How to Elope at Skogafoss Waterfall in Iceland: A Step-by-Step Guide From a Traveling Elopement Photographer

If you’re dreaming of saying your vows across from the love of your life, beneath a thundering waterfalal, surrounded by lush greenery, epic cliffs, and moody skies — Iceland’s Skogafoss night just be your perfect elopement destination! As a traveling wedding and elopement photographer, I’ve had the absolute honor of documenting love stories all over the world, including at this exact location. I’m here to help you plan your own special day at the iconic waterfall. Below is a step-by-step guide to eloping at Skogafoss, from permits to portraits, so you can focus on what truly matters: your love, your vows, and the adventure of a lifetime.

Step 1: Decide on a Date and Season
Iceland’s weather is famously unpredictable, but each season offers something unique.
- Summer (June-August): Midnight sun, lush green landscapes, and easier road access
- Fall (September-October): Fewer crowds and a chance at early northern lights
- Winter (November-March): Snowy backdrops, icy beauty, and the full northern lights experience—but, be prepared for road closures and weather delays
- Spring (April-May): Waterfalls are roaring due to snowmelt, and the landscape is just waking up
Pro tip: avoid peak tourist hours by planning your ceremony early in the morning or later in the evening, for both privacy and golden light

Step 2: Legal or Symbolic Ceremony?
You can legally marry in Iceland as foreigners, but there’s paperwork involved. If you want to go this route:
- Start gathering your documents 3-4 months in advance (birth certificates, marriage application, etc.)
- Submit everything to the Icelandic District Commissioner at least three weeks before your wedding
Otherwise, many couples opt for a symbolic cremony in Iceland and handle the legal part at home. This, in my opinion, is much easier — but you still get the full experience!

Step 3: Hire an Elopement Dream Team
You’ll definitely wnt too hire vendors who know Iceland, inside and out:
- Photographer (hi, that’s me!): Someone whoh knows how to work with Iceland’s lighting, weather, and dramatic landscapes
- Planner/Guide: Many Iceland-based planners can help with permits, timelines, and location logistics (photographers are great at doing this, too!)
- Officiant : Icelandic celebrants can customize ceremonies to include Norse elements, Icelandic poems, or handfasting (many photographers, like myself, are also ordained!)
- Hair and Makeup Artist(s): There are stylists who specialize in bridal beauty thta holds up in wind, rain, and mist

Step 4: Book Travel and Accommodations
Fly into Keflavik International Airport (KEF) and rent a 4x4 car for flexibility (weather can change fast). Skogafosss is about two hours from Reykjavik, on the southern coat of the country. Places to stay near Skogafoss include Hotel Skogafoss, UMI Hotel, or Airbnbs in Vik or Hvolsvollur.
Pro tip: Give yourself a couple of extra days before the elopement to explore, acclimate, and adjust to jet lag.

Step 5: Prepare for the Elements
Skogafoss is powerful — like, soak-you-from-30-feet-away powerful. Here’s what to pack: waterproof hiking boots, warm base layers (even during summer), windproof outerwear, clear umbrellas (great for photos!), and a backup plan (just in case the weather is a bit toooo wild). Brides, consider a dress that moves beautifully and you don’t mind getting alittle wet and muddy. Grooms, layers are your best friend.

Step 6: Create a Loose Timeline
Here’s a sample elopement timeline for Skogafoss:
- 7am - wake up, breakfast, hair and makeup
- 9am - first look at your Airbnb or a nearby field (Iceland is full of those! Bonus points if you do your first look in the lupine fields right by Skogafoss)
- 10am - ceremony at Skogafoss
- 11am - champagne pop and picnic by the waterfall
- 12pm-3pm - adventure session at nearby spots, succh as Dyrholaeyy, Reynisfjara Beach, or the Solheimasandur plane wreck)
- Evening - dinner in Vik or a private chef at your Airbnb

Step 7: Make it Yours
The beauty of eloping is that you can break all the rules. Want to read private vows at the top of the waterfall trail? Do it. Want to bring a bluetooth speaker and have your first dance in the mist of the waterfall? Absolutely. Want to wear matching wool cloaks and say your vows in Old Norse? I fully support that.

Eloping at Skogafoss is much more than just a photoshoot — it’s a raw, emotional, otherworldly experience. Whether you brave the wind and rain or bask in golden-hour sunshine, you’ll be beginning your marriage with intention, adventure, and pure awe. If you’re ready to plan your Skogafoss elopement and want a photographer familiar with the area, who will hike through the mist and laugh with you through the wind, I’m your girl! Let’s create something beautiful together. Inquire here :)