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Kayleen and Derek wanted an adventure-filled day in lesser-traveled areas of Iceland for a more private and secluded day. They brought a handful of guests with them and had one of their best friends officiate the elopement for them. The day started out in Reykjavík at their hotel — The Grandi Hotel — where they had a first look before they all took off for the adventure. Their ceremony was at a hidden lake tucked away between mountains. After the ceremony they had a fun adventure through many different landscapes and they got a real taste for the Icelandic winds.
Why Did the Couple Choose Iceland for Their Elopement?
Kayleen & Derek: We knew we always wanted a destination wedding and the more we thought about our options, we realized that neither of us are the typical “warm and sunny beach wedding” kind of folks. We love to travel and absolutely fell in love with the rough and wild landscapes of Iceland. I also had been following our photographer (Steph Zakas) online for quite a while and would be giddy over her shoots! Iceland is such a special place where you sort of never know what you’re going to get… very strong wind, fog, rain, and peeks of sunshine all made an appearance on our day!
We wanted a small and intimate event with low pressure. Our wedding should be about us celebrating our love for each other and enjoying our time together. For us, it was about going on a really amazing vacation and getting married while we were there.
We had absolutely beautiful scenery and it just felt like an incredibly special place. I’m so happy we were able to get married in the Icelandic landscape and just enjoy the beauty around us.
What Makes South Iceland Special for Elopements?
Steph, their planner & photographer: I love that the locations showcase how beautiful Iceland is outside of the major tourist hotspots. The location of the ceremony is at a private lake which is so serene. And, the rest of the locations are just some spots I personally love because they are peaceful and stunning.
Can You Get Legally Married in Iceland?
Kayleen & Derek: A friend of ours is ordained in the US and performed our ceremony in front of our guests. We did also go to the magistrate in Iceland to formalize the paperwork. We really wanted to legally get married in Iceland, so going to the magistrate made sense for us.
What Sustainability Considerations Were Made (if any) For This Elopement in Iceland?
Kayleen & Derek: Definitely! Iceland is very sustainably focused, which we love. A lot of the landscape is covered in a moss that is actually protected. While we were exploring, there were tiny footpaths through the area and we made sure to stay only on the trail to avoid damaging the moss. It takes years for it to grow back!
Did the Couple Incorporate Any Cultural Aspects of Iceland into Their Elopement?
Kayleen & Derek: We kept our ceremony pretty low key. We had a friend of ours perform the ceremony with a small group of our friends surrounding us. Our location for this was a beautiful lake that it turns out is a place that a fair amount of Icelanders take trips to in the summer. The main way we incorporated Icelandic culture into our wedding was by embracing the chaos of the land! Post-ceremony, we traveled around with our photographer to multiple stunning places for photos together. We were welcomed with heavy winds blowing my dress for some gorgeous (and some very silly) photos.
What Was the Couple’s Experience with Getting Married in Iceland During July?
Kayleen & Derek: July in Iceland was stunning for the type of photos we wanted. The plants were green, some flowers blooming, and we had longer days so we could really make the most of it. We were very lucky to have Steph as our photographer and elopement guru because she was able to take us to places that are not on the tourist’s radar, as July is in the busy tourist season. We were the only humans at many locations we went to, though we did have the Icelandic sheep watching and cheering us on!
What Are the Best Tips for Planning an Elopement in Iceland?
Kayleen & Derek: Definitely plan on being flexible with your schedule. If you have a really beautiful day weather wise or a really stormy one, you will potentially need to pivot. The weather is wild and unpredictable, so my best advice is to just move with it. Don’t get upset if it rains or if you end up in some wild winds, because you will! Just go with it and definitely make sure that you have a local photographer who knows how to navigate the country in a safe way – for you and for the environment! Don’t step on the moss, you might anger the elves!!
Steph, the planner & photographer: 1- hire locals.
2- hire a planner who knows these areas that are not commonly visited by the crowds.
3- bring some extra outerwear because many of these spots have a lot of wind and these 3 areas in particular in this elopement all have different weather and climates, so, in one spot it could be rather warm and sunny and then in another it’s cold, high elevation, and possibly a bit rainy.
4- bring hiking boots even though these spots seem rather accessible, which they mostly are, they are still muddy.
5- these areas and this elopement plan was made with the guests and logistics in mind so if you’re eloping with guests, you’ll want a planner who is logistics minded for your entire day’s events so it’s efficient and not leaving you hours and hours away after your photoshoot to then meet back with your guests late at night.
How Did the Couple Personalize Their Elopement?
Kayleen & Derek: We had a small group of friends with us for the ceremony and one of them was actually the person who married us. He wrote little jokes about each of our guests into the ceremony – which they loved. We wrote our own vows and shared a champagne toast with our friends while standing in front of the gorgeous landscape with mountains and a waterfall in the background.
What Challenges Did the Couple Face While Planning Their Elopement in Iceland, and How Did They Overcome Them?
Kayleen & Derek: Figuring out the legal side of actually getting married in Iceland was a bit difficult, very different from the US. The business hours of the magistrate change in the summer – they want to enjoy the nice weather too!! Be patient to hear back from them when you call or send an email. Steph was a big help in letting me know who we needed to speak with, what to expect, and how to handle all of it.
What Advice Would You Give to Others Planning an Elopement in Iceland?
Kayleen & Derek: Absolutely do it! Be prepared for your plans to change due to weather, but just embrace it. You’ll likely come away from your elopement with amazing stories and an even better experience than you’d expected.
In Iceland, it is so helpful to have a photographer or guide who is actually living in the country. They will know how to navigate the changing climate, hidden locations you can’t find in a guide book, and have the best suggestions for places to go and things to check out. It will also take a lot of worry off of your shoulders to know you are being taken care of in the planning process and on your wedding day.
What Were the Most Memorable Moments from This Elopement?
Kayleen & Derek: One moment that will always stand out for us was at a photo location… we were at the top of a mountain range, standing on the edge of a cliff when the wind REALLY kicked up. My dress was blowing everywhere and hair was going wild. I could not control where the fabric was flying, so the two of us just stood there laughing hysterically at how nuts it was, my dress enveloping both of us in the wind, and how silly we thought we would look in this set of photos. They actually turned out to be some of our favorites.
Why Is Iceland One of the Best Places to Get Married in Europe?
Kayleen & Derek: If you are looking for a variety of natural landscapes all in one go, Iceland is the way to go! It is just so beautiful that you will be amazed at even the small waterfalls. Iceland is very inclusive and welcoming to everyone from all different backgrounds. The people are incredibly nice and very willing to give you suggestions on places to see and things to do.
You have so many options when you choose to elope in Iceland. Basically any type of landscape you can imagine exists there… although the beaches are not so warm. We were able to visit about 10 locations for photos and we felt like the only people there. It was so special.
