Frequent travellers Shira and Matan knew a destination wedding was the right fit for them when they decided they wanted their day to be unique and different. Iceland definitely fit the bill. “We loved the idea of an event that would feel like a vacation with our favorite people,” says Shira.

Although the couple has a pretty adventurous group of family and friends, some of them were a bit confused about their decision to tie the knot in Iceland. “Many people who would have been happy with a ‘normal’ destination wedding in Mexico or the Caribbean were super skeptical about our Iceland selection,” says Shira.

The few guests who were skeptical about the decision for Icelandic vows were confused as to why they chose a place they didn’t have a history with the country.

“We wanted to choose a place that neither of has been to which is pretty hard given that we both are pretty well-traveled,” says Shira. “When we were considering different locations, we stumbled upon Ann’s Iceland adventure wedding blog and fell in love with the idea of that experience.”

Once the location was settled, the planning began. Shira and Matan enlisted the help of wedding planner Ann Peters, who’s the founder of the blog that inspired their decision to wed in Iceland.

“Since we had never been to Iceland before, it would have been a nightmare if we didn’t have Ann,” says Shira. “She made it really easy though, and we hadn’t even met her in person!”

Video chatting and email made communication easy. After Shira and Matan told their planner more about themselves and their vision, she curated different itinerary options for the couple to choose from. Her recommendations and accommodations helped make their wedding dreams a reality.

From designing save-the-dates and recommending Etsy artisans, their planner was a true asset to Shira and Matan’s destination wedding. “If I haven’t made it clear already, Ann made this event,” says Shira. “I can’t believe how much service she provided.”

The majority of the details were custom designed by Shira and Matan, ensuring their wedding was filled with personal touches. The mother of the bride made one extra-sentimental detail. “My mom made a beautiful wedding canopy out of the wedding dress she wore 43 years ago on her wedding day, which was so meaningful.”

When the time came for guests to arrive to celebrate, flying to Iceland was relatively easy for all parties involved. With the hotel being about an hour and a half from the airport, some guests had to rent a car to get to the hotel conveniently.

Although the couple feels they spent more money on a destination wedding, they have no regrets about it. “We spent more than we originally intended, but it was all because of amazing things that we wanted to add on.”

Shira added that their planner provided them with tons of options within their original budget, but she and Matan chose to spend a little more to get an even more incredible experience for their memorable day.

In the end, Shira and Matan’s wedding was a unique and memorable experience, for both them and their guests. For those who are in the process of planning their own destination wedding, Shira and Matan advise, “Make it yours! Create an experience and not just a wedding.”

Vendors: Photographer: Photos by Miss Ann, Wedding Planner: Ann Peters, Your Adventure Wedding, Ceremony: Secret Waterfall in Southern Iceland, Reception Site: Hotel Grimsborgir, Stationery: Minted, Hair & Makeup: Heiðrún Birna Rúnarsdóttir (Hair) & Þóra Kristín (Makeup), Gown Designer: BHLDN, Groom’s Clothing Designer: Custom made suit, Favor Tags & Table Décor: Jubilique and Louise