From conversations in the grocery store to eloping in Iceland, Van and Ian pledged to be partners in adventure for a lifetime. Their elopement in Iceland was an incredible start as they embraced the elements, frolicked between scenic views, shared the sweetest vows at their impromptu ceremony location and dined with their closest loved ones with waterfall views. Keep reading for some tips we learned while eloping in Iceland!

A wedding couple walks among the autumn bushes on a rainy day in the highlands of iceland

I do love a good meet cute and Van & Ian’s was straight out of a romantic comedy. Like so many great love stories from the big screen, they met at the grocery store. Van was working there while she was in nursing school and Ian was a regular shopper, always buying the same things every other week. They chatted casually, but it wasn’t until connecting on Facebook that the two finally went out. Van laughed looking back on it, remembering thinking, “wow took him long enough!” But you know what they say, you can’t rush the good stuff! And boy, it doesn’t take long after being around Van & Ian to know that they have something good.

I met Van & Ian through a mutual friend (thanks Jackie!) and right away eloping in Iceland would be an incredible experience for them. I consider myself pretty adventurous and I knew they were too. And while I thought we could handle whatever was thrown at us, Iceland is a different beast when it comes to the natural elements. The rain poured, harder than I’ve ever experienced, on the day of their wedding. Luckily, some strangers were nice enough to help us make some necessary last minute changes and we got plenty of portraits from an adventure session a day before their ceremony!

For the adventure session, they wanted to go to some more popular places in Iceland, which wouldn’t have been possible to do on their wedding day. So we explored Reynisfjara Beach, famously known for its black sand, making little pit stops along the road as we went. Everywhere you turn in Iceland makes you gasp in awe! We even had to hop over a few fences to get to a magical little canyon spot with a waterfall. We hit Dyrhólaey, which literally translates to “hill island with the door hole,” and eventually made it to Skógafoss, one of Iceland’s largest and most famous falls. We had the most gorgeous weather all day long! The next day, the day of their ceremony, was quite a different forecast.

It poured. Whipping winds, water flying, apocalyptic rain. Being from the Pacific Northwest, let me tell you, I can handle the rain. But on this day in Iceland, it was clear that Van & Ian’s dreams of an outdoor elopement ceremony were not in Mother Nature’s plan. So instead of getting married next to a waterfall (one made famous by Game of Thrones), they read each other their vows inside the Þingvellir Visitor Center. While this was not in the plans, the visitor’s center was a neat spot. It had big windows looking out over the incredible landscape of Iceland. Van was a little bummed the plans changed, but Ian, a huge fan of history, was ecstatic to be getting married in a museum of natural history. As for me, I loved the natural light and I think the guests appreciated staying dry! The evening ended in a private dining room with a catered meal at Restaurant Varma. It was quaint and cozy, the perfect spot after a long day running from the weather!

While it’s true that we stayed mostly dry from the rain, there weren’t many dry eyes that day. Van wrote and illustrated the sweetest little book about their adventures together, leaving everyone who read it teary-eyed. Their first look was tear-filled, as they read handwritten letters they wrote for one another. Their vows had the whole room weeping. Every part of their elopement emphasized the undeniable connection between Van and Ian. It was clear they were each other’s safe space, greatest adventure and deepest love. All of the beautiful words were said and plenty of tears were shed.

Even after setbacks from weather, I couldn’t recommend eloping in Iceland enough! Especially if you and your partner are up for a little adventure. The scenery is stunning, the energy unmatched. To see for yourself, scroll down through the images from this incredible elopement! And if you’re not afraid of shedding a tear or two, check out their wedding video created by Kaco Films! It was such an honour to work alongside him to capture every detail of Van & Ian’s adventure eloping in Iceland.

Tips for eloping in Iceland:

Book an adventure session for the day before or the day after! If you have travelled all the way to Iceland, you probably want to get photographs in more than one spot. What you might not realize, is that while some places look close together on the map, it’s often a trek to get to the next famous location. We spent an average of 45 minutes travelling between locations, so plan accordingly so you can check it all off of your list!

Send addresses for locations and times to the whole group! Make sure all of the locations are spelled correctly - Icelandic can be tricky for English speakers! Every single person ended up being late for dinner. Some mixed up the address, while others didn’t plan enough time between stops. Share this info in the beginning to avoid reservation cancellations!
Be aware of local ecosystems! I promote Leave No Trace principles whenever I can and I learned so much while in Iceland. Their moss is extremely delicate and it’s important not to disturb it. So watch your step and do some research before visiting!