Conversation: wedding planner to whom unexpected is expected

As a wedding planner at Pink Iceland - the leading destination wedding planning agency in Iceland, Valdimar doesn't just orchestrate ceremonies; he crafts stories of love, togetherness and adventure. With a sparkle of fun and glitter in it!

But beyond the glamorous curtain of picturesque venues and carefully planned details lies the heartwarming reality of being a wedding planner. Planning people's love stories in a country- and in the business where you try to plan everything ahead and make sure everything goes smoothly on a day- the weather and unexpectedness of Iceland throws a different side to the day-to-day.

For this month's insight, we dive into Valdimar's world, exploring the joyous highs and unexpected challenges that come with wedding planning. From navigating cultural traditions to soothing last-minute jitters, Valdimar's experiences offer a glimpse into the profound connections forged amidst the chaos of wedding preparations.

Join us as we uncover the tales behind the scenes where the true magic lies in the sincere exchange of vows and the promise of a lifetime together. Welcome to the heartwarming reality of being a wedding planner, as told by Valdimar from Pink Iceland.

What is the difference between planning a wedding or an elopement?

The main difference between planning a wedding and an elopement lies in the scale and scope of the event. Planning larger weddings often requires planning well in advance to book and reserve accommodations and venues to accommodate a larger groups. Elopements involving just the couple or a very small group of close family and friends, are not as time-sensitive. 

Elopements tend to be more stress-free as there may be fewer vendors involved, less coordination required, and a more relaxed timeline. They are also more flexible in case last-minute changes need to be made due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances. 

Lastly, Elopements also give the couple more opportunities to embark on more adventures places, like hiking up to a canyon and getting married there or hopping on a helicopter and getting married on the top of a glacier.

What is your process of starting to plan a wedding?



After the couple contacts us, we arrange a 30-minute video consultation during which we get to know each other a little and discuss their vision, preferences, and budget. After that, we start the process of choosing the location for the ceremony, venues, vendors, timeline for the day, and all other logistics to bring their vision to life.

How do you handle unexpected situations on the wedding day?



Handling unexpected situations on the wedding day requires flexibility and quick thinking. The main focus for me in those situations is to keep face and stay calm while still keeping the couple worry/stress-free. Just this winter I had a helicopter Elopement where the ceremony took place atop a glacier/mountain. The plan was to start with the helicopter ride and the ceremony but as the weather forecast was better in the afternoon we decided to move it later in the day and have the nature photoshoot before. All was going to plan and Laimonas and I just had said how everything had been going smoothly with the picnic in the cave and the breathtaking photos captured.

Then when heading to the helicopter airport we ended up getting the car stuck in the deep snow. While keeping calm and calculating the time we had I had to make a quick decision and called another car to pick the couple and the photographer up and take them to the helicopter so they at least would make it in time and get them married, and I would figure out that car situation on my own.

The car arrived quickly and they made it in time and got married on top of a Mountain with some breathtaking photos! During that time I managed to shovel myself out and got help from the sweetest tourists who stopped to help me push the car out!

I ended up making it in time to pick them up at the helicopter airport and finish the day with them. This ended up being a memorable part of their wedding adventure as they said in their review after.     

Can you tell us about a time when you had to be particularly creative to meet a couple's needs?

I would say it’s when a couple of mine didn’t want the traditional reception dinner and have it more laid back and outside in the nature. Why not try something different and use the evening sun in Iceland and plan a reception picnic outdoors with great food and drinks. I found the perfect location and filled the space with picnic blankets, pillows and candles, multiple food options and drink stations. I wanted to create a little Iceland camping vibe in between the trees and the waterfall with Icelandic music playing, traditional Icelandic food and drinks. It was all just so perfect and came out better than expected and seeing the reaction of the couple as they walked through the wooden area and into the picnic location. It required thinking outside the box and working closely with the couple to bring their vision to life, but the end result was a wedding that truly reflected their personalities and love story and I couldn’t be prouder of the outcome.

What role do you see yourself taking on a wedding day as the planner? 

As the planner our role leading up to the wedding is making the couple's vision come to life. We will have spent many months talking, planning, coming up with ideas, looking at different vendors etc. etc. So when the day comes our role as the wedding planner on the day is to make sure that vision comes to life. We will have that oversight, taking everything into account, making sure everyone is clear and completing what they are doing, making sure our couple is doing great and are being cared for and that everything runs smoothly according to the timeline and vision. This applies for both smaller and larger scale weddings, it just depends on how many wonderful assistants I have with me. 

In Iceland- do you notice any trends when it comes to weddings?

We are noticing in our bigger weddings where the couple is bringing a lot of guests to celebrate with that they want to take it easy on the wedding day. They usually book their photographer and videographer for 2 days so they can have a more relaxed wedding day and enjoy more time with their guests and then for the second day of shooting it's just the two of them traveling to breathtaking locations all the while reminiscing about everything that happened on their wedding day, the ceremony, their interactions with the guests, the speeches etc. It's quite special as a wedding planner to get to spend a whole day with the couple after the wedding hearing about their experiences. 

What would you say to couples who are considering planning their wedding in Iceland - and what would you like to warn them about? 

A big part of our job in Pink Iceland as wedding planners is managing expectations and one fabulous lady that constantly keeps us on our toes is the Mother Nature. We don't have a monarchy in Iceland but Mother Nature is our Queen and we abide by her rules, she can be unpredictable so our couples need to understand how the Icelandic weather can be. But what we also tell them is that we have their back, in Iceland sometimes having a plan B isn't enough, we've gone as far into the alphabet as E in terms of plans but that's important to us as the planners that the couple feels at ease, that they are taken care of and we have their absolute best interest at heart - our mission is always to create the best wedding experience possible!