When picturing a destination wedding, couples often fantasize about tropical beaches and swaying palms. But for something out of the ordinary, modern grooms may want to trade those for the glaciers and geysers of Iceland.
Flights to this Scandinavian wonderland are just under six hours from New York to Reykjavik. The landscape of this volcanic country varies from solidified lava that looks like the surface of the moon to verdant, riverside meadows — offering diverse backdrops for anything but cookie-cutter weddings.
Pink Iceland is the premiere resource for gay and lesbian visitors to the island nation, where same-sex marriage has been legal since 2010. The organization was founded by a lesbian couple (Eva Maria and Birna Hronn) in 2011, and they were joined by Hannes Pall — the creative force behind many of Iceland’s most popular television series — shortly thereafter. The trio now run the company together, and same-sex destination-wedding planning is one of their specialties.
With no lack of picturesque settings to offer, Pink Iceland has helped arrange ceremonies by waterfalls, in caves, on glaciers, on a small island off the coast — even near active geothermal areas where the big “I do!” can be punctuated by the blast of a geyser.
Pink Iceland offers services for both intimate ceremonies and more elaborate affairs. They can arrange everything from graphic design for printed materials to reception locations to officiants: Want a local celebrity or a chieftain out of Norse mythology to perform your ceremony? They’ve got you covered.
The Radisson Blu 1919 Reykjavik (radissonblu.com) is an ideal home base for an Icelandic wedding; the hotel is in the thick of cosmopolitan Reykjavik — within walking distance of both the Atlantic Ocean and local attractions like the architecturally spectacular Icelandic Opera. Another option is the more boutique 101 Hotel (101hotel.is), a four-star design hotel; their lovely restaurant Kitchen & Wine would be a great spot for a rehearsal dinner.
After the bouquet has been thrown and the guests have gone home, you can spend your honeymoon exploring the country. Pink Iceland offers tours of Reykjavik, visits to the nearby natural wonders of the Golden Circle, opportunities to see the Northern Lights, and visits to the wonderful geothermal baths. Their Pink West Iceland Safari heads farther afield from the capital to explore the charms of the countryside. Meanwhile their Snæfellsnes Peninsula Tour — with its black pebble beaches, dramatic cliffs and lava fields — will make the pictures of your first adventure as a married couple look like a journey to the center of the earth. Learn more at pinkiceland.is.
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