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Getting married in Iceland is a fantastic choice for a destination wedding. What’s more, Hotel Rangá offers wedding planning services to make your experience easy and relaxed. Iceland’s dynamic landscape is an incredible location for amazing memories and the best wedding photos. Tie the knot beside a waterfall, on top of a glacier or on a black sand beach.
At Hotel Rangá, we can accommodate all types of weddings – from intimate elopements to larger ceremonies. Choose from three different packages – Hekla, Katla or Eyjafjallajökull – or create your own custom package with assistance from our Wedding Coordinator. Keep reading to learn all you need to know about getting married in Iceland.
How Do I Start Planning my Wedding in Iceland?
At Hotel Rangá, our dedicated Wedding Coordinator will assist you with your planning every step of the way. First, you will discuss the type of ceremony you are envisioning. Our Wedding Coordinator will help you to refine your vision. You will choose decorations, decide on dining options, pick a ceremony location and more. Don’t hesitate to share all of your dreams and inspirations – anything is possible.
Our Wedding Coordinator will meet with you upon your arrival at Hotel Rangá and will be there on your wedding day. She will help to put the finishing touches in place while you and your guests celebrate and relax. You can enjoy your wedding day while our staff ensures that everything goes to plan. Begin the process of hosting a wedding at Hotel Rangá by emailing wedding@hotelranga.is to connect with our Wedding Coordinator.
Iceland Wedding Venues
The sky is truly the limit when it comes to ceremony sites in Iceland. You can wed on a black sand beach, underneath a dramatic waterfall or in a field filled with blooming wildflowers. Some of our wedding couples choose to marry atop a snowy glacier!
Iceland’s incredible landscape offers unique opportunities for outdoor ceremonies. However, it is important to note that our ever-changing weather could shift your plans. There are also several excellent options if you want to get married indoors. You can get married inside Hotel Rangá with a view of the lovely Rangá River. Or perhaps you would prefer to pledge your love in a beautiful country church with stained glass windows. Some of our couples have even recited their vows inside an ancient cave surrounded by hundreds of glowing candles.
Choosing Your Ideal Icelandic Wedding Ceremony
Every couple has a different vision for their wedding ceremony. At Hotel Rangá, we offer four ceremony options for our wedding couples.
- A priest conducts Christian ceremonies in a local church.
- A wedding celebrant conducts humanist, non-religious ceremonies. These ceremonies have an atmosphere of dignity, joy and personal experience and allow the wedding couple the chance to exchange personalized vows.
- The local District Commissioner conducts legal, non-religious ceremonies. These ceremonies are the shortest option (approximately 5 minutes). Couples are not required to exchange personalized vows.
- The Ásatrúargoði conducts pagan ceremonies based on descriptions from the Sagas and ancient manuscripts of old Norse traditions, before the time of Christianity in Iceland. In a pagan wedding ceremony, the couple recites personalized oaths much like the vows a couple prepares for many North American ceremonies.
Getting Married in Iceland at Hotel Rangá
Hotel Rangá is the perfect place to host your Icelandic wedding, whether you choose an elopement or a larger wedding party. Our property has 52 guest rooms of varying sizes; it is also possible to rent out the entire hotel. What’s more, our Rangá Restaurant serves a menu grounded in Nordic cuisine featuring the best local ingredients. We regularly update our wedding menu options, and we can tailor all meals per your request or per guests’ dietary restrictions.
We offer two different private dining halls for your wedding dinner: Hekla Hall and River Hall. The Rangá Restaurant is also available as a dinner location if you choose to rent out the entire hotel. What’s more, our property features a game room, cozy upstairs lounge and the Rangá Bar which has a huge selection of top-shelf liquors, wines and local beers.
The Big Day – Decor, Design and More
Over the months leading up to your wedding, you will work closely with our Wedding Coordinator. Together, you will plan all the little details that make a wedding memorable. We offer three distinct packages with different options regarding decor, wedding transportation in an epic Icelandic Super Jeep, wedding cake, flowers and more.
If you have any special requests, do not hesitate to ask our Wedding Coordinator. We do our utmost to make every couple’s dream into a reality. In fact, there are plenty of ways to tailor-make the wedding according to your special vision. Couples are able to choose a special bouquet and boutonniere for the bride and groom. What’s more, you can select a special cake design with help from our talented baker, Gina.
There are many unique ways to make your wedding day truly unforgettable. For example, we can organize a live performance of a special song by local musicians. What’s more, our Wedding Coordinator can work with you to decorate the wedding dinner with special place settings. There is even the option to end the wedding celebration with a special toast and midnight snack.
Wedding Activities and Adventures
Whether hosting an elopement or a big wedding, we suggest that you book an activity or two during your stay at Hotel Rangá. Experience all that Iceland has to offer by participating in an epic adventure – maybe even in your wedding clothes!
Invite your guests on a snowmobiling trip across a snowy glacier or host an Icelandic barbecue after an ATV tour underneath majestic mountains. You can also arrange for a guided bus tour of Iceland’s south coast following your wedding ceremony. Visit amazing sites like Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss and the black sand beaches and unique rock formations at Vík.
Taking the Perfect Wedding Photos in Iceland
Getting married in Iceland is a one of a kind experience. What’s more, professional wedding photos are a wonderful souvenir that you will treasure for years to come. At Hotel Rangá, we have created a list of local wedding photographers who we trust. We share this list with our wedding couples and ask that you contact your favorite photographers directly.
When choosing a photographer, it is a good idea to look at their professional websites. Look at their photos and you will get a better idea of their photography style. Ask your photographer questions about their services to ensure you will get the photos that you want. Good questions to ask include:
- How long is the wedding photoshoot?
- How many different locations can we visit for photos?
- Will you travel in your own car if we change locations?
- How long will it take to receive the edited photos?
Getting Married in Iceland: Requirements
In Iceland, it is quite easy to marry as a foreigner. However, there are several documents you must obtain prior to your wedding. But not to worry – our Wedding Coordinator will be there to assist you every step of the way.
All wedding couples must gather all required documents at least two weeks in advance. This way, we can double check that everything is correct. All documents in a foreign language must be translated to English. What’s more, this must be done by a certified translator and certified with an apostille stamp. These are the documents you must obtain prior to your marriage:
- Marriage Notification Form.
- Original copies of birth certificates of both parties; if you do not have the original, your copy must be apostille verified.
- Certificate of marital status with apostille stamp, issued within eight weeks before the wedding date (this can vary from country to country; our Wedding Coordinator will be able to assist you with more information).
- Divorced parties must provide a divorce decree. This must include a settlement of assets.
- If the bride/groom is a widower, a document detailing that the deceased’s estate has been divided/finalized.
- Scanned passports for both parties.
We look forward to assisting you with your wedding plans. Please contact us today at wedding@hotelranga.is to book your dream wedding.
