Here are the top 15 questions on eloping in Iceland.
What is the best time to visit Iceland?
These are the most top questions that a couple has. All seasons have their own ups and downs to consider and I’ll walk you quickly through our 4 seasons: spring, summer, autumn and winter.
Spring: generally comes to Iceland in April and May and on May 1st we celebrate the first day of summer. Sometimes you can still get snow in spring but it usually melts away quickly. Springtime weather in Reykjavík can be anything from snow, sleet, and rain, to bright sunny days. The temperature averages between 0-10°C (32-50°F). The Icelandic Highlands can be about 10°C colder than the coastline and are closed for traffic during the spring.
Summer: starts in late May or early June and lasts all the way till the end of August. The days are extra long thanks to the midnight sun and there is no darkness during nights! Temperatures can be as low as 5°C (41°F) but as warm as 25°C (77°F). On average, the temperature is between 10° to 15°C (50-59°F). Summers are not as wet as spring, but it does rain occasionally. Iceland is also a very windy country. Towards the end of June or the beginning of July, some of the highland roads are opened after being closed for the winter.
Autumn starts in late August and ends around late October or early November. You will be able to see Autumn’s beautiful colours. The only downfall is that it may be windy, wet, and possibly quite cold. Autumn is similar to springtime in temperature, between 0° to 10°C (32-50°F).
Winter: Winter is between November and March. The year’s shortest day is on the 21st of December and on that day, the daylight is only 4 or 5 hours long. In the northern part of Iceland, the temperature will likely drop down to -10°C (14°F). And in the south down to -5° (23°F) or up to 5°C (41°F). Iceland has strong winter storms and they can sometimes start just suddenly. When the snowstorm starts, the roads are closed and you should always cancel your plans due to the storm. Many people have got lost in the winter storm and never made it back.
But to be honest: Iceland is as it’s best to visit and elope any time of the year! Some eloping couples brace for the coldness, while others want to experience the summer. Choose the time of the year you love the most and elope!
2. Is marriage legal if you get married in Iceland? And is it an easy process?
Yes, your marriage will be legal once you have got married in Iceland. Some countries don’t recognise same-sex marriages and depending on the country you can register your marriage afterwards. Iceland has clear marriage laws and what to do. You can check the following info here:
3. We don’t know yet which part of Iceland we want to elope.
No worries! We can start by booking 1-hour free elopement consultation and for that, you get to answer a form that will help me get a general idea of what you are hoping for in your elopement. On our 1-hour elopement consultation, we will get to know each other, what you expect and dream about your elopement, and go through different locations based on what you are hoping for. In the consultation, I will be also answering all the questions you have.
4. What do you wear for an elopement in Iceland?
There are so many options to choose from. The first thing on deciding what to wear for your elopement in Iceland is what time of the year you will elope. For example, it’s good to have a long-sleeved wedding dress that keeps your arms warm and hides skin redness from the cold for winter. For attire, good materials are tweed or wool because they are made from a heavier material.
The most important thing is that you choose a dress you feel most beautiful in and most handsome or beautiful in your suit.
Some tips to choose your wedding dress: Wedding dresses do make quite different shapes when moving around vs just standing still. It's important to check how well you can move in the dress. Try picking out the wedding dress and move around with it. Take more than a couple of steps. Have some twirl like you dancing around. Pick it up with one or two hands and run around. Is it possible to add warm layers underneath or on top?
For wearing a suit: Don't be afraid of showing colour: if you feel that black is not your option, then don't pick it. Just like brides are choosing their dress, it's important for you to feel comfortable in your suit, it sits well and the colour is the right one for you. Having a bit of colour in the suite always pops lovely in the landscape photos.
5. Do I need my marriage documents being translated?
In Iceland, your marriage documents will be accepted in English or Scandinavian languages.
6. Will my officiant speak English?
Yes! All officiants I work with speak English very well.
7. Why we should hire you as our Iceland elopement photographer?
Let’s start with some facts about me: As a person, I want to have my wedding day be non-traditional, more focused on each other, and to have the day just for each other. We’re all in the same boat here and that is why I want to empower you to have a wedding day that you don’t regret. I’m here to be your partner in crime and to capture your day in pictures. I’m documenting your day for your families and for your kids to see how you got married.
Experience. You can trust me with your wedding. I have photographed 100+ weddings and I will be your support rock during your route to marriage life and your day. I have worked in all weather conditions and I always have a plan B and c for your elopement.
Resources. I want to share with you all my planning help and experience to make your elopement happen. All from finding perfect locations for your ceremony, preparing for your trip, what you need to know of a country you are eloping to, 12 months elope planning checklist, wedding day timeline and even help on finding the perfect wedding dress!
Easy communication. Besides emails, you are always welcome to send me messages on WhatsApp. I always respond fast. The only reason I would not be answering would be that I’m travelling or sleeping because of time zone differences.
Friendship. My approach is that we’re friends, even how cheese that might sound. Not just a vendor-client relationship. My main focus is that my couples are having a good time.
Photography. My photography style is much more into real moments. Nothing staged no set-ups or awkward forced smiles. Also as a person, I just don’t disappear against a wall and takes photos from there. That is just not who I am. If you want a photographer to come to take the best-staged shots, make sure your wedding dress lace is always perfect, and have you doing forced poses, we might not be a match.
This isn’t just about photos. Booking an elopement is not an 8-hour photo shoot. It's about staying true to yourself and getting married in the way you really want to get married. It's a once-in-a-lifetime day for you. The moment when you see each other for the first time all dressed up and feeling those butterflies in your stomach. The moment when you explore the new country you're getting married in and the moment you become one. These are the moments that I capture. True moments and laughter. Excitement and expectation. Getting married is like a sequel to a well-written story. Together as a couple, you have laid the foundation for your story, and now it gets a new shape.
8. How soon should we book you as our elopement photographer?
Depending on the season (usually from April to May or the end of September to November) you can even find spots open with just 3-to 4 months’ notice. But if you have a special date on your mind you want to get married and plan a good time: I would suggest even 12-14 months before your elopement day. Some couples book me even 2 years before eloping since they want to make sure to have me on their date and they might want to elope in the busiest seasons of elopements.
9. Do you only offer planning and photography services?
I do work also with amazing videographers (for example M videography and second shooters to make your day turn into more photos and a film! I also have a great list of vendors I can suggest to make your elopement more amazing.
10. We are staying in Iceland for our honeymoon. Can you help us plan what we should do for our honeymoon?
Yes, I can! Let me know this and I will be helping you create such a good time on your honeymoon!
11. Can we have our family with us when we elope?
Of course, you can! Many of my couples like to have their close family members and friends with them on their elopement day. Usually, the family joins them in getting ready, and ceremony and celebrates them with dinner of perhaps an activity to do together. Eloping has changed a lot what it used to be and it’s much more common to have your family members with you on your elopement day.
12. What if the Iceland borders are suddenly closed because of Covid-19?
If you won’t be able to travel, our first option will be to see if we are able to reschedule your elopement day. If I won’t be able to travel, I have already searched for the area’s local elopement photographers who can jump into my shoes and photograph your elopement.
13. What if the weather is terrible?
Since it's Iceland we are talking about, the weather can change a lot and without giving a warning. I always reschedule the shoot if there is a storm alert ahead or the conditions are dangerous no matter where in Iceland you will elope. That’s why I always recommend having option B for your elopement day and if needed, postponing your day for the next day.
14 .Is Iceland an expensive country to get married in?
It's no secret that Iceland is an expensive country. It's still possible to travel there on a low budget and get married there! Eating out and getting gas to your car is expensive but having money saved before going to Iceland can help you a lot.
I recommend making a budget and to go what are the things you really need for your elopement, depending will you have a low budget or do you want to invest in your elopement. Start by looking at possible flight routes, car rental companies, Airbnb places to stay, how long you would stay in Iceland, what vendors you will be needing for your elopement, where will you be getting your wedding dress and suit, and cost of Covid test to enter the country and to travel back to the US, the cost of getting legally married in Iceland.
You can always prioritise things. Have a date night together where you sit down and talk about your elopement budget. Each one of you will write down your top 3 priorities for your elopement day. And these can be anything. After this combine your top 3 options together as one. What are your combined priorities for your day?
15. We are a same-sex couple. Can we get married in Iceland?
YES YOU CAN! Same-sex marriages have been allowed in Iceland since 2010 and the LGBTQ+ culture in Iceland is thriving. Iceland was one of the first countries that allowed same-sex marriage. Many same-sex couples travel to Iceland to get married since getting married in their home countries isn't allowed.
