A couple of months ago I was contacted by a young woman who asked me whether I would be willing to help her get married in Reykjavík. She had already found a man to marry – which is good because it took me 27 years to find the boyfriend and we are such late developers that three years later the thought of marriage hasn’t even crossed our minds – but she was kind of lost with everything else.
Thinking to myself that planning a wedding wasn’t THAT big of deal, so even though I would be quite busy this winter I would somehow fit it in, I accepted the challenge .
Just so you know, planning a wedding IS a big deal. Especially when marriage is so foreign to you that you might as well be planning the second coming of the Messiah.
So in between school presentations, group assignments and annual general meetings at work -I have been calling florists, arranging a priest, screening make-up ladies and booking the honeymoon suite at the prestigious Hótel Borg. I’ve also booked them an amazing photographer that is going to shoot the ceremony and then their wedding pictures. Trying to figure out how to transport a full on American wedding dress between continents sure has been a welcoming break from the four Ps of marketing and social media strategies.
An example of the wonderful work of Lalli Sig - the photographer
Usually when I tell people what I’m doing the response I get is along these lines: Say what? – followed by a blank face. I’m very good at getting myself into strange situations though. Somehow, I managed to drag one of my co-workers into this strange equation and the wedding is actually taking place in her living room. Since the happy couple is coming to Iceland alone, my coworker and I will probably have to serve as their witnesses. This plot just gets weirder and weirder.
Weird is wonderful though and I think what they are doing is amazing. Which is why I wanted to be a part of it in the first place. They are getting married on the morning of New Years Eve, just the two of them, in a country they’ve never visited before. I can’t think of a more symbolic way to start a new life together.
Devon and Jon, that’s their names, have graciously agreed to let me share their story with you. I know it will be a happy one. Next time you’ll hear about them they will be husband and wife.
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Are you looking for a wedding planner for your Reykjavík/Iceland wedding? Send me an e-mail and I might be able to help you.
Like this post!:) (The first paragraph is especially funny:))
Thank you dearest Umb… I will be ready to plan your wedding when you and the evil man who stole you set a date
Hilarious! I love your blog. And I also had a Reykjavik haircut…
How did it go? Were you happy with it?
I think it’s the best haircut I’ve ever had! My regular hairdresser didn’t seem too impressed though.
First off by saying not the Devon getting married ..though definately a friend of the happy couple . I love your expression of the situation and its wierdness. This is a-typical of Jon and Devon most unique puzzels pieces I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing individually ; and undoubtedly a peferct fit for eacu other. So happy you are there to make thier craziness come true!!!!
Thank you Devon 2.0 – I’m looking forward to telling everyone about how it goes.
This is the Devon that’s getting married, I also go by 1.0. Again, I can’t thank you enough for everything you have helped us with thus far. I can’t wait to meet you and the couple who is letting us get married in their living room. It’s turning into one of those stories that you tell people and all they say is “No Way, you did what, where” and now you are a part of it. You will be part of our lives forever, I hope your OK with that : ) Also I have to say your post is hilarious and now you get to add international wedding planner to your resume’ : )
Wow… I like it.. Nice Blog……
Hahaah, brilliant ! Let me know if you need some ´happy guests´around
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I love this post and after just a little while of surfing around, I love this blog. I ended up here after I was looking around the internet for wedding planners in Reykjavik and the google device pointed me to this post. I’m glad it did. My boyfriend and I are trying to get married in Iceland in just a few months, so I hope there are updates to this post to give us some ideas. Right now we’re only about as far as: http://www.syslumadur.is/Default.aspx?id=41&cmd=menu sooooo we have a long way to go!
Hey Bradley,
Well, I’m meeting with the happy couple for the first time this afternoon and plan to give a full report after the wedding so stay tuned!
I met the happy couple waiting for the flight yesterday, and I was so inspired by their story that I had to find your blog and make à quick comment. I’m sure it will be amazing, and I will tune in for the pictures!
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Hello,
I was researching about getting married in Iceland and your blog came up. I was just wondering if you could possibly gove me some more information. Myself and my partner both live in Australia and are going to the UK for a few months this year. Ideally I would love to hop over to Iceland and get married, as small as we possibly can. Vows and that’s it. So you any any insight on how easy this would be? Thank you so much!
Hi Amanda,
Just send me an e-mail to info@iheartreykjavik.net with your questions and I’ll see how I can help you.