and 330 feet wide and it is deemed Europe’s largest waterfall (in mass).  If interested in visiting on your Iceland honeymoon or vacation, the Dettifoss Waterfall GPS coordinates are: 65°49?18.91?N  /  16°23?17.41?W.

This waterfall is difficult to get to from Reykjavik during Iceland’s winter months due to road closures.  But, good news, you do have the option of flying from Reykjavik to Akureyri and then renting a car.  There are 2 routes you can view this waterfall from, east and west.  Many people prefer the eastern side viewing but it will require you to drive on a pothole filled gravel road (about 45 minutes off of the main road, Route 1).  Interesting Fact: This waterfall was the setting for the opening scene in the blockbuster movie Prometheus.  Note: There are no ropes or barriers to hinder your viewing experience.  Once there, it is about a 15 minute walk from the parking lot to the falls.  Overall, this is a stunning place for Iceland summer wedding ceremonies, engagement portraits, or a spectacular place to have a private wedding elopement.  I can just imagine your show stopping Iceland wedding photos at Dettifoss, can’t you?!

The stunning Goðafoss Waterfall (or Godafoss for us North Americans) is often referred to as the “waterfall of the Gods” in Iceland.  This beautiful waterfall is found in North Central Iceland near Lake Mývatn.  The waterfall is 39 feet tall and a width of 98 feet. It’s not the biggest but is often visitors’ favorite during their trip around Iceland’s “Diamond Circle” due to the dramatic setting within a lava field and the waterfalls being 3 within one.  Goðafoss is located just off of Route 1 and very easy to find.  The GPS coordinates for Goðafoss Waterfall are:  65°40?48?N  /  17°32?24?W.

Once you arrive in the parking lot the waterfall is a short walk from the car and there are lots of rocks to climb on to get that perfect view and photo.  This waterfall is a May-September only visit if driving from Reykjavik, as many of the roads from are impassible in the winter months due to snow and ice.  But, if you’re really interested in getting there during the winter, one option to get to this remote location is to take a short plane ride from Reykjavik to Akureyri and then renting a vehicle.  This is a tranquil spot to hold an intimate Iceland summer marriage ceremony, elopement or a sweet stop for romantic Iceland wedding photos.  There are also really unique views if you are adventurous enough to climb further down in front of the falls.

Next up on our favorite list is Gullfoss Waterfall, which is found in southwest Iceland along the “Golden Circle” and commonly referred to as the “Golden Falls.”

This was actually our first stop on our post wedding itinerary we planned for our Iceland wedding guests in April of 2012.  I remember getting out of the car, hearing the waterfall roar, leaving my husband behind and racing down to it because I was so eager to see it!  It’s truly striking even from the parking lot.  A short walk (less than 1/4 mile) down to a viewing point will yield gorgeous views directly into the side of the falls, the steep drop below, and the canyon walls that house the waterfall’s flow.  There is also a higher level viewing point in which you can take stairs up to a boardwalk and walk out to view the waterfalls top.  It is possible to hold your wedding ceremony here and stop to have your Iceland wedding photos taken here but it is less intimate due to the larger volume of tourists visiting (because of the proximity to Reykjavik).  The Gullfoss GPS coordinates are: 64°19?34?N  / 20°07?16?W.  Imagine having romantic Iceland couples portraits or Iceland engagement photos taken here… I swoon just thinking about it!

The last waterfall today on our favorites list is Svartifoss.  The name is denoted as the Black Falls because of the basalt lava rock formations it springs from.  Svartifoss Waterfall is found in the Skaftafell National Park.  It is about a 45 minute hike one way from the visitor’s center to get to the waterfall.  The hike to Svartifoss is a little bit of a rocky path at times (especially as you venture closer to the waterfall), so make sure you have some good hiking shoes.  GPS coordinates for Svartifoss are 64.023°N  /  16.975°W.  From an Iceland wedding photographer’s perspective, Svartifoss would be a gorgeous and remote location to hold a small Iceland summer wedding or elopement under the midnight sun.  It is so secluded and distinctively different!  Now the question is, are you adventurous enough to wed here?   I get super excited thinking about its gorgeous Iceland wedding photo possibilities!

A couple of Iceland Wedding Planning Tips as you plan your ceremony at any of these waterfall locations:

• The noise from these waterfalls is extraordinary. It is a powerful rumble.  You will need some sort of microphone and speaker system (Iceland DJ) if you want guests to be able to hear your wedding vows.
• Safety Notes: Wear good walking shoes and/or hiking boots to ensure firm footing.  Many times the spray from the waterfalls saturates the rocks and lets be honest…there are no barriers between you and the waterfalls/rivers.  Be careful!  Some may even find bringing a collapsible walking stick helpful in maneuvering around.
• If planning to hold your ceremony at one of these locations make certain your Iceland wedding officiate will travel there and check if there is any additional fees so there are no last minute surprises.
• Very few of these locations have a café and washrooms in the parking lot area.  Most of the remote ones do not (Svartifoss, Seljandsfoss Waterfall or Skogafoss Waterfall) so remember to be prepared with water and snacks for you and your Iceland wedding guests.
• We also suggest wearing a good coat or having an umbrella on hand to protect yourself from the waterfall spray.  If not, bring a small towel and make up to dry off and touch up with before your wedding photos in Iceland.

We hope you enjoyed today’s post!  This series of waterfall posts is nowhere near a comprehensive list of waterfalls you can marry at in Iceland, just a few we are highlighting.  The options are truly endless as Iceland is abundantly full of waterfalls in every region.  One Iceland hotel we’ll be reviewing in a future blog post in January even has a waterfall onsite, imagine getting married there!  Stay tuned for details!

In the meantime, if you’re interested in having your Iceland destination wedding at a waterfall feel free to contact us to be your wedding planners and/or Iceland wedding photographers!  We’re so excited to learn more about your Iceland dream wedding!

With a smile, Ann Peters

Expert in Iceland Weddings

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

The post Waterfalls, Weddings, and Iceland (Part 3 of 3) appeared first on Iceland Wedding Planner.

As we saw in last week’s post on Extravagant Destination Wedding Invitations, this is the part of wedding planning you should take a moment to “Oooh and Awe” over.  Picking a destination wedding invitation can be serious business!  After all in many cases, invitations can act as an additional selling point to your guests.  Having extra visuals in front of your guests may add the additional intrigue for them to say, “Heck yes, we’re coming to Iceland for your wedding!”  And in the end, that is what we all want that, right?

Regrettably, not everyone has the limitless wedding budget we all wish we had… so having super elaborate wedding invites may not be in the cards for you.  Which might be why most of us fall into the other two awesome wedding invitation categories:  Creative (today) and Whimsical (stay tuned our part 3 installment, next week!).  Today, we’re going to review some of the detailed but still reasonably priced possibilities for your Iceland destination wedding invitations and what specifics your invite should include.

Speaking from example, this is the section that our invitation fell into for our Iceland wedding at Seljalandsfoss waterfall.  We had wanted our invitations to be a fabulous visual to put in front of our guests but one that would still stay in line with our budget of $6-8 per wedding invitation (including postage).  Our Iceland Wedding Invitation Story:  Everyone thought for sure since Chris and I have been in the wedding industry for so long we would choose a winter wedding date in an exotic locale.  A location that would be surely be international, beach-side or up in the mountains of somewhere with an epic view.  But we wanted something completely opposite of what we have photographed when we personally said our “I do’s.”  <Enter in from right stage Iceland, Greenland, or Sweden’s Ice Hotel, please!> When we were narrowing down destinations we knew a cold weather locale would be more “us” but would be a really hard sell for our guest list of 90.  Especially since most of them would want to escape the North American winter weather in April!  Keeping that in challenge in mind, we started to design a 4 part package for our Iceland wedding invitations.  We in the end, decided on the following inclusions:

1. Our Iceland wedding invitation was designed in our wedding colors, brown and sage.  We also had a catchy line that opened our wedding invites saying: “We’ve Traveled All Around, Now It’s Time to Settle Down.”  We cordially invited our guests to join us for this epic adventure in Hella, Iceland on Saturday, April 14, 2014.
2. The Iceland RSVP Card was included the guest(s) name, decision of coming or not, meal choice, when the RSVP needed to be returned by, self-addressed postage paid return envelope.
3. The Iceland Wedding Insert Card (Opening line of: “Please Join Us in the Land of Fire & Ice!,”  accommodation details, and our Iceland destination wedding website which was chock-full of the full details on everything happening).
4. The last thing we included were Iceland scenery photos we felt would attract our guests to come (volcanoes, whale watching, the Northern Lights, natural water wonders, etc.) all tied together by sweet little sage and brown ribbon.  On the back of each one there were details on the trip (IE, what it was, location, duration, and cost for the adventure) to give our guests an easy understanding of the incredible adventure that awaited them!

We felt that by providing our guests with an undeniable visual as to why we chose Iceland (IE, dramatic scenery, endless adventures, etc) and putting as much information in front of them as possible would make the decision easier.  Most of our guests were skeptical of traveling to Iceland so overcoming those inhibitions was important and we did this with our invitation and destination wedding website.  So maybe think about putting your own twist on something similar?  I challenge you to have fun with it!  For a moderately priced detailed destination wedding invitations like the ones photographed below, you can expect to budget ~$4-12 each (plus postage).

In the meantime, you may be overwhelmed by the pages of options for destination wedding invites and what your Iceland wedding invitation should include?  We’ll break it down for you pretty simply here:

Invitations should reflect the style of your wedding decor and/or color theme.  For instance, are you planning a wedding in Iceland that will be soft, romantic, simply sweet, rustic, earthy, whimsical, or bright and bold?  What characteristics will encompass your wedding flair or accents?  Once you have narrowed down your path you can concentrate on what you would like your destination wedding invitation to say…

Invitations should at the very least communicate the following:

1. Who
2. What
3. When (Date/Time of Ceremony)
4. Where
5. Menu Choice
6. RSVP Reply Card
7. Wedding Website
8. Any additional important information (booking or discount codes).
9. Style
10. Color

Iceland Wedding Photographer Tip:  Send your Iceland destination wedding photographer an invitation so they can photograph it!  [But if sending our way, please put the envelope that you would normally send to your guests inside a bubble wrap mailer (still have postage on it) to prevent damage upon arrival.  That way we avoid water damage, bends, torn envelopes, etc and in the end we are able to photograph your gorgeous invite details fully intact!]   Or if you forget, bring one and lay it out for them to photograph the day of with your Iceland wedding details.  This is a fun element you’ll melt over later!

We hope you have found today’s blog post on moderately priced but creative destination wedding invitations helpful as you plan your dream wedding in Iceland!  A big “thank you” goes out to my lovely Iceland bride and grooms for allowing me to share these details with you today- we have the coolest clients!  Another awesome shout out goes to the tremendously talented folks we partnered with to have these remarkable Iceland destination wedding invitations created.  Check them out and keep them in mind as you plan your destination wedding in Iceland (or in some other fabulous destination wedding locale).  They all were a breeze to work with, super detailed, and had all of their products in very unique packaging when they arrived in person!  I encourage you to check out their gorgeous invitations we photographed below for more Iceland wedding inspiration!  ….Enjoy!

• Precious Invitations
• Sunshine and Ravioli
• Invitation Consultants

As a final thought, stay tuned for next week’s final installment on Whimsical Iceland Wedding Invitations (Part 3 of 3)!  Oh oh oh and also…. If you are considering having an Iceland Destination Wedding, please  contact us!  We’d love to hear more about you as a couple and understand more about how you see your dream wedding in Iceland!  Let’s set a time to Skype and talk details!

With a smile, Ann and Christopher Peters

Husband & Wife Team Wedding Photographers & Supper Planners Specializing in Iceland Weddings!

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

The post Creative Destination Wedding Invitations for Iceland Weddings (Part 2 of 3) 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

The post Preserving Your Iceland Wedding Bouquet appeared first on Iceland Wedding Planner.

Wedding favors typically serve 4 purposes:

1. To “thank” your guests for coming to your Iceland destination wedding.
2. To be a reflection of your style as a couple that also compliments your wedding theme.
3. To serve as a memento to your guests of the Iceland location you have chosen.
4. A snack for your guests if you have chosen to not have Hors D’oeuvres or a Night Glow hour.

Think back on the weddings you have attended…What types of local or destination wedding favors made the largest impression on you?  Usually, if you’re having a local or destination wedding in Iceland, wedding favors usually fall into 4 overall categories:

• Edible – You can be simple by having M&M’s, mints, coffee/tea, caramel corn, gumballs, etc, or you can be elaborate in your edible wedding favor design.  Some of our brides have had personalized treats like cupcakes, cake pops, cookies, cocktail jelly beans, mini champagne bottles, rock candy, chocolate covered items, or our personal favorite for a fall wedding in Michigan is caramel apples and apple cider!

• Practical –Guests love a wedding favor they can use and remember where they got it from when they use it.  A couple examples of practical wedding favors that hold a lasting impression would be seed packets, wine corks, frames, cookie cutters, love measuring spoons, whisk, ice cream scoop, engraved luggage tags, cheese board/knife, passport holder, local Icelandic books (about the dynamic sites, culture, or folklore) , etc.

• Sentimental –Wedding favors with heart are always super sweet because they convey a special thought and detail that is usually important to the bride and groom.  For instance, a destination wedding couple may choose to do a donation to their favorite charity in lieu of providing their guests with a favor.  That couple might print out a small card and put it at each place setting stating why they have chosen to do so (in honor of a family member who passed away, etc).  Or we have seen couples personally make a special item their guests like homemade wine, jam, sauce, so the item may be enjoyed at a later time.  Any wedding favor that manages to emit emotion from the bride and groom to their guests is truly noteworthy.

• Fun –If you’re a fun loving couple who just want to make your guests smile on your wedding day with entertaining wedding favor we have seen a few couples give their guests sunglasses, sandals, shot glasses, drink cozies, etc.  Destination weddings may also want to consider having a special memento from the state/country you’re holding the wedding in as guests usually get pretty excited for that extra detail.

What should you spend on a wedding favor?

There is not a specific algorithm to get the answer to this question.  It frankly depends on your budget and guest count.  For example, we only planned on 45 people attending our Seljalandsfoss wedding (traveling also to Vik Beach and Skogafoss during our Iceland wedding) so we splurged a little more and spent $12 per luggage favor tag.  Generally though, simple or homemade wedding favors may only cost .80-$5 per person; whereas, more extravagant or personalized favors may cost $6-15 each; and the top of the line wedding favors would be $15+.

Once you have decided on what type of wedding favor you are going to give your guests the next step is to determine the presentation.  Ask yourself a couple of questions… Do you need certain packaging to hold everything together (wrapping, ribbon, etc.)?  Is there a theme you’re trying to exude throughout the day (IE, Married in the Land of Fire & Ice?)?  What will your wedding packaging and label look like?  Where will your favor be positioned on the table when your guests sit-down at your Iceland wedding reception?

Wedding Favor Label/Packaging Ideas:

• Incorporate your wedding colors.
• Match your invitation theme.
• Say “Thank You” to your guests somehow on it.  (DIY Iceland Detail: Maybe in the language of your destination wedding country?)
• Put your wedding date on the tag or engrave it on the item (Guests always appreciate this detail, especially when they use your gift at home later!).
• Have personalized ribbons (Iceland wedding planning tip: Double-faced satin looks the best).  For our Seljalandsfoss wedding we had “Ann & Chris” printed on rolls of ribbon to use for all of our Iceland destination wedding events.
• Make your wedding favor dual purpose (i.e. turn it into a place card, versatile to be used again or have it communicate something to your guests).

As Iceland wedding planners, we encourage our clients to choose wedding favors that serve a multiple purpose.  Here is a real Iceland destination wedding example:  Chris and I chose to have metal luggage tags.  Doesn’t really sound all that exciting and seems pretty simple for a destination wedding in Iceland, right?  We thought the same thing so we put our own twist to it.  We used our luggage tag favors in the following ways to serve several wedding day purposes (I know you detailed pretties out there will appreciate this!):

1. Our luggage tags were our wedding favors to our guests for our wedding reception at Hotel Ranga in Hella, Iceland.
2. The Iceland wedding favor luggage tags also served as a souvenir for our guests to instantly use (then and later).  The tags we felt, represented our Iceland wedding day adventure: from our Seljalandsfoss wedding ceremony, a champagne toast at Vik Beach, and wedding photo stop at Skogafoss waterfall.  We specifically had the back of each guest luggage tag engraved with “Iceland 2012,” then Chris’s said “Groom Iceland,” and mine said “Bride Iceland.”
3. The front of our destination wedding luggage tags also operated as our seating chart (Iceland wedding place cards) and gave the Hotel Ranga staff information on each guest’s meal choice for that evening.  Iceland DIY Details: Before our Seljalandsfoss wedding weekend, we had purchased 4 colors of metallic card stock; designated a corresponding color to go with the 4 main meal choices (Example: Gray = Salmon; Gold = Lamb; White = Vegan; Blue = Child menu), printed out our Iceland wedding logo (A?C) at the top and on the next line we put the guest’s name.
4. The final function of our Iceland wedding favor was as a place setting napkin ring/holder for our pin-tucked napkins.  How fun, right?  Finished photo example from our Hotel Ranga wedding here.

Specific Iceland Wedding Favor Examples:

• Edible: Rock Candy Swizzle Sticks with a tagline that says “Married in the Land of Fire and Ice!”  You could even go so far to actually pair it with something that relates to fire like hot sauce or matches in a vial.  We used blue and orange rock candy swizzle sticks to emulate the glaciers and fire in our Iceland wedding photo examples.

• Practical Usage Wedding Favor: Luggage tags, Icelandic wool knit item ( everyone loves wool socks, right?), moss candles, a game unique to Iceland, and frankly the possibilities are endless because Iceland rocks!  Having an item that is dual purpose allows your guests to really remember how epic your wedding really was later too.

• Sentimental: A gift certificate for your Iceland wedding guests to do a post wedding activity.  Admittance maybe to Iceland’s Blue Lagoon?  Rent a bus a day following for your wedding party to tour Iceland’s famous Golden Circle together as a group?  Take a tour of Iceland’s other famous natural wonders such as the glacial lagoon, stunning waterfalls, black sand beaches, sod farms, boiling mud pots, lava fields, or glaciers?  If you do decide to go this route make sure you let your guests know ahead of time.  That way they can plan for it in their travel plans ahead of time and you are not disappointed that they have already done it.

• Fun Iceland Wedding Favors: If you’re not going to do a wedding welcome bag for your guests it would be really sweet to put together as your wedding favor to them a box or bag of Icelandic made treats (like candies, trinkets, coffee, lava rock/ash, Icelandic water, etc) or an Iceland Survival Kit.  I would envision an Iceland Survival kit to be similar to our Iceland wedding guest welcome bag with inclusions to accommodate all ages, folks from all different climates and needs.  Other amazing options you may want to consider specific to Iceland: Krona key chain, wool bookmark, Icelandic moss candle, Icelandic wool blanket for your guests to each take home, lava rock mementos, etc!  The possibilities are endless, be creative!

I hope that our post today on Iceland wedding favors generates your own awesome ideas for your destination wedding in Iceland!  Chris and I would love to hear more about you and your big day in the making feel free to contact us directly here for more information!

With a smile, Ann Peters
Expert Iceland Wedding Photographer and Planner

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

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