Not all the places in Iceland are created equal, some are just a little more epic than others, haha! It is still worth pointing out that the best locations are only great during certain seasons or time of day. There are many amazing locations in the south of Iceland, such as Reynisfjara and Skógafoss. They are also some of the most heavily visited places in Iceland. This means you should stay away from them if you’re planning an intimate daytime elopement in summer. It will just be too damn crowded! They are however, exceptional for a midnight ceremony or a winter elopement. This is why working with someone who’s familiar with the country in all seasons is important. Check out my favorite locations and get in touch to book.

Arguably one of the more popular destinations in Iceland. Skógafoss (forest falls*) in south Iceland is beautiful from afar and up close. Just know that if you want to plan a ceremony at this location — an early morning or a late evening is going to be the best option. It can get pretty crowded, especially up close.

*Many places in Iceland have “skóga” in the name despite there being almost no forests in the country. When Iceland was settled about 1250 years ago, it is estimated that 1/4 of the land was covered with forests that were cut down by Viking settlers and it never recovered.

It kind of doesn’t get more epic than Dyrhólaey, either as the setting or backdrop for your elopement in Iceland. There is also a lighthouse (more on that later) which could be incorporated into your photos. This is another popular location on the south shore — don’t worry, there will be more!

Probably the most photographed mountain in Iceland, and for good reason — imagine getting married with this backdrop! Kirkjufell is a pretty small mountain on the Snæfellsnes peninsula. Google even calls it a hill, haha! The roundtrip around the peninsula is actually perfect for a day trip elopement photoshoot. I grew up in Reykjavík but spent many summers on the peninsula in my family’s summer home. You can easily spend a full day on the Snæfellsnes peninsula. Check out Búdir, Arnarstapi, Hellnar, Selvallavatn, and more. Spend the day exploring and doing portraits on the peninsula, finishing up with a midnight sun ceremony by Kirkjufell mountain.

Flatey is an island on the Breiðafjörður fjord in West Iceland. It is semi-inhabited, nobody lives there year-round but there are summer homes. There is a daily ferry that runs from Stykkishólmur. Flatey is a wonderful place to experience solitude and get close with many of the native bird species (puffins!) that call the fjord home. A few of the houses on the island are available for rent over summer. This is both an ideal spot for an elopement and your honeymoon.

Hvítserkur is a basalt rock that stands tall on the northwestern shores of Iceland. It is a somewhat popular spot but a little out of the way. A midnight elopement would be ideal here, especially since it’s up north with even more midnight sun during summer. When the tide is low, you can walk all the way up to the rock!

Þórsmörk is a pretty special place, for a few reasons. First off, it is a nature reserve and one of the best places (if not the best) in Iceland for hiking. Secondly, it is pretty secluded, as you’ll need a ride in. You cannot enter with your rental car, as crossing the unbridged Krossá river is not recommended on your own. You can hop on a bus but I highly recommend getting on a super jeep tour as it is both an experience on it own and a safe way to get in. Once in Þórsmörk, the views are spectacular! You could easily spend the entire day there, having your ceremony in the morning, followed by photos in the afternoon and evening. Lastly, if hiking is your thing, check out the Fimmvörduháls hike, it’s a full day between Skógafoss and Þórsmörk.

The famous Jökulsárlón is of course on this list! Not only is this one of the most impressive places in Iceland, but probably in Europe as well. Especially when paired with the Diamond Beach and nearby Fjallsárlón. This is a spot where you definitely want to go for a sunrise or sunset elopement to get away from crowds, and particularly stay away from the main area if you want an intimate elopement. There are a few spots around the lagoon with small cliffs or a little beach strand that would be ideal for a ceremony. The Diamond Beach is also a great spot for a ceremony followed by portraits around the lagoon.

Also known as the black sand beach, Reynisfjara is one of the locations in Iceland everybody visits and has seen images from. The black sand is ideal for super contrasty images. I mean, a white wedding dress on black sand!? How amazing is that? Pair that with the stuðlaberg rock formations for graphic elopement portraits. On some days, Reynisfjara might not be the best spot for a ceremony. It can get very crowded there on good days in summer but it’s always great for a portrait session.

Last but definitely not least is Seljalandsfoss — or as many call it, the one you can walk behind! This waterfall would also be ideal for an off-season or a midnight elopement ceremony. It’s perfect to end the day at as well. Consider this, after your ceremony and portraits in a few places run behind the waterfall to get soaked for epic shots!