5 Epic Locations to Elope in Iceland
ICELAND ELOPEMENT PHOTOGRAPHER // ICELAND ELOPEMENT
Referred to as the Land of Fire and Ice and known for its glaciers, volcanoes and its rich history, from its unique activities to its incredible landscapes, Iceland is the perfect place for an epic adventurous elopement.
This Nordic island, although small, boasts some of the most breathtaking landscapes in the world. The Ring Road encompases the whole of Iceland and takes approximately 12-13 hours to drive (you could drive around the entire country in about two days or even one if you don’t plan on stopping at all 😱)
Snæfellsjökull National Park
Located in western Iceland, the Snæfellsjökull National Park is the only Icelandic national park that borders the sea. This place has a little bit of everything: phenomenal cliff sides, black sand beaches, volcanic craters, and more. One of the most sought after churches in Iceland is within the borders of this park: Búðakirkja. This 17th century church with its distinctive black paint job stands tall among a vast mossy field. Also, within this same park is Djúpalónssandur Beach and Kirkjufell. Djúpalónssandur Beach is a black pebble beach in the southwest section of the park. History comes alive on the beach in the form of four ancient lifting stones. These were used to test the strength of fishermen over two hundred years ago. Kirkjufell (Church Mountain) is a very popular location; in fact one of the most photographed locations in Iceland. It stands 463 meters high and when the sun falls behind it in the evenings, it is a magical sight.
Snaefellsnes Peninsula
Stretching 56 miles long and only 2 hours from Reykjavik. Snaefellsnes Peninsula is nicknamed “Iceland in a Nutshell”. It is one of the few places in Iceland that boasts pink and golden beaches as opposed to the typical black lava beaches that are common in Iceland. Three spectacular views on this peninsula are at Gerðuberg, Langaholt, and Bjarnarfoss.
Gerðuberg holds one of the longest basalt column belts in Iceland with columns standing up to 46 feet high. It is a remarkably unique natural formation simply not to be missed. If camping is your thing, plan to pitch your tent close to the golden beaches of Langaholt. While well-known among locals, tourists usually prefer the popular Icelandic black ash beaches so you’ll relish this quiet, romantic interlude by the sea! On this beach you can sometimes come across people riding Icelandic horses. Can you imagine riding horses on a beach in Iceland during your elopement?! You can get more information HERE. Last but not least is the breathtaking Bjarnarfoss, a 260 foot tall waterfall nestled among the Icelandic cliffs. This waterfall is at a fork in the road, one path leading to Ólafsvík and the other to Búðir and Arnarstapi. Snaefellsnes Peninsula has so much to offer! With its stunning landscapes and quaint little towns, you have a wide array of options in order to create a long and fun adventurous elopement day.
Thingvellir National Park
Boasting the title of the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Iceland, this park sits in a rift valley created by the separation of two tectonic plates and is east of Reykjavík. Known for its history, Thingvellir National Park was the site of Iceland’s parliament for about 8 centuries, and there is still proof of that today. Back between the 10th and 18th centuries every year in the summer at Lögberg, translated to Law Rock, people from all over Iceland would come to hear rulings from the law council. Lögberg can still be visited today. This park boasts not only historical sites, but also phenomenal landscapes and areas to explore. Gullfoss Waterfall, within Hvítá river canyon, is a two part waterfall. Its first drop is about 35 feet and the second drop is 69 feet. It is surrounded by the canyon walls that in some places reach up to 230 feet. In this park there is an unique experience that could be intertwined into your elopement: diving or snorkeling between the tectonic plates. With so much to explore in this park, you could have your pick of Icelandic settings for an adventurous all day elopement – with its national historic shrine, rocky cliffs, and splashing water, you’ll have everything you need for an amazing day!
Vatnajökull National Park
At 5,460 square miles and with 7 distinct sections of the park, Vatnajökull National Park is huge. You can have your pick of locations for your vows, bridal and first look photos! This park has so many incredible options, but I do have some favorites. In the southeast corner of the park sits Jökulsárlón, a large glacial lagoon, in which icebergs can be seen dotting the water. During the winter months, hundreds of seals lounge and swim there as well. An exciting adventure to have as part of your day would be to climb aboard for one of the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon boat tours.
Within the park is a well known waterfall, the Svartifoss.The Svartifoss, standing at 67 feet tall, is tucked into a massive field and framed by black columnar basalt. It is well worth the 3.5 mile round trip hike there are multiple other waterfalls along the way!
Jökulsárgljúfur
Jökulsárgljúfur is located in the northernmost part of Vatnajökull National Park and is home to the popular Dettifoss and the picturesque coastal town of Húsavík, where they claim the title of the best whale watching town in all of Europe. The Dettifoss waterfall, located in Northern Iceland, is said to be one of the most powerful waterfalls in all of Europe. At 100 meters wide and dropping all its water into a magnificent canyon, this would be one heck of a backdrop for photos. As a whole, Jökulsárgljúfur is ideal for hiking and camping and is home to one of Iceland’s deepest canyons.
I hope this has convinced you to elope in this phenomenal Nordic country that boasts stunning landscapes and history. Let’s do this thing and get y’all married in Iceland!
Please note that the images in this post are mine; however, I have the permission to use them for the informational purposes of this blog until I get photos of my own.
