Iceland elopement guide 2025
Why go all the way out to Iceland to elope?
Iceland is truly one of the most amazing places we’ve ever photographed elopements – and we’re lucky enough to be from Colorado, so we really know what we’re talking about when it comes to beauty and adventure! Endless waterfalls and charming villages nestled between the sea and the most epic mountains? Free roaming sheep and wild horses?? There’s really something here for everyone, whether you’re looking for a big adventure exploring by the light of the Midnight Sun or want a cozy quiet stay in a glass cabin surrounded by mossy natural beauty.
It’s the kind of fun and romance that rises to the unforgettable occasion of your wedding day.
We’ve been so fortunate to travel to Iceland both for quick trips as well as extensive exploration of the whole country – and love helping our couples do the same!
Can you get married in Iceland as an American?
Yes!
American tourists do have the option to get legally married in Iceland, with a similar amount of documentation and paperwork as in the US. With international elopements we often recommend doing your paperwork at home first to keep things simple and flexible.
Do you need a visa to visit Iceland?
Most likely no. American passport holders, as well as people from the European Union (EU and EEA) can travel to Iceland for up to 90 days as a tourist without having to apply for a long-term visa.
Just make sure you have at least 6 months left before your passport expiration and you’re good to go!
How to plan an Icelandic elopement
>>> Officially
Documentation & requirements
Symbolically
Having a courthouse wedding in the States and later having a symbolic wedding adventure/honeymoon in Iceland is a great option for folks that don’t want to worry about completing official documents and processes. We help all of our couples chat through the traditions that really resonate with them. Maybe there are some Icelandic customs you’d like to incorporate?
Creatively
Once you’ve decided on which route you’d like to take — getting married at home beforehand or while you’re there — it’s onto the fun stuff! When do you want to go? Where do you want to stay? What do you want to see? We’ve got a bunch of tips below.
Some great elopement locations to consider
A basic lay of the land
Iceland is a relatively small island country (the whole thing would fit inside the borders of Colorado!)
You’ll fly into Keflavík International Airport, which is about an hour drive (or shuttle ride) southwest of Iceland’s capital and largest city, Reykjavík.
From Reykjavík, you can hop on Iceland’s Route 1, aka the Ring Road — it’s Iceland’s major roadway that makes its way completely around the outer rim of the whole country. It’s 828 miles and took us about a week to make our way around the entire thing (with stops to see and do stuff of course). It’s a basic two way road that’s paved and smooth. The interior highlands of the country definitely have some very notable places to visit via the F roads – as long as you have a high clearance vehicle meant for off-roading!
The Golden Circle
The Golden Circle in Iceland is a 190m scenic route that explores waterfalls like Gullfoss, the famous Geysir, volcanic craters and tons of hiking! This is the way to go if you only have a few days in the country as the entire route is pretty close to Reykjavik.
Skógafoss
One of the most well known waterfalls in the world! This incredibly tall foss (as waterfalls are called in Iceland) just falls straight off a cliff in a sheer curtain that turns to vapor just as it meets the ground. Because the bottom of the falls are so gentle, you can go right up the edge of the water. I was personally pretty blown away by this one and I’m not really a waterfall person! Next to the falls is a winding staircase that leads to an incredible hiking trail that takes you up to the highlands past nine more falls!
Like most wonders of the world, Skogafoss can be incredibly crowded at times, but we’ve had it pretty much to ourselves at sunrise – perfect time to say your vows in private and spend the rest of the day exploring!
Reynisfjara - the Black Sand Beach
Another otherworldly Icelandic feature is this velvety black beach made of volcanic sand, rimmed by unique basalt columns. Reynisfjara makes a great stop on your wedding day for a first look or a quick picnic. It can be busy near the parking lot and beach access, but there is a ton of room to explore and find some space to yourself. We even saw puffins here once!!
Írárfoss - private waterfall
Írárfoss is a lovely waterfall on private property that can be rented out for an ultra-private ceremony. This is a great option if you want to make sure you have the whole place to yourself, or want to set up an arch, decorations, chairs for guests or even have a small catered dinner.
Check out Emma & Mike’s incredible first look at Reynisfjara & ceremony at Írárfoss here
The North of Iceland
I don’t think Blönduós is on a lot of travel guides, as it’s a very small costal village, but it is home to the Icelandic Textile Center. Which as a weaver, was a must see for me!! If you’re into contemporary textile arts, traditional crafts, or history at all, it’s worth a stop. The Brimslóð Atelier Guesthouse & Restaurant makes a wonderful overnight rest stop if you’re planning to drive out from Rekjavik and make stops along the way. You can roll into town for dinner, walk along the sea wall and freshen up before continuing on to Akureyri.
Akureyri is the second most populated city in Iceland, and a very popular whale-watching destination. We didn’t spend a ton of time in the city itself, but we did have one of the best meals of my entire life here followed by a charming afternoon of watching locals jumping into the ocean from a cafe patio. Forest Lagoon is here, a stunning commercial hot spring that is very high on my list for our next trip!
One place where we did spend a ton of time was the Mývatn region – including the absolutely gorgeous Mývatn Nature Baths, an enormous commercial hot spring comparable to the famous Blue Lagoon with about half the crowd.
West Fjords
The West Fjords are about as remote as it gets in Iceland! Exploring this segment of the country is only recommended if you have a full 2-3 days to dedicate, because the drive is quite long! It couldn’t be more worth it though — when we visited here in 2022, it took us about 6 hours to make the drive from Reykjavik, but we got to see SO many puffins!! Látrabjarg is a stunning cliff face overlooking the Atlantic Ocean that is home to thousands of puffins are certain times of the year. We caught the perfect timing and were able to see these beautiful birds up close in their natural habitat.
The West Fjords are also home to some of the best hot pots in the country, including our personal fave: the Hellulaug stone pool that overlooks the fjords.
On your drive out to the West Fjords, don’t miss the Guðrúnarlaug Hot Spring, which has been in continuous use since the days of the Vikings!
Stokksnes & Jökulsárlón — the Glacial Lagoon
The West Fjords are about as remote as it gets in Iceland! Exploring this segment of the country is only recommended if you have a full 2-3 days to dedicate, because the drive is quite long! It couldn’t be more worth it though — when we visited here in 2022, it took us about 6 hours to make the drive from Reykjavik, but we got to see SO many puffins!! Látrabjarg is a stunning cliff face overlooking the Atlantic Ocean that is home to thousands of puffins are certain times of the year. We caught the perfect timing and were able to see these beautiful birds up close in their natural habitat.
Seeing Iceland by campervan
Vanlife
Seriously cannot recommend this enough!
Iceland is incredibly fun and freeing to see by campervan — if you’re the “wing it” type and don’t dig strict itineraries when you travel, there’s truly no better option.
The one thing you need to do on schedule is reserve and pick up your van. Personally we’ve had great experiences with Go Campervans — super reputable, no surprises, good service, and a free shuttle from the airport. Lots of other options if they don’t have availability or vehicle you’re looking for.
From there you’re on your own timeline — how long you drive, what you see, where you stay for the night — it’s simply the best.
Cheap, safe campsites with varying amenities (group kitchen, showers, etc) are everywhere, including at many of the most popular attractions in the country.
Imagine waking up with Skógafoss just outside your doors at first light in the morning — because you absolutely freaking can. This makes seeing busy spots early so easy.
There are some drawbacks though:
They can be pricey! Especially for the super plush ones with 4wheel drive and room to stand, and especially especially during peak season. Even the price of the smaller basic ones with an automatic transmission might make you balk for longer rentals. Yes they combine transportation and lodging into one, but yeah be prepared
Availability in peak season may be limited, and many have manual transmissions
No shower, bathroom, or proper kitchen could be dealbreakers for some. Yes, most campsites have public places to shower (for a small fee), wash dishes, and take a proper bathroom break, but I know some folks just need their own space. For what it’s worth, we much prefer hotels & Airbnbs when we travel in the states, but Iceland is the one place we’ll make an exception
Rental car + traditional lodging
Consider a stay in a guest house
They’re somewhere between bed & breakfasts and nice hostels, with private rooms, shared spaces, sometimes communal meals, and tons of charm.
Pro tip: even if you rent a campervan for your trip, it’s really nice to book a short stay at a guest house (or other accommodation) for a night or two — it’ll be nice to have some space to get ready, a shower, and some time away from the van if you’re planning to be out there awhile.
Hotels & Airbnb
Plenty of options for folks that want to go this route (or want to tack on a night or two to a campervan rental).
Other ideas for your trip
There are a lot of possibilities for things to do and see in Iceland — here are a few things we’d reccomend.
Get a loaf of bread (or three) from Brauð & Co in Reykjavík
After grabbing coffee from Reykjavik Roasters up the road, we head straight to Brauð & Co before we leave the city. Seriously, their bread is that good, and the shop itself is so warm and inviting.
These two places also make for great first experiences just buying stuff and interacting with the regular people that live and work here (along with other tourists). Definitely not overwhelming if this is your first time leaving the US.
Oh and be sure to walk over to Hallgrimskirkja! It’s the enormously-beautiful cathedral nearby (hard to miss).
Hot pots!
Culture of it — social gatherings, decompressing, destressing, political
Nudity?
Community vs natural vs luxury options
Waterfalls
Skogafoss (hike above and beyond it, that hiking trail)
The one that was okay
Exploring Reykjavik
Great food and coffee
Thrift stores: got a bandana we still have
Cute houses and architecture
Explore the Ring Road
Most folks should drive it counterclockwise — heading due east from Reykjavik, stopping at whatever looks cool
Iceland trip timeline suggestions
A quick stay (3-4 days)
If your trip’s gonna be quick, it’s a good idea to stick to Reykjavik, Skógafoss, the Glacier Lagoon and the southern edge of Golden Circle.
It’s just a perfect little sampler of what this country has to offer, and will help keep you from feeling overwhelmed with options or stressed by FOMO. You will miss out on some things, and that’s okay! You truly can’t see it all in just a few days, or a week, or even more really. Take the pressure off, set your sites on truly being present for a few things rather than being spread thin across too many.
Between sightseeing in Reykjavik and some of the greatest hits along the southern edge, there’s so much to see and do and experience.
Extended stay (a week or more)
Drive the whole ring road
To see the whole ring road and not feel rushed, you’ll probably need more than a week.
Looking back I’m really glad we chose to do this on our second trip to Iceland. It gave us some familiarity to make this bigger trip seem a little less intimidating. We never try to re-do experiences or recreate the magic of that first time seeing a spot, but it’s just nice to have a little glance at something we remember so vividly, or have favorite photos from — before heading out into the unknown again and reaching places where everything is brand new.
Iceland is shockingly beautiful, and to give the ring road your full attention without getting fatigued, you’re gonna need to take some time.
Golden Circle and West Fjords
See some of the greatest hits along the southern edge and then explore some less-visited stuff in the NW.
Something we had read but didn’t really realize until we got out there — it takes a very long time to drive short distances in the West Fjords. It’s not a bop in, bop out kind of area — it’s a commitment. And not just because it’s geographically “out of the way,” but also the roads are winding and slow-going, even for seemingly small stretches.
And the biggest reason to only head into this area if you have a good chunk of time or this is a return trip? It has a different kind of energy. It’s beauty is more of the desolate, remote kind than the amusement park of some of the other parts of the country. Less Instagram, more exploration.
FAQs
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Like most places – it depends! International travel is always a privilege that comes with some costs, but I would say there are definitely options for every budget.
Airfare from the US and lodging or a camper van will definitely be your biggest expenses, but Icelandair usually has good prices! Once you’re in the country, there is SO much free or very inexpensive stuff to do everywhere you look.
Food does tend to be quite pricey in Iceland – we had a lot of $70 lunches, but no regrets because every meal we had was consistently amazing.
And if you’re looking to splurge, there are ample opportunities to have truly luxury experiences from spa days to adventure outfitters to amazing glass hotels :)
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Icelandair is the best way to fly from the US, although Delta and United also fly into Reykjavik.
Lots of European airlines offer services to Iceland as well, so definitely look into doing a combined trip to mainland Europe!
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Peak season:
Like pretty much every location in the Northern Hemisphere, the summer months of June, July & August bring reliably great weather and the most tourists.
Pros: Great temps, less gear to pack, less chance of rain, greater accessibility (fewer road closures), super long days help you see more stuff
Cons: The most popular spots (see below) will probably be super busy! Places like the black sand beach (Reynisfjara) will be swamped with other people unless you visit early morning or late evening, higher prices for airfare, lodging & rental vehicles, and less availability for these things too
Shoulder season:
We’re big fans of visiting places just before peak season starts or at the very end of peak season — also known as the shoulder season.
Pros: Good balance between favorable weather, smaller crowds, lodging/travel pricing & availability
Cons: You’ll need to plan for the possibility of rain or snow, lower temps early/late in the day
Off-season:
For seasoned travelers and adventurers! We usually don’t recommend the off-season to couples looking to get married in Iceland, unless:
They’re going there specifically for something only the off-season brings (Northern Lights!)
They’ve been to Iceland before and know what to expect
They don’t mind rain, snow, cold, short days
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Unlike a lot of places in the US, the actual day of the week you visit spots in Iceland plays a much smaller role in the amount of privacy you can expect. The time of year you visit is a much better measure!
Example: Here in Colorado, weekends in Rocky Mountain National Park bring huge crowds — ESPECIALLY on summer holiday weekends — but you’d hardly notice the difference between a random Tuesday and Saturday at the major spots in Iceland.
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Generally? It’s best to plan to major spots early in the morning or late in the evening — you’ll have the most privacy and best light for photos too.
Just know that if you’re visiting in shoulder or off-season, these times are compressed because of limited daylight. Early morning and late evening could be very dark.
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Well, in the height of summer, it feels like the sun never really sets! When we visited in late July, I clocked an 11:45pm sunset, with about 4-5 hours of twilight until sunrise.
It can be kind of disorienting at first – your normal cues for what time to wake up, eat meals and fall asleep will all be off. But the tradeoff is that you get so many more hours of the day to explore, and many popular attractions will be totally empty later into the evening!
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Of course, but I would recommend no more than like 20-30 people MAX. Iceland doesn’t really have a culture of having huge castles and villas to rent out for a destination wedding (let’s go to Italy or Scotland for that though!)
If you do want to have a handful of guests with you, just keep in mind that everyone needs to have a good buffer of travel time on either side of your wedding date in case issues arise.
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Technically yes, but I don’t think I’d recommend it for a short stay or for your elopement. Iceland has very strict rules on bringing animals into the country – including a two week mandatory quarantine period at one of their facilities. And this includes service dogs!
So maybe if you were traveling for over a month, or relocating to Iceland it would be worthwhile, but not for a typical vacation!
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Yes! There are several very charming black churches in Iceland available for rent for weddings. The black coloring is just related to traditional ways of weatherproofing using tar.
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Our Iceland elopement packages
Mini Elopement
Up to 4hrs photo coverage • $4800
This is a great amount of time to have a lovely wedding experience at a relaxed pace, just the two of you.
In four hours, our couples commonly:
See each other in their wedding clothes for the first time and then explore a location together • exchange vows & pop champagne at another • read letters from loved ones, have their first dance, and catch a beautiful sunset
…but these are just starting points!
Custom Elopement Packages
Anywhere from 5 hours to full-day & multi-day coverage
Most couples start their journey with us having no idea how much time they need for their elopement coverage — that’s totally ok! We can still get started planning a custom package that fits in everything you want to do.
A custom package could be right if:
You want a low-key day but a 5th hour really just makes sense for your day
You want to head to a location that’s a bit more out there
You’re looking for true sunrise to sunset coverage — which could be 10-12 hours depending on the season
You have guests attending — every family & friend group is unique! We want to hear about your dynamic and how you imagine incorporating them into your plan
You just can’t choose between all the amazing location options you have — so let’s do a few over two days!
Included in all packages
We’re here to help every step of the way to lend our expertise, talk out tricky logistics and help your vision come to life.
We never show up on an elopement day and ask, “What’s the plan?” We got you! Here’s what you can expect from us.
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Our custom illustrated guide that walks you through all the pieces and possibilities of an adventure elopement
Our favorite locations and experience recommendations
Help with location/event permits
Adventure elopement-specific vendor recommendations
Custom elopement day timeline
Packing & planning checklists
Unlimited phone & email consultations
Flexible rescheduling options for any curveballs
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Jess is happy to officiate! About 75% of our clients have Jess create a ceremony that speaks to who they are and incorporates the words & traditions that matter to them.
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Your entire experience documented by Jess & Austin both – in our documentary style that prioritizes having a great time and being true to yourselves above all.
Our clients often tell us they were kinda nervous about being in front of the camera but were shocked at how easy we made it for them.
Light direction without micro-managing, documenting without faking. You’re gonna have a good time.
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Most of our photography coverage is digital, but at every elopement we shoot a roll or two of film for that magical, imperfect “you just had to be there” feeling that old-school film hits just right.
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Sneak peeks within 24 hours
A beautiful online gallery of edited images delivered within 4 weeks of your wedding
Half & Full-day packages include a 20-page heirloom wedding album, thoughtfully constructed and designed by us to last a lifetime and more
High-resolution image downloads with printing rights
High-quality print options right from your gallery
