Seljalandsfoss elopement in Iceland, Izzy + Step
Iceland waterfall elopement.
When global events threw a wrench into Izzy and Stephan's original wedding plans in Florida, they chose an unconventional path. Despite the challenges posed by the 2020 lockdown, the couple pivoted and opted for an intimate elopement in Iceland, a destination that opened its doors to a handful of countries during the pandemic.
Covid-19 disrupted their dream of a grand wedding day in Florida. Undeterred, Izzy and Stephan, hailing from Germany, made the bold decision to travel to Iceland for an elopement that defied the restrictions and limitations of the times. The Land of Fire and Ice beckoned with its untamed landscapes and the promise of a unique and unforgettable celebration.
All they had planned was that they wanted to say "I do" at Seljalandsfoss the waterfall. Luckily Izzy and Stephen had sent all the paperwork a couple of weeks before that needed to be done to get married in Iceland. I made quickly their elopement planning from location suggestions, timeline, suggestions on what to pack with you to Iceland, and all the way to bring snacks with me on their elopement day. And introduced them to Asthildur who was available to do Izzy’s hair and makeup.
Seljalandsfoss is one of the most famous waterfalls in Iceland, especially since you can get behind it. Also to legally get married in Iceland your officiant needs to be Icelandic otherwise you can’t have or perform a legal ceremony in Iceland.
Since Izzy and Stephen decided to have their elopement in June, they were able to enjoy the midnight summer moment. This time in Iceland has the longest day and depending on how it each year goes, the sunrise can be already before 3 am and the sun cat sets at 12 am which gives hours of daylight around 21 hours. This is one of the main reasons they have the most magical light in their ceremony photos since they had their ceremony in the late evening.
Seljalandsfoss waterfall is also the busiest waterfall to visit by tourists. Especially during the sunset, it’s full of people wanting to capture the sunset with the waterfall. The reason Izzy and Stephen got so lucky with having the waterfall to themselves was that after 3 months of lockdown in 2020 Iceland had opened borders for only a couple of countries to visit Iceland. Now that borders are open timing your ceremony to Seljalandsfoss is very important if you want to have your ceremony there and I highly suggest having a sunrise elopement ceremony there.
Izzy and Stephan had officiant making their marriage legal and the couple read their vows to each other. The good part is that if you want to keep the vows reading private, reading them next to a waterfall is a good option since the water is pouring down it can’t be so well heard by the officiant or photographer what you are saying. The lack of crowds at Seljalandsfoss, a side effect of the pandemic travel restrictions, allowed Izzy and Stephan to savour the moment without any external distractions.
The absence of the usual wedding fanfare and the presence of only a select few witnessed by the elements made Izzy and Stephan's elopement a deeply personal experience.
In the end, Izzy and Stephan's elopement in Iceland was not just a response to the challenges of 2020; it was a testament to resilience, adaptability, and the power of love to transform even the most unexpected circumstances into a beautiful and meaningful celebration. Their decision to elope in the midst of a global lockdown turned a challenging situation into a unique and unforgettable chapter in their love story.