Scenic Iceland Elopement

All of the details of Lizzie and Landon’s Scenic Iceland Elopement

Back in June, I had the amazing opportunity to capture Lizzie and Landon’s Iceland elopement along the scenic southern coast! It was truly a dream come true, and I’m still on Cloud 9 from getting to capture it all.

But first, the Ceremony

We met up at Fjadrargljufur to perform their ceremony and exchange vows. (Fun fact – this is the same place where Justin Bieber filmed the “I’ll Show You” music video!)

During the ceremony, Lizzie and Landon honored the traditions of Iceland by incorporating the symbolic ritual of handfasting. Handfasting is a Celtic and Viking rooted ritual that represents the couples commitment to one another. The act itself involved tying and knotting the rope around both of the couples hands.

We started out strong with this location, because it truly was some of my favorite photos of the day! The canyons in the back, the running water, and the natural stones just made for a beautiful backdrop.

Basalt Column Portraits – Of Course!

When in Iceland, seeing natural Basalt columns is an absolute must! It only made sense that we stopped a Dverghamrar along the way for some portraits.

The location itself was so easy to access. You walk down the trail straight from the parking lot, and are greeted with another canyon-like scene, lined with basalt columns. Spending 15-20 minutes here was more than enough time to get some great shots of climbing on the columns and the surrounding views.

GLACIERS? Is this real life?

Though it was a far drive, did you even go to Iceland if you didn’t go to Diamond Beach and Jökulsárlón? If you’re questioning if the drive is worth it, I’m here to tell you that it absolutely IS.

I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw massive chunks of glaciers floating around in a lagoon. It was even more incredible when we spotted seals swimming around them. This location made for some truly special and unique portraits.

After capturing glaciers at Jökulsárlón, we drove across the street to Diamond Beach. We got to take portraits on the beautiful black sand beach, with crystal clear ice chunks (the “diamonds” of Diamond Beach!)

Photographing at these two locations was definitely a pinch-me moment as a photographer, and also made for some incredible memories for Lizzie and Landon. It was a long day of driving and shooting, but ultimately, you don’t elopement in Iceland to not get photos of the incredible scenery!!

In Summary… Should you elopement in Iceland?

The answer: Absolutely Yes!!! I hope you found this post helpful – and gives you some ideas as far as locations in Iceland to have your portraits taken.

There are some important things to keep in mind when visiting Iceland –

• The weather is so unpredictable! Remember, it is still an island. This means that it could be sunny and perfect one minute, and then cloudy and raining the next. Pack for all weather types!
• The best time to visit is in the summer months! We went in June, and the weather was amazing. We had more sunny days than not. As a Texan, the cooler temps were also very tolerable!
• It’s colder than you expect! You can look at the weekly highs in the forecast, but be sure to anticipate wind and backsplash from waterfalls. Thermals and waterproof jackets are a must! I also highly recommend hats and gloves.

Contact me if you’re thinking of eloping in Iceland!

If you’re thinking of eloping in Iceland, definitely contact me over on my website – I’d love to chat more!!