Elizabeth and Brian’s Iceland elopement was two unforgettable days in Arctic paradise with two very brave lovebirds. Neither of them had really travelled outside the US before, let alone to Iceland, which made their intimate wedding for just the two of them feel even more special. Elopements in Iceland are always unique, and it felt like a privilege to be part of this one; unlike a big wedding where couples are pulled in many directions, here it was just the four of us sharing time, joy and adventure together (with Stina Kase as my awesome second shooter).
Their ceremony took place in a stone cave on Reynisfjara black sand beach near Vík in South Iceland, surrounded by dramatic rock formations and the sound of waves crashing on the shore. Light rain mixed with warm sun between the clouds created a magical, moody atmosphere that Iceland is famous for. The couple wrote their own vows and were married by Tryggvi Gunnarsson; the wind was so strong you could barely hear the words, making it feel like the most private elopement ever – but one photograph really does tell a thousand words.
After the ceremony they celebrated with wedding cake from a plastic box and champagne from plastic cups, proof that simplicity can feel more luxurious than any five‑star reception. Our first lunch stop was Halldorskaff in Vík, where we enjoyed local Icelandic food before starting a nearly 700‑kilometre journey towards Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon. Moss‑covered lava fields, sheep and shifting showers kept us company as every turn in the road revealed a new landscape and a new story.
That night we were incredibly lucky to see the northern lights near Jökulsárlón. Full‑colour auroras are usually strongest in the north of Iceland, so catching them in the south felt like the universe was celebrating with us. The next morning we headed to an ice cave near the glacier lagoon in a modified super jeep – one of the most extreme and beautiful places any of us had ever visited. Each ice cave forms in autumn and melts completely in spring, so the cave we walked into exists now only in photos and memory.
Throughout the trip Elizabeth carried a handkerchief from her grandmother in the pocket of a coat that once belonged to her great‑grandmother, a small but powerful connection to her family’s legacy. On the way to the ice lagoon we stopped at Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon to open letters from friends and family, each one filled with love and good wishes. Driving back towards Reykjavík we visited Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss, two of the most iconic waterfalls in Iceland, watching the water roar down in front of us as the last light faded. These days captured everything that makes an Iceland elopement so special: wild landscapes, changing weather and a love story written into the scenery.
