Where the Stillness Lives
Some elopements roar.
Others whisper. This one? It listened.
Alexandra & Cole didn’t come to Iceland to follow a script. They came to write their own myth. No crowd. No chaos. Just two souls, wild at heart, letting the south coast lead them into something sacred.
They hiked to a hidden waterfall where even the wind held its breath. They kissed under Skógafoss and laughed through the spray. They wore wool and boots instead of worry. They ended it all with champagne and greasy pizza beneath a twilight sky, and a hand-knit sweater passed from one story into the next.
This wasn’t a styled shoot. It was a declaration.
And it’s proof that eloping on the south coast of Iceland isn’t second best – it’s the beginning of something braver.
In this post, you’ll not only see the full story of their day – woven through waterfalls, cliffs, sea stacks, and soft light – but you’ll also find real, grounded advice on how to plan an Iceland elopement that feels like you.
We’re sharing:
- When to elope for fewer crowds and better light
- How to build flow into your timeline (and why it matters)
- What to wear when the weather can’t make up its mind
- How to choose locations based on feeling, not just aesthetics
- Why tiny details – like sweaters and pizza – can make your day unforgettable
So if you’re dreaming of an Iceland elopement that’s cinematic, untamed, and deeply yours – this is your map.
⤷ Just here for the wisdom? Skip to the planning tips.
A Real South Coast Elopement: Alexandra & Cole’s Story
Getting Ready at Seljalandsfoss Horizon Cabin
The morning was slow, quiet, and deliberate – exactly how a wedding day should begin. Tucked away at Seljalandsfoss Horizon, a cabin perched near one of Iceland’s most iconic waterfalls, Alexandra laced up her boots in her wedding dress, the hem already dreaming of dirt. Cole watched her from across the room like she was the reason the world turned.
There were no nerves – just the kind of grounded presence that says, This is real. This matters.
A Hidden Waterfall Ceremony in the Mountains
They hiked with intention, guided by Magga Gauja – officiant, friend, and fearless keeper of wild places. Their destination? A secret waterfall ceremony site tucked into the folds of the mountains. No other people. No road signs. Just stone, moss, and sky.
In the rare stillness of an Icelandic afternoon, they stood together and spoke vows that cracked open the silence. The wind, for once, didn’t stir. Even the air seemed to hold its breath.
It felt like the land itself was listening.
Elopement Photos at Skógafoss, Dyrhólaey, and Reynisfjara
After the ceremony, we wandered. No schedule, no rush – just trust and good boots.
We met an Icelandic horse grazing near the road, calm and regal like it had been waiting for them. Alexandra reached out and the moment bloomed – quiet and primal. Then came Skógafoss, roaring like applause. They stood in its spray, soaked through and laughing, their kiss mist-wrapped and unposed.
From there, we chased the sun to the cliffs of Dyrhólaey, where seabirds cut through golden light. And then down to Reynisfjara, the black sand beach where basalt stacks rise like sleeping giants. Alexandra slipped on the sweater she’d knitted herself – of course she did – and we walked the shore like it was sacred.
Sunset, Sand & Pizza in Vík
By the time we reached Vík, the light had gone moody and the air turned cool. No white linens, no fancy dinner. Just greasy pizza, champagne, and two dirt-dusted lovers with wind in their hair and laughter in their bones.
That sweater? Alexandra gave it to us after the elopement – to keep future brides warm with a piece of her story. That’s the kind of day it was.
Planning a South Coast Elopement in Iceland: What You Need to Know
Eloping on Iceland’s south coast isn’t just a beautiful idea – it’s a wildly doable one. With the right flow, the right mindset, and a touch of intention, you can shape a day that feels effortless, cinematic, and completely yours.
Here’s what we’ve learned from years of photographing elopements on the south coast of Iceland, and what Alexandra & Cole’s story so clearly shows:
When Is the Best Time to Elope on the South Coast?
There’s no wrong season to elope on Iceland’s south coast – just different flavors of magic.
Summer is the obvious showstopper:
The light stretches late into the night, giving you golden hour that lasts for hours. It’s the perfect time to start late, skip the crowds, and feel like you have the whole landscape to yourselves. Alexandra & Cole’s August elopement was bathed in stillness and warmth – the rare kind where the wind forgets to speak.
Autumn brings mood and drama:
The moss turns a richer green, the crowds thin out, and the skies start to broodingly flirt with storm light. September and October are especially gorgeous for couples craving that windswept, cinematic feel with fewer tourists around.
Winter is for the bold-hearted:
Snowy cliffs, dark lava against white frost, and if you’re lucky – Northern lights above your vows. Expect wild weather and less daylight, but also utter solitude. This season demands flexibility, but rewards you with myth-making conditions.
Spring is the quiet bloom:
Waterfalls rage, birds return, and the island begins to wake. It’s a time of contrast – snow still lingering on mountaintops while green starts pushing through below. A shoulder-season sweet spot for those wanting a mix of wild and gentle.
Flow Over Fuss
Your elopement doesn’t need a minute-by-minute spreadsheet. It needs space to breathe.
Alexandra & Cole didn’t cram their day full of back-to-back locations or force a fake timeline. They moved with intention, not urgency. They hiked slow. They laughed long. They kissed in the spray of Skógafoss with zero concern for schedule. And because they allowed that breathing room, the day unfolded with ease.
This is the secret most people miss:
Magic doesn’t happen in the rush. It happens in the pause. In the detour. In the let’s stay here a little longer moment.
The south coast of Iceland isn’t built for control freaks. It’s built for wanderers. For lovers who trust the weather, the light, the land – and us – to guide them into something better than perfect: real.
Let the plan bend. That’s where the wild things live.
Choosing the right Locations Is about more than just the view
Alexandra & Cole didn’t pick their locations because they were trendy or “good for the ’gram.” They chose them because they felt right. Because each one offered a different kind of silence, a different kind of wild.
They got ready in a cabin near Seljalandsfoss – close to the action, but private, peaceful, and utterly soaked in morning light.
They said their vows beside a secret waterfall, far from the crowds, where the only witness was the mountain.
They ran laughing through the spray at Skógafoss, kissed under the sun at Dyrhólaey, and ended the day tracing the basalt bones of Reynisfjara with black sand on their boots.
Each location wasn’t just a backdrop. It was part of the story. It shaped the mood. The energy. The feel of the day.
✦ What to Think About When Choosing Your Elopement Locations
Yes, the south coast of Iceland is full of jaw-dropping spots – but it’s not just about chasing views. Here’s what actually matters:
- Privacy. Do you want to say your vows alone, without an audience? Choose off-the-map places – or go during shoulder season or late in the day.
- Weather + Wind. Some locations (like Dyrhólaey) can be brutal on windy days. We help couples plan based on forecast, light direction, and safety.
- Accessibility. Want to hike? Great. Want to stay close to the car? Also great. Your dream doesn’t have to involve a 2-hour trek to be valid.
- Emotional pull. What kind of feeling do you want? Grand and cinematic? Soft and sacred? Moody and mythic? Pick places that make your heartbeat change.
Because when you choose your locations based on feeling – not trends – your photos won’t just look incredible.
They’ll feel like you.
What to Wear for A South Coast Elopement
Forget high heels and perfect hair. Iceland doesn’t care.
This land rewards those who dress like they’re about to hike into a myth – because that’s exactly what you’re doing. Think layers, movement, warmth, and weatherproofing with style.
Alexandra wore a wedding dress with boots, and wrapped herself in a hand-knit sweater she made with her own two hands. It wasn’t just beautiful – it meant something. It told a story. And it kept her warm when the wind picked up along the shore at Reynisfjara.
After the day was done, she handed it to us and said:
“I made it for myself for the wedding but honestly don’t see myself wearing it in the future. I feel like it will collect dust in my closet somewhere. I genuinely feel as though she deserves to continue to explore Iceland with you and bring joy to future brides who want some photos in it.”
That’s the kind of magic you can’t buy. It’s the kind of magic you wear.
Here’s what we recommend for any elopement on the south coast of Iceland:
- Solid boots that can handle wet trails, beach sand, and the occasional muddy hillside
- Thermal layers under your outfit – yes, even under a dress
- Something personal: a scarf from your travels, your grandfather’s coat, or something you made yourself
- Outer layers you love in photos – because if you need a jacket, it better be one that looks good soaked in mist
Your clothes should move with you, shelter you, and reflect who you are – not who Pinterest says you should be.
Need help figuring out how to look iconic and stay warm?
We’ve got you.
→ Check out our guide to what to wear for your Iceland elopement.
Make it Yours
The most unforgettable elopements aren’t styled – they’re lived. They’re filled with decisions that feel like you. Moments no one else would’ve chosen, but that now feel unshakably right.
Alexandra & Cole’s day wasn’t built from Pinterest. It was stitched together from instinct, intimacy, and intention.
They hiked to a secret ceremony spot because they wanted stillness.
They wore boots and wool and didn’t flinch when the wild kissed back.
They shared greasy, glorious pizza on a driftwood log instead of sitting down to a fancy dinner.
They gifted us a sweater, not because they had to – but because the story asked for it.
That’s what makes a day unforgettable: the parts that couldn’t belong to anyone else.
So when you’re planning your own south coast elopement in Iceland, don’t just ask: What would look good in photos?
Ask: What would feel like us?
Do you want to read your vows under a waterfall?
Dance barefoot on a black sand beach?
Bring your dog? Hike in silence? Eat cake with your hands? Wrap yourselves in a blanket and stargaze until 2am?
Good. Do it.
This day isn’t a performance. It’s a declaration. And it should feel like your favorite version of yourselves – turned up to eleven.
🌙 Ready to Write Your Own Wild Story?
If this stirred something in you – if you felt your heartbeat change as you read – maybe it’s time.
Time to stop waiting for permission.
Time to plan a day that feels like wind and vows and fire in your chest.
We’re here when you are ready.
To help you find the hidden waterfall.
To catch the kiss lit by the midnight sun.
To tell your story in a way that howls and holds.
→ Reach out and let’s start planning your Iceland elopement.