Disclaimer – This website contains affiliate links. We may earn a very small commission if you make a purchase using links on this site, at no extra cost to you. That’s how we can afford to keep this awesome site running!
Mulagljufur Canyon is one of the best choices to have a hiking elopement in Iceland, especially for couples who want a day filled with adventure, intimacy, and landscapes that feel almost unreal. Lauren and Cole travelled from Canada with their closest family members, already knowing Iceland was the only place that felt right for their wedding.
Their day unfolded exactly the way a hiking elopement should: climbing through one of Iceland’s most breathtaking canyons, chasing waterfalls hidden deep in the cliffs, and ending on a black sand beach with a wedding dress covered in stories. Every moment was intentional, wild, and exactly the kind of experience they had dreamed about.
Why Did the Couple Choose Iceland for Their Elopement?
Lauren & Cole: We love to travel and that has been such a big part of our relationship, so it only seemed right to have a wedding abroad. For us, we chose Iceland because it had special significance – it was the first country we travelled to together as a couple back in 2022. On that trip, while we were driving around the country in our campervan, we jokingly mentioned getting married here and fastforward three years we made it happen. Also, from a logistical standpoint, we live in Canada and grew up in different provinces about a five hour flight apart. When we talked about a wedding, someone’s friends and family were going to have to travel far if we had a traditional large wedding, so we decided why not go on a trip to Iceland instead!
We knew we wanted to get married but planning a big wedding seemed like a daunting task. Lauren was finishing her PhD and Cole worked full time in healthcare, so there wasn’t much time for planning. Having a “micro wedding” abroad seemed like the perfect way to get married without much planning and stress.
What Makes Iceland Special for Elopements?
Lauren & Cole: We like to say we had a “micro wedding” since we included immediate family. The canyon where we got married was the perfect location because there were no chairs or decorations, just the two of us. We had family present for the ceremony, but then we left to take pictures and explore more of Iceland just the two of us (with our photographer) for a few hours, before rejoining our family for dinner.
Lisa, the photographer: It’s one of the most cinematic-looking places in Iceland and not yet a very popular spot. You can still find some privacy, and it’s the perfect length for hiking elopements.
Can You Get Legally Married in Iceland?
Lauren & Cole: We had a legal ceremony! We really wanted that piece of paper to say we got married officially in Iceland.
What Sustainability Considerations Were Made (if any) For This Elopement in Iceland?
Lauren & Cole: Lisa helped us pick a ceremony location and wedding picture spots that were intended for visitors so we weren’t trespassing to take pictures. We also sourced our flowers from a local shop.
Did the Couple Incorporate Any Cultural Aspects of Iceland into Their Micro-Wedding?
Lauren & Cole: We tried to incorporate some Icelandic traditions in our wedding celebration. We made the traditional Happy Marriage cake. During our ceremony, we included a viking horn to drink to and celebrate our union.
What Was the Couple’s Experience with Getting Married in Iceland During June?
Lauren & Cole: The weather in Iceland can be very unpredictable. We chose to get married in June because the weather should be nicer, but we were prepared for having to get married in the rain. Luckily our wedding day was the one nice day of our whole trip! We actually ended up with sunburns.
What Are the Best Tips for Planning an Elopement in Iceland?
Lauren & Cole: Choose Lisa as your photographer! No, but in all seriousness, when you get married abroad, the photographer is so important. Once we had this crazy idea to get married in Iceland, we reached out to a few different photographers, but Lisa was the one who confirmed for us that a micro wedding was the best idea for us. We like to describe Lisa as our amazing photographer who also doubled as our wedding planner. She connected us with the officiant, transportation, developed a timeline, answered our questions, and ultimately saved us so much time and stress. Honestly, once we secured Lisa for our wedding, the planning was very easy and took much less time than expected.
Lisa, the photographer: Make sure the wedding dress allows movement for hiking. Suit material is not too thick, so there won’t be too much sweating. Waterproof hiking boots are always the style for hiking elopements in Iceland. Water and snack breaks are good to have. Respect the moss that grows in the hiking area and in the canyon, it’s extremely fragile, and unfortunately, we do get there photographers that don’t respect this.
How Did the Couple Personalize Their Elopement?
Lauren & Cole: In addition to travelling, trying new food spots has always been something we enjoy together. On our wedding day, after the ceremony, we went for celebratory pizza just the two of us. It was the perfect way to relax and refuel before going out to explore more of the south coast and take pictures.
What Challenges Did the Couple Face While Planning Their Elopement in Iceland, and How Did They Overcome Them?
Lauren & Cole: Securing the necessary paperwork to get legally married in Iceland was a bit of a headache, but that was mainly because Canada was dealing with a postal strike at the time. Luckily, we had some very kind people help us out and we were able to get everything we needed in time. Once we got to Iceland, the process was very quick and efficent to finalise everything and get the marriage license.
What Advice Would the Couple Give to Others Planning an Elopement in Iceland?
Lauren & Cole: Securing the necessary paperwork to get legally married in Iceland was a bit of a headache, but that was mainly because Canada was dealing with a postal strike at the time. Luckily, we had some very kind people help us out and we were able to get everything we needed in time. Once we got to Iceland, the process was very quick and efficent to finalise everything and get the marriage license.
What Were the Most Memorable Moments from This Elopement?
Lauren & Cole: We had so many memorable moments! Our first look was special because Lauren managed to bring her wedding dress to Iceland without Cole seeing it. Lisa found us a secluded spot up on a hill by our hotel so it was a quiet intimate first look.
The ceremony itself was so special. Our officiant Perla made the ceremony so personal, including questions we had each answered about the other. It was very different from a traditional North American wedding ceremony, but in the best way!
We also loved hiking (2.5km) up to our wedding spot. We passed locals and tourists, all congratulating us and telling us what great idea it was.
A funny part of our day, was Cole’s sister who acted as our “water girl” – many people have a flower girl at their wedding, but when you are hiking up a mountain, you need someone to carry the water. Brooke was that girl for us and we have lots of great photos of our water breaks!
The last spot we went to take photos was on the beach. We took some photos of us running on the beach and it was a nice way to end our day, laughing and not worrying about how wet and sandy we got.
Why Is Iceland One of the Best Places to Get Married in Europe?
Lauren & Cole: Iceland is such a beautiful country with breathtaking landscapes. There is nothing fancy or glamourous about it, but that is why it was perfect for us, the wedding was just focused on the two of us and our relationship. Also, the people in Iceland who helped making our wedding possible were incredible. By the end of the day, it felt like we had extra family members celebrating with us.
We knew we were going to get married at Mulagljufur Canyon but we didn’t know the exact location, until the day of the wedding. We were hiking up the trail and saw a spot overlooking the waterfall and decided that would be perfect.
What Was Your Overall Budget And When Planning Your Budget, What were Your Priorities?
Lauren & Cole: Our total budget was 20k CAD but that covered an entire trip in Iceland, not just one day!
Amazing photographer and accommodation close to the wedding location! We also made sure we had good hiking boots that were ready for the elements! We saved money by not hiring anyone for hair and makeup – Lisa gave us great advice that it can be risky to hire someone when you haven’t done a trial and often with the Icelandic elements you don’t want anything fancy. Instead, Lauren’s Mom took a lesson in Canada so she could help with hair and makeup the day of!
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
Lauren & Cole: Don’t be afraid to do something unconventional! We are coming up on our one year anniversary and there is still nothing we would have changed about our wedding day! And we have amazing pictures to remember the day by!
