We’d like to address a few things about clothing for elopements or destination weddings in Iceland. This guide is meant for brides and grooms traveling to Iceland looking for an unforgettable adventure and planing to get hitched while doing so. Iceland is an incredible place and a perfect destination for adventurous weddings.

A fit for Iceland

One of the main things you have to consider when choosing an outfit for any Elopement or destination wedding is what activity you’ll be doing on the day and what the landscape and terrain will be like. If Iceland is your dream destination, we are guessing exploring nature is high on your list. So hiking to your ceremony location, treading over rocky terrain to reach a black beach for a photoshoot or saying your vows in front of an epic waterfall are all highly plausible scenarios. For those kind of adventures we highly recommend breathable fabrics, light-weight materials and your movability is essential.

In our experience most couples that decide to not go with a traditional wedding and opt for an adventure instead are doing it because enjoying the day and focusing on their relationship is their priority and part of that is feeling comfortable in your outfit. So make sure what ever you choose to wear, wether that is a dress, a suit, jumpsuit or something more casual, fits you well and is easy to move in. This does not mean that you can’t wear a long ball gown, we actually love those but try to select materials that are flexible.

dress for adventure

Let’s get a little more specific, if you plan on wearing a dress, we recommend long, flowy dresses with lots of layers and movement, it looks incredible in the Icelandic wind and is easy to move around in. If you dream of having a long train, keep in mind that chances are that it will get a nice ombre of dirt and sand and the rough terrain might try to hold on to it, we’ve noticed that dried lava especially likes to try and keep some of the materials behind to decorate itself with. This means that the skirt can get messy but to us these are just beautiful battle scars to be proud of and to wear as a badge of honour. If this does not sound like something you’re ok with, maybe opt for a shorter dress, just below the knee or around the ankles, just keep in mind that they don’t hide your thermals or boots which we recommend you wear, especially in fall and winter. Talking about winter, wool dresses are an excellent option to keep warm and comfortable.

Another thing to consider is asking your dressmaker or designer how the material handles getting wet, since getting married in Iceland means that there is always a chance it’ll rain or you could get soaked in waterfall spray, so materials that dry quickly are always a plus. For the really adventurous brides a two piece can be a convenient option when crossing rivers or hiking since you can just slip the bottom of and tug it in your backpack and continue to hike in your leggings or thermals. It’s also convenient in the car between locations.

We also want to mention that dresses that constrict movement could limit your possibilities during the photoshoot. If the dress is really tight around your thighs it can limit your hiking accessibility and hinder you from standing on top of a cool rock or climbing on some basalt columns for example. A-line dresses are probably our favourite fit since it allows for good movement and the skirt can easily be picked up when hiking.

suit up

Suits and jumpsuits for both men and women usually don’t constrict your movement and are very suitable for adventurous elopements and destination weddings. As long as they are well fitted of course. Obviously if the suit is too small it won’t allow you to climb on rocks (are you detecting a pattern here? We really like making people stand on rocks). To be honest it’s more common that suits are too large but that won’t do you any favours either.

For an Iceland wedding we would recommend natural fabrics, when picking a suit, like wool or cotton, it’s comfortable and breaths well so it’s good for hiking and exploring. Wool also has the added benefit of keeping you warm and it also just fit's well in the landscape. Solid matte colours photograph well but a little bit of texture is good too, tweed, wool, cashmere or velvet. In our opinion a black tuxedo can look a little out of place in the Icelandic landscape but that being said there are some characters that can just pull it off no matter where they are and just look outstanding.

We would like to give tweed suits a special shout out, since we think it’s the perfect suit for Icelandic conditions. It keeps you warm, it’s windproof and water resistant but at the same time breathable so you can hike in them. If you are wearing a three piece you can layer up or down and still look stylish. Those Scots really knew what they were doing designing these. Check out this blog for some tweed inspo + adventuring and single malt whisky. If your impressed by this style you can check out this Scottish brand here, Walker Slater or if you find yourself already in Iceland when picking out your suit we recommend Kormákur og Skjöldur.

Neutral, earthy tones go great with the Icelandic terrain and photograph very well, colours like maroon, rust, tan or forest green (here we call it moss green since we don’t know what forrest look like). Navy blue or grey are also classics that work anywhere. Quick mention, cardigans can be a great option instead of a suit jacket if you’re looking for something less traditional.

Health & Safety

What you wear is always going to depend on your personal style and what we’ve just said above are merely guidelines and you can do what you want with that information but what follows next is more than that. Now we are on to health and safety measures.

Iceland is one of the windiest places on the planet and even though the temperatures aren’t that extreme our wind can make you feel like you’re freezing from head to toe and that’s not just during winter. So what to pack for your Iceland adventure? Thermal underwear and wool socks. Wool is what has kept Icelanders alive through the centuries so everything that is made out of wool is your friend, especially for winter but our summers could be more similar to your winters depending on where you are from. Read more about our seasons here.

Layering is a wonderful thing and we recommend that for all seasons in Iceland. It’s always good to have a base layer, some thermal pants work wonders and are a great option for all sexes. Then your chosen wedding attire and finally some good coats, warm jackets or wool shawls. Keep in mind that even though parkas and rain jackets can be practical and sometimes necessary it might show up on your pictures so choosing something that goes with your outfit is preferable when possible. It’s most important to keep your feet and hands warm so remember those wool socks, and it’s good to have some gloves, at least to put on in between shots if it’s cold. If you are looking for some wool accessories in Iceland you’ll find plenty of options in downtown Reykjavík, here are some great options.

footwear

Last but not least we want to address the importance of good shoes and this applies to everyone that wants an adventurous shoot in Iceland. In rough terrain, witch most of the Icelandic countryside is, you’ll need a comfortable pair of shoes or preferably boots and they need to have excellent tread. In our opinion nothing is more appropriate when exploring Iceland than hiking boots wether or not they are peeking from under a wedding dress or confidently paired with a nice suit. But boots or not make sure they are comfortable, with traction and preferably water proof, if not bring an extra set of socks. Our absolute favourite brand for boots is Red Wing Shoes but there are many good ones out there.

We hope this blog was helpful if you have any further questions don’t hesitate to contact us.

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