How to Elope in Iceland
How to Elope in Iceland - A Guide to Planning Your Dream Adventure Elopement
Iceland is one of those places that I believe everyone should experience at least once in their lifetime. It’s an incredibly beautiful country with epic landscapes, welcoming people, rich culture, and opportunity for adventure everywhere you look! Imagine being able to look back on your wedding day - one of the most meaningful days of your relationship - and have those special memories paired with the excitement and wonder that you felt exploring this place together. If you want to create a truly memorable elopement experience — Iceland is the place to do it!
Love this idea, but aren’t sure how to make it happen? No worries — that’s what I’m here for. In this guide, I’m sharing everything you need to know about how to elope in Iceland, with information about marriage laws, the best ceremony and photo locations, tips for creating an experience that’s as unique as your relationship, and much more!
First things, first: Can foreigners legally get married in Iceland?
Short answer: Yes! Making your marriage official in Iceland does require a little extra preparation beforehand but it’s totally possible! You’ll need to submit all of the required paperwork at least 3 weeks before your date. This can be done via email, but you’ll need to provide the original documents once you arrive (at least 5 days prior to your ceremony).
Documents that you will need include:
Iceland Marriage Notification Form (Hjónavígsluskýrsla).
Birth Certificates for both partners
Certificate of Marital Status (to show you’re not already married)
According to the US embassy in Iceland, there is no Federal authority in the United States to issue a certificate of marital status so you will need to check with your local authorities (home state) to see if they are able to issue the needed declaration.
This needs to be issued within 8 weeks prior to your ceremony
Divorce degrees or Widow Certificates (if applicable)
Valid Passports
Proof of legal stay in Iceland (passport stamp, visa, plane tickets, etc.)
In addition to these documents, you will also need an officiant in order to be legally married in Iceland. They don’t have to be part of any religion though and you don’t need a church, although there are tons to choose from if you want to. You will also need 2 witnesses to sign your Marriage Notification.
TIP: book a local celebrant to help you with this process and make sure all the paperwork is done correctly.
Alternative option: do the paperwork at home!
If everything above sounds complicated and stressful, don’t worry! An awesome alternative to legally getting married in Iceland is to take care of all the legal paperwork at home and have a symbolic ceremony instead. Eloping is all about the experience and celebrating your marriage - whether this is done on the day you sign your legal papers or not won’t make your day any less special or meaningful!
Here are some more pros to doing your legal marriage paperwork at home:
It can be done at your local courthouse at any time and you don’t have to plan it super far in advance! If something comes up, you can easily reschedule to the next date that works for you.
On that note, the weather in Iceland is notoriously unpredictable so if you need to adjust your plans because of rain or other logistics, you can do so with no problem! If you’re doing the legal ceremony in Iceland, you will have to make sure your paperwork reflects any changes to your date and that those changes still fall within the deadline requirements. You will also have to reschedule with your officiant and that will depend on their availability.
If you’re planning a “just us” day for yourselves in Iceland, then your legal ceremony at home can be an opportunity to include loved ones! Bring along a few to be your witnesses at the courthouse or turn it into an even bigger celebration if you want.
Lastly, skipping the legal stuff on your Iceland elopement day will mean less stress with planning in advance to meet the requirements, and more time for you to spend dreaming up all the rest of the fun details!
Getting to and around Iceland:
To get to Iceland, you will fly into the main international airport: Keflavik International Airport (KEF). From here, it’s about a 45 minute drive to get to the capitol city, Reykjavík. You can take a bus or shuttle to the city or your hotel and then book transportation via buses or guided tours to the destinations you want to visit, but I HIGHLY recommend renting your own car. If you plan to stay along the main paved road around the island, a normal car will be fine, but we opted to rent a 4x4 so that we could drive anywhere - including gravel F-roads. This is the type of road that leads to the Highlands, so if that’s a place you want to visit you’ll need a 4x4 for sure. We also had a lot more peace of mind knowing that our car would be okay in almost any weather or terrain. We used Icerental 4x4 and paid for the highest car insurance option available.
You don’t need any extra visa to visit Iceland as long as your stay is less than 90 days, but make sure your passport is up to date and that you check travel restrictions, rules, and regulations before you go.
Bonus Tip: Look into Icelandair’s Stopover Program if you have plans to visit another country after Iceland!
Best time to elope in Iceland:
The best time to elope in Iceland will depend on your personal preferences when it comes to scenery, crowds, activities, and overall experience. Each season has it’s pros and cons so think about why you chose Iceland and go with what will allow you to have your dream day!
SUMMER: June to August
Summer is my personal favorite season due to the longer days, milder weather, and access to the Highlands!
With very short nights and more hours of daylight you have more flexibility in your plans - you can easily avoid crowds by having your ceremony super early in the morning or later at night. The extra daylight hours are also really nice if you end up needing to wait out a rainstorm or want to spend more time outdoors.
As far as weather goes, summers in Iceland aren’t your typical hot summers that will make you want to put on a swimsuit and go to the beach, but it’s when the weather is warmest (mid-50s) and rain is less frequent. You will definitely still want to pack rain gear, but you have a better chance of sunshine. During my last trip in July, it did rain a lot, but not so much that we had to cancel any plans. On the days the sun was out, it was comfortable in just a light long sleeve.
The Highlands of Iceland are what make up the heart of the island. It’s a vast, wild, and mostly uninhabited region with dramatic landscapes that range from mountains, volcanoes, and canyons to waterfalls, hot springs, and lava fields. This area is only accessible in the summer and require a 4x4 to reach. It’s quite an adventure to get there, but very rewarding.
Another perk of a summer elopement in Iceland is getting to see the lupines in bloom! The best time to see these pretty purple flowers is in late June through July.
WINTER: December to March
Winters in Iceland are very cold, have higher chances of snow and rain, and consist of long nights and very short days - with sometimes as little as 4 hours of daylight. This means you have a small window of time to explore, have your ceremony, and take photos, and not a lot of room for flexibility due to any kind of delay or unexpected circumstances. BUT winter is the best time to see the Northern Lights and go ice-caving, so if those two things are high on your list, this might be the perfect time for you. Plan to pack WARM clothes and rent a vehicle that will be able to safely handle the weather conditions.
Shoulder seasons (Spring and Fall) are typically a bit less crowded and give you a good in between of the seasons surrounding it, but weather conditions can vary quite a bit, making your trip unpredictable. This might affect your location choices (definitely a good idea to have a few backup ideas) and of course what you pack as you could easily experience a wide range in temperatures / weather in a single day. But then again, it is Iceland. The same could very well be said of any time of year.
SPRING: April to May
During the Spring in Iceland, you will get a little extra daylight, slightly warmer temperatures, and some roads that close in the winter will begin opening back up. It’s also still a possibility to see the Northern Lights if you’re in the right place.
FALL: September to October
Fall is when the summer tourism starts to slow but the weather will still be relatively mild. You will also seem some color change in the landscapes! Not in trees like you see in the States, but more so in the grass, bushes, and flowers.
Best places to elope in Iceland:
Pretty much anywhere you look in Iceland is an incredible view so when it comes to choosing your elopement location, you really can’t go wrong! Whether you want to stand beside a majestic waterfall or run around on one the many black sand beaches on your wedding day, it’s guaranteed to be an adventure of a lifetime.
Here are some location ideas to get you inspired for your day :)
A waterfall. There are thousands to choose from!
The Highlands. If you’re really craving adventure and want a truly wild experience - this would be the perfect choice. There are a range of different locations within the Highlands to choose from.
Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach. One of Iceland’s most famous locations!
Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon. Bright blue and crisp white icebergs against a dark black sand beach - a dramatic landscape for a very ICElandic elopement.
Snaefellsjokull National Park. A national park on the tip of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula in western Iceland with a beautiful, diverse range of landscapes!
Kirkjufell Mountain. Also on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula - one of Iceland’s most photographed mountains!
When you book me as your Iceland elopement photographer, you’ll have access to my complete location guide to Iceland - with places to choose from all over the island, from all the well-known, must-see spots to hidden gems that will take us away from the crowds. I’m a pretty fun adventure buddy and I’d love to share this experience with you! :)
Where to stay for your Iceland elopement:
This is something you’ll want to look into once you’ve chosen your elopement location(s) as you’ll want to stay somewhere relatively close, but the good thing about Iceland is that there are a lot of really awesome hotels and airbnbs all around the island!
Reykjavik
Reykjavik is Iceland’s capital and is home to nearly two thirds of the population. It’s definitely a fun place to stay for a night or two during your trip so you can explore downtown, get a feel for what Iceland “city” life is like, and check out local restaurants and shops, but a lot of the best elopement locations are a couple hours or more away. This might be a good option for you if you don’t mind the driving and you prefer to stay somewhere less remote, with lots of food and shopping opportunities nearby. There are a variety of hotels available in the city, but I would recommend a cute airbnb if it will be your getting ready location. An airbnb will give you more space and privacy and better lighting for photos!
South Coast of Iceland
A lot of the well-known elopement locations like Skogafoss and Reynisfjara beach are along the South Coast of the island so staying nearby will really cut down your driving time and allow you to see a lot more during your trip!
One of my favorite airbnbs that I stayed in along the South Coast was this Cottage super close to Seljalandsfoss. Check out this Iceland elopement gallery for some getting ready photos here.
This Panorama Glass Lodge would be SO cool to stay at for your elopement. The glass lodges let you enjoy the incredible views around you from the warmth of inside. Each lodge has a private hot tub and hammock too. Imagine a sunrise hot tub soak while you sip coffee and take in the scenery around you, then making breakfast together before you get ready and head out to go adventure around the island!! We could even come back here after dark (depending on the time of year) and do some cool astrophotography! If you’re visiting in the winter, this place would be great for seeing the Northern Lights.
If you want a really unique experience during your Iceland elopement, you can stay in a hanging bubble! This wouldn’t be a great place for getting ready photos as there isn’t much space, but it would be super fun for some early morning - cozy, cuddled up with coffee - shots before we head out on an adventure.
Vik
Vik is the South Coast’s largest village and is a great place to stay if seeing Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach is a priority! There are restaurants, hotels, and shopping in this area (although definitley not as much as in Reykjavik).
During our trip we stayed in the Black Beach Suites. These are studio apartments so they aren’t very big but we loved our stay here! The rooms are very sleek and modern and feel more spacious than you’d think. The best part was that they are only a 5 minute drive from Reynisfjara and about 10 minutes from the town of Vik.
Fosshotel Glacier Lagoon
This hotel is a bit further up the coast but a great option if you want to go to Diamond Beach or the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon as they are only about 25 minutes away!
These are just a few ideas for places to stay that are close to some of the most popular Iceland elopement locations, but trust me, there are plenty of options no matter where you choose! During my week long trip last year, I chose to stay in multiple locations as I traveled around the island so I didn’t have to do a bunch of backtracking - I generally recommend this, but for your elopement day, however I’d say you want to spend at least a couple nights in the same place. That way you don’t have to worry about packing up and checking out of your hotel/airbnb on your elopement day.
Bonus idea: if you’re really looking for an adventurous experience, you can actually rent a camper van and drive your home around the island! You’ll want to do some research in advance for campsites and places to park to make sure you aren’t scrambling last minute for somewhere to sleep.
Things to do in Iceland before, during, and after your elopement:
Drive The Golden Circle. This is a circular route between 3 of Iceland’s most visited attractions: the Geysir Geothermal Area, Gullfoss Waterfall and Þingvellir National Park. Because the route begins in Reykjavik, it’s easy to do at the beginning or end of your trip. It can take up to a few hours to drive the circle and hit the main highlights, or you can add in some of the other smaller stops along the route and do an all day or multi-day adventure.
Explore the West Fjords. This is a less visited area of Iceland with a diverse range of beautiful, untouched landscapes. If you want to truly get away from the crowds, this might be the place for you! Many locations in this area would also be great elopement spots.
Visit a natural hot spring. There are natural hot springs all over Iceland - these make a nice, relaxing stop after a day of hiking in the cold.
Have a nice dinner and do some shopping in downtown Reykjavik. I think a day in the country’s capitol is a must! It’s a fun way to meet locals and experience a bit of Iceland’s culture. There are a lot more food options here than what you’ll find in the more remote areas of the island.
Chase waterfalls. I didn’t think I really liked waterfalls until I came to Iceland and experienced power and magnitude of these natural wonders. It completely blew me away. The fun thing about the waterfalls here is that there are so many different ones - incredibly tall ones, really wide and expansive ones, ones you can walk behind, ones you can climb up and see from above. There are even hidden waterfalls tucked away in canyons and caves that make finding them even more rewarding.
Go Ice Caving! This is something that you can only do in the winter, but I think if you do come during this time of year it should be a MUST.
Hike to the abandoned Solheimasandur plane wreck. While this may not be the most exciting thing to do for some people, I really loved this stop on our trip! The hike (more of a walk) is a little over 4 miles roundtrip - it’s mostly flat and there is no coverage at all. We went super early in the morning and had plenty of time to take photos at the airplane without any other tourists around. This would be a fun little day before or after adventure to add to your elopement experience!
Even more ideas:
Go whale watching.
Do a glacier tour.
Watch the northern lights in the winter.
Relax at the Blue Lagoon.
Do a helicopter, plane, or atv tour.
Go 4x4 adventuring in the highlands.
Go snowmobiling on Langjokull Glacier.
Do a whitewater rafting tour.
I spent a week in Iceland in the summer and did a lot of the things on this list!
Check out this blog to see more photos from my whole trip and this REEL on IG for a fun slideshow version!
Iceland elopement itinerary Ideas:
Hopefully by now you’re already inspired by all that Iceland has to offer for your elopement experience, but if you want to see how these ideas can come together to create a perfect, adventure-filled day - here are a couple sample itineraries for you!
A summer elopement in Iceland:
Day 1: Wake up early to hike to a hidden waterfall, explore, take photos, and then grab lunch before you go check into your airbnb to hang out and relax.
Day 2: Spend the morning getting ready together at your airbnb, grab brunch at a local restaurant, and drive out to the Highlands, hike and explore to find the perfect ceremony spot, share your vows, and take portraits as you take in the epic scenery around you.
A winter elopement in Iceland:
Day 1: Spend the day exploring an ice cave and then relax at a hot spring as the sun sets.
Day 2: Share your vows in the morning at a glacier lagoon, adventure to an epic waterfall, then head back to your airbnb for a private dinner and first dance. Hang out and relax while you wait until it’s dark enough to see the Northern Lights!
What to wear for your Iceland elopement:
Eloping in Iceland doesn’t mean you can’t wear normal wedding outfits - if you want to wear the dress of your dreams or an awesome custom suit, definitely do that! You deserve to look and feel amazing on this special day! Because Iceland is Iceland, you will, however, want to consider a few extra factors in mind as you make your final choices.
Main attire: For dresses, I’d recommend something loose and flowy so you can easily slip on warm layers underneath and move around more comfortably. Tight, form fitting dresses aren’t great for adventuring when you need to do any sort of climbing or even hopping in and out of a car. Flowy dresses also look amazing in the wind! For suits, just make sure it’s something you’ll be comfortable in and that you won’t mind if it gets wet or dirty.
Hair and Makeup: I really think having professional hair and makeup done makes a huge difference in your confidence throughout the day and in your photos at the end! I recommend going with a hairstyle that will still look good after a little wind and moisture and waterproof makeup.
Warm, waterproof coat. This is a must for Iceland! For your elopement, it’s worth investing in a warm coat that will not only protect you from the wind and weather, but that will look nice with your outfits. You can always take it off while we take photos, but there’s going to be times when you want to keep it on (especially if it’s super cold) and you’ll be happy to have something that still looks great.
Alternate outer wear. If you’d prefer something more stylish than a coat to keep you warm during your elopement, another idea is to buy a nice wool or faux fur shawl to wrap around your shoulders!
Under layers. No matter what time of year you elope in Iceland, LAYERS will be a key part of your outfit. Wool leggings and wool socks will keep your legs and feet warm and help wick away moisture. Having extras with you is a good idea too in case you get caught in the rain or soaked under a waterfall.
Hats, scarfs, gloves. These are good items to have with you just in case! Just like with anything you're wearing that’s visible, make sure they look nice with your outfits. In general, neutral colors are always a good idea.
Waterproof boots. Another must for Iceland! You’ll want to bring something to wear to keep your feet dry and comfortable as you adventure around for your elopement! I recommend boots that look good with your wedding outfits, but you can always bring a different pair of shoes along to change into when we take the bulk of your photos and just have your waterproof boots for the longer stretches of walking / hiking.
Other outfits. If there are other activities or adventures you want to have documented during your Iceland elopement experience, feel free to bring a variety of outfits! Maybe you want to do a morning hike before you get ready for your ceremony or even on the evening before - bring a more casual outfit that’s warm and cute. Beanies are my favorite accessory for these types of adventures! Or maybe you want to visit a hot spring - splurge on some nice swimsuits for both of you!
How to Budget for your Iceland elopement:
Iceland isn’t the cheapest place to visit, but even if you go all out for a REALLY incredible experience here, it’s most likely going to still be a lot less than a bigger, traditional wedding and you’re going to be coming home with memories of a lifetime. Below is a list of the main costs that you’ll have when eloping in Iceland:
Roundtrip tickets for 2
Rental Car for duration of stay
Airbnb or hotel for duration of stay
Photographer / Videographer
Hair and makeup
Florist
Attire
Accessories + other details (vow books, rings, veil, etc.)
Food
Extra excursions / activities (glacier tour, ice caving, blue lagoon, museums, etc)
A few of these things are optional - you don’t HAVE to have a bouquet or professional makeup done, but if you’re able to have them, I really think they add to the overall experience! Other things like food and activities can vary a lot depending on your preferences. You can easily pick up food and make your own meals throughout your trip, but one of the best parts about traveling and being in another country is the food. I’d plan for at least a few nice meals out! And as far as activities go, anything you do is going to be epic and fun but it’s more of a bonus than a requirement if that makes sense. We had a blast just driving around the island, stopping at all the cool sites, and doing free hikes! Besides the Blue Lagoon, we didn’t pay for any excursions but next time I go, I’d LOVE to do a glacier tour or ice caving adventure. If you’re coming here for your wedding trip, I’d say it’s a pretty good excuse to do the bonus fun things in addition to the free sightseeing!
Extra Tips for Traveling to Iceland:
Be flexible! The weather is unpredictable in Iceland and you’ll most likely come across amazing sights and stops that you didn't originally have on your itinerary. Having wiggle room will allow you to be more spontaneous and even more importantly, will be super beneficial if you need to move your ceremony to a different time or even day because of something unexpected.
Plan in advance! The best way to save money and stress is to book your flights, rental car, and accommodations as early as possible. If there are other excursions or activities that you know you for sure want to do, I’d book those in advance too.
Have a debit card for gas. We didn’t use cash during our whole trip in Iceland, but we soon found out that the self-serve gas pumps require a card with a PIN (i.e. a debit card). If there is a convenience store at the pump, you may be able to pay with a credit card inside, but when we stopped for gas after hours or at pumps with no service station, we were thankful that I had my debit card because my friend forgot hers and the pump declined her credit cards.
Bring a reusable water bottle and drink the tap :) Iceland’s tap water is safe, clean, and it tastes good! We saved a lot of money by just filling up our water bottles in the sink every day before we headed out to adventure.
Don’t call the horses ponies. LOL. We learned from a local that the horses in Iceland are indeed horses, NOT ponies, and that calling them ponies is actually insulting to some Icelanders as these beautiful creatures are a symbol of national pride.
Curious what working with me as your Iceland Elopement Photographer looks like?
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