Are you familiar with the rumor that most Icelandic people believe in—or at least won’t deny—the existence of elves? If you’re planning an Iceland destination wedding, you’d probably want to avoid having any uninvited little guests. Your guests would be stunned by a wedding in Iceland though.
If you want to have an unforgettable wedding, you might want to have your special day in Iceland. This country is overflowing with culture, natural beauty, and the opportunity to see the Northern Lights several times a year.
For more information on how to plan your wedding in Iceland, check out our guide below!
Hire Someone to Plan the Perfect Iceland Destination Wedding
The importance of having a wedding planner can’t be overstated. Picture the stress couples have when they get married in their native country. You can only imagine how that must be amplified when people get married overseas.
A wedding planner can help you fine-tune every little detail of your wedding. Plus, hiring a wedding planner familiar with Iceland will give you an advantage. They will be able to recommend venues and vendors, and they will likely have pre-existing connections to make the process easier.
The wedding planners you can hire here are North Americans who specialize in adventure weddings in Iceland. They’re perfect if you are searching for someone who’s familiar with North American weddings but is confident planning destination weddings in Iceland.
Choose Your Date Carefully
There are plenty of good times to get married in Iceland. But if you’re having a destination wedding in Iceland, chances are you are interested in having it in a very scenic location or experiencing the Northern Lights.
If seeing the Northern Lights during your destination wedding is something that appeals to you, your best bet is to choose a date between the beginning of February and the end of April.
You will have the most daylight in June, and the temperatures will be much warmer then. If you want to avoid any freak snowstorms, you’ll want to opt for one of the warmer summer months. August is highly recommended, as the weather is sublime.
Winter weddings are always a possibility too, but your venue options may be a bit more limited. Some adventure wedding planners can get you hooked up for an ice cave wedding though, so it’s something to consider!
Legalities
If you’re planning on getting married in Iceland, you’ll have to make sure that you have all the necessary paperwork sorted out before the big day. Anyone can get married in Iceland as long as they are at least 18 years old and not already married. If either of the parties has been married before, they will need to provide proof of divorce.
At least three weeks before the wedding, the couple will have to submit a marriage notification. Be prepared to submit other paperwork at least three weeks before the ceremony too, though earlier is better.
Both parties will need to submit birth certificates, witness forms from two separate witnesses, marital status certificates, death certificates of any previous spouses, and proof of divorce if necessary.
As far as the ceremony goes, you will need someone to officiate it, but it doesn’t have to be a religious officiant. A judge can oversee a wedding if you prefer a nonreligious service.
Pick the Perfect Venue
Many people plan an Iceland destination wedding because of the country’s stunning scenery!
Reynisfjara Beach is popular for weddings (or at least for the photos) because of its unusual black sand. If you were looking for a unique twist on a beach wedding, this might be the perfect setting for you!
If you want to keep the service more traditional, there are more than 200 churches in Iceland that you can have your ceremony in. Hotels are always another option! You can always save adventuring in Iceland for the days following the wedding!
A lot of people opt for a wedding venue that features a waterfall as the backdrop. Can it get more magical? While there are plenty of public waterfalls, a wedding planner can snag you a venue on private property featuring a waterfall on site! If you want a more private, intimate venue, this may be the way to go.
If you want to go for an even more ambitious wedding, check out getting married in an ice cave. In Iceland, you can even get married inside a glacier.
Give Your Guests Ample Notice
Whenever you are planning a destination wedding, it’s important to send out those wedding invites and notices as early as possible.
If you’re holding a wedding outside of the country, you will want to give your guests enough time to get passports if they don’t already have one! This can be a time-consuming process on its own.
Flying abroad is also very costly, but if you give your guests enough notice, they can put away money to make sure they’re there for your special day! When you give guests ample notice, you are ensuring that as many of your loved ones will be able to attend as possible.
Dress Accordingly
Iceland temperatures tend to stay in the 50’s even during the summertime, so you’ll want to be mindful when choosing your outfits.
If you’re planning on taking photos outside, no matter what time of year, you should bring footwear that can handle walking through mucky or brushy areas. Similarly, if you or your partner is wearing a long gown, you’ll have to be careful of it not dragging through any muddy areas.
Bring a jacket that works with your ensemble too, especially if you’re opting for a winter wedding!
Having an Icelandic destination wedding will make your special day even more special. You can’t go wrong celebrating your love in such a beautiful, inspiring country. This guide will get you started planning the most magical day of your life!
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