Ice Cave Elopement in Iceland
Iceland is home to some of the most unique landscapes in the world. From the pitch black lava rock beaches to the glacial ice caves in the south of Iceland. Having grown up in Reykjavik, I just took this for granted—it wasn’t until I traveled the world and moved to the US that I fully realized how special it is to have sublime nature and landscapes essentially in your backyard.
Katla Ice Cave
There are a few well known ice caves in Iceland, the most notable ones are on the south shore, and there’s one man-made ice cave in central-western Iceland. The Katla ice cave is arguably the most known one due to it’s proximity to the tourist hub Vík and breathtaking views from the entrance. To get there, you can book a super jeep tour from the capital, Reykjavík, or Vík.
How to elope inside the Ice Cave
The only way to get there is by going with a licensed tour operator, so I’d suggest booking transportation first. Secondly, I’d consider the time of year. Ice caves in Iceland are not as stable in the summer, due to melting, so it’s a good idea to plan your ice cave elopement from late fall to spring. Most people also prefer the blue and white look of the landscape as opposed to the brown and black colors that the area takes on in summer, again, because of melting.
You can choose to hire an officiant for your elopement, which is required if you’re planning to legally elope in Iceland. If you’re planning to get legally married at home and have a symbolic ceremony in Iceland, the officiant is optional, but recommended.
Be sure to pack layers of clothes. Wear hiking boots, with wool socks and wear wool undergarments too, especially in winter. One good idea is to bring a scarf or a small string, you can use it to tie up your dress as you hike up to the ice cave. It makes it much easier to walk.
The Elopement ceremony
Make sure to let your transportation company know that you’re planning to get married in the ice cave. There are multiple companies that run tours but they all know each other and communicate with each other on walkie-talkies. They can coordinate to give you 15-20 minutes of alone time up there if you communicate your needs in advance. Icelandic people are super welcoming and have this special ‘þetta reddast’ mentality, which can be loosely translated to “we’ll get it done.”
Share your plan with your officiant and let them know what you plan on doing. Also feel free to let them run the show.
Where to get ready?
There are endless hotels and short term rentals on the south shore. You can also opt to stay in Reykjavik, and get ready at your hotel. All of the tour operators offer a pick up from Reykajvík. It’s then about a 2-hour drive from Reykjavík to Vík.
Where else to take photos?
The south shores of Iceland probably has the highest density of photo-worthy places in the world! There are two incredible waterfalls, Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss. There are two black sand beaches, Reynisfjara and Víkurfjara, both offer views of Reynisdrangar. There’s the Dyrhólaey cliff and overlook and Kvernufoss. Further east you have the Glacier Lagoon, Kirkjubæjarklaustur, Stjórnarfoss, Svartifoss, Skaftafell, and Diamond Beach. Hard to do in one day but with a 10-12 hour elopement package, you can visit most of these places. Get in touch to learn more about my packages.
