Congratulations to you two!
After the big "yes", you must be exhausted searching for a place to host your wedding. After all, getting married is not an easy case - especially if you want to make your wedding a day to remember. The best way to do that? By combining your wedding with a trip, of course. Getting married in your own country? Pff, outdated!
Destination weddings is the new "must", and there is no better place than a country that's known for its stunning natural environment - such as Iceland! Yes, Iceland is one of the most breathtaking countries to arrange your wedding at, while its idyllic landscape will make up the perfect backdrop to your wedding photos.
It's also one of the friendliest countries in the world, known for its open and accepting attitude towards everyone. Long story short, a marriage in Iceland might be one of your best life-choices.
The Perfect Hotel to Stay during your Wedding in Iceland
Located near the biggest glacier in Europe, Vatnajokull, Hotel Klaustur is the ultimate hotel to stay if you want to explore the Icelandic landscape. First things first, the hotel stands out for its warm and welcome mentality, which hosts from families and couples to solo travellers looking for inspiration.
Hotel Klaustur blends traditional Icelandic design with modern aesthetics, creating a brilliant result which, although strange to many at first, it's very easy to get used to. Amidst the rooms, the King Junior Suite stands out for its king-size bed and blend of design. Its guests enjoy also free access to the hotel's pool and gym areas.
Don't forget, however, to pay a visit to the stunning Klaustur Restaurant, which is perfect for all occasions, from romantic dinners for two to large gatherings. The restaurant boasts a relaxing atmosphere where you can enjoy traditional Icelandic cuisine with a modern twist. From the menu, we highly recommend the Grilled arctic ,,lava'' char and the Icelandic herb crusted cod loin.
For an after or pre-dinner cocktail, you can always head to Klaustur Bar, where you can enjoy from fruity cocktails to a glass of the hotel's special collection of wines.
When to start planning your wedding in Iceland
If you are staying in Europe, it will be much easier for you to persuade your relatives to follow you to Iceland. It's easily accessible from most European countries, while it's super easy to hit some great airfare deals. Thus, it's recommended to invite relatives at least 4-5 months prior to the wedding. If you live on the other side of the Atlantic, however, you will need to send the invitations at least 7-10 months in advance.
In the invitation, you should also include a schedule with things to do while in there and, if you cannot afford to take care of their accommodation, a recommendation of a hotel willing to make a special offer to bigger groups. Lastly, as your wedding can also work as a vacation opportunity, some of your guests might want to stay more, so if you are planning to pay for their air tickets, do not include a fixed return date.
Activities to keep your guests engaged apart from the wedding ceremony
This is a very important step to creating a pleasant experience for your guests. The ceremony usually lasts an evening or half a day, which means that, if you are staying for more than 2-3 days - which is actually the minimum - you will have to come up with a schedule of things do while in Iceland. Thankfully for you, Iceland offers plenty of activities and an assortment of tours that will fill your days there.
First of all, we recommend to arrange a brunch the day after their arrival as a way of showing your gratitude for their acceptance of the invitation. Another must-do is spend a day at Blue Lagoon Bay, where your guests can plunge in thermal waters and enjoy their refreshing silica mask. You can make a deal with local tours and go for waterfall and aurora hunting, ice-cave exploration etc.
Whatever you choose to do in the end, we are sure that your guests will love it!
Stunning Wedding Locations to exchange vows, and take some breathtaking wedding photos
Very few destinations out there can beat Iceland's natural landscape, and the best way to highlight all this beauty is with the help of a good photographer. Styrmir Kári & Heiðdís Photography is a great photography company, which you should definitely consider for your Iceland wedding. These guys do a fantastic job!
The Legalities
So, there are two routes to take before the wedding ceremony. You can complete all the legalities and the 'boring part' of the procedure in your home country, and arrange your unofficial wedding ceremony in Iceland. Or, you could choose to be married in Iceland, and do all the paperwork there. Wedding documents must be submitted to the National Registry Office in Reykjavik at least two weeks prior to the wedding. Therefore, we highly advise you to send them by post one month in advance.
Which types of paperwork you need:
- Passports
- Birth Certificates
- Certificate of Marital Status
- Witness Forms signed by two witnesses
- Flight tickets
- Confirmation from the Directorate of Immigration
- Divorce papers or death certificate of previous spouse