Christophe and Mary were looking for a wedding that would reflect the couple’s adventurous nature and, having been to Iceland in the past, it didn’t take much convincing for them to agree to have a destination wedding there. They chose to have their memorable Iceland wedding in Vik, a small town surrounded by picturesque green cliffs and one of the world’s most beautiful black sand beaches.

The couple lives in New York, which can get relatively expensive for a wedding location, so choosing to have an Iceland wedding helped ease the stress of both price and planning, while giving the couple a unique experience. “After doing a little research, we soon saw that we could get away with a destination wedding at a cost that was comparable to hosting it in N.Y.,” the bride says. “Our logic was that if we were going to spend money on a wedding, it would be the coolest wedding we had ever attended.”

Christophe and Mary already knew that Iceland was nothing less than magical, having gone to Iceland for their first Valentine’s Day as a couple, but now they had to convince their family. They wanted Iceland to be a unique experience for their family and friends, but to many of them, it was a foreign idea. “Most of our family had never been to Iceland,” says the bride. “Some were also concerned by the ‘adventure’ aspect of the wedding, but we resolved it by ensuring the day was as comfortable as possible for all of our guests.”

When it came to planning their destination wedding, the couple took full advantage of their resources. Using Squarespace, Christophe and Mary created a custom wedding website to make things a bit easier for guests while they were in Iceland. “Our website was very thorough,” says the couple. “We were very specific about where to stay, where to rent a car, where to eat and where to stop along the way to Vik to get the most out of the south of Iceland. Also, the town of Vik is very small, so there weren’t many options for lodging.”

If couples are on edge about their wedding, the bride says that having a wedding planner is a must. A wedding planner can take care of the logistics for you and you can enjoy your wedding so much more knowing that everything is taken care of. The couple coordinated their destination wedding with Ann Peters of Iceland Wedding Planner through Google Docs. “Thanks to Ann, our experience was seamless. Without her, we wouldn’t have made it to the married part,” says the bride. Ann even handled all the logistics with the couple’s guests. “She was a godsend. The guests had her personal phone number and the ability to call or email her anytime while they were planning their trip.”

We asked the couple why a destination wedding is different than having one held at home. Christophe and Mary say that with a destination wedding, the entire weekend becomes a celebration with their guests. “It is such an intimate affair to be in the same location experiencing new places and adventures with the people you love. It’s really special when everyone is experiencing something for the first time together. We now have a connection with all of our guests that will last our lifetime.”

Vendors: Photographer: Your Adventure Wedding; Wedding Destination: Vik, Iceland; Ceremony: Vik i Myrdal Church; Reception Site: Icelandair Hotel Vik; Wedding Planner: Iceland Wedding Planner; Florist: Ann Peters; Stationery: Dan Weise (artist) and Publicide (printer); Cake: Icelandair Hotel Vik; Gown Designer: Matthew Christopher; Pantsuit Designer: Veronica Beard; Groom’s Clothing Designer: Suit Supply