Iceland Elopement: Romance On A Glacier

I still think about how cold I was on that glacier in Iceland for this Iceland elopement. I’m not exaggerating when I say I have never been that cold in my entire life. And yet, somehow, it’s also one of the warmest, sweetest wedding days I’ve ever photographed.

We had originally planned for the elopement to take place inside an ice cave. The idea was already cinematic in my mind: glowing blue walls, soft light bouncing off the ice, the couple tucked into this magical frozen cathedral. But when we arrived, we found out the power was out in the cave. No lights, no way to safely host a ceremony inside. So we pivoted, layered up a little tighter, and took the elopement out onto the glacier instead.

And honestly? It couldn’t have been more perfect.

There’s something incredibly humbling about standing on top of a glacier, especially for an Iceland elopement. You’re literally walking on centuries of snow and ice, packed and pressed into this massive, living landscape. The air felt so crisp and clean, and the sky opened up in that soft, diffused way Iceland does so well. The couple was surrounded by their closest friends, all bundled up in parkas and hats, cheeks pink from the wind. There was laughter, chattering teeth, little jumps and shivers, but beneath all that was this deep, steady sense of love and excitement. They were getting married on a glacier in Iceland. How incredible is that?

The officiant did such a beautiful job weaving Icelandic traditions into the ceremony. One of my favorite moments was when they drank from the horn, a traditional Viking-style toast. There was something so grounding and symbolic about it—like they were tying their modern love story to the long, ancient history of the land beneath our feet. The officiant also said a prayer in Icelandic, and even though most of us didn’t know the exact translation in that moment, you could feel the weight and beauty of the words. The language, the wind, the quiet of the glacier—it all blended together into something that felt sacred.

I remember trying to steady my hands on the camera because of how cold I was (even with gloves on), but every time I looked through the lens, it reminded me why I was there and how incredibly special it was. The way they looked at each other, the way their friends circled around them, the smiles that didn’t fade even when the gusts picked up—it was all so genuine and pure. Some weddings are grand and elaborate, and some are small and stripped down to the essentials. This one was the latter in the best possible way: just love, nature, and a handful of people who mean everything.

Once the ceremony was over for thise lovely Iceland elopement, we made our way back to the ice cave for more photos. Even though the power was still out, we were able to explore and take advantage of the natural blue light that filtered through parts of the ice. We had to wear special shoes with metal spikes on the bottom to keep from slipping—imagine trying to look graceful while clomping around on ice in giant boots, camera in hand. But once we got inside, all I could focus on were the walls.

The ice in the cave had these stunning layered lines running through it, just like the rings you see in a tree when it’s cut. Each line represented years and years of snowfalls, storms, seasons—time frozen in place. Standing there, I was struck by how beautiful it is that this couple chose to say their vows in a place with such a long memory. Their own story is now part of that timeline, a tiny but meaningful moment in the life of this glacier. This is something I never thought I would see in my life.

For transportation, we rode in this massive Mercedes van with huge snow wheels, the kind of vehicle that looks like it was built to drive on the moon. Bouncing along in that thing felt like its own adventure. Out the windows, the Icelandic landscape rolled by: vast stretches of snow, jagged black rock, and the most dramatic skies. At one point, I learned that Iceland has more waterfalls than any other place in the world, and honestly, it makes sense. Everywhere you look, water is either falling, flowing, or frozen. It felt like the entire country was in motion around us.

Despite how cold I was—which was truly next level—the weather itself couldn’t have been more perfect for an elopement. The wind calmed when we needed it to, the sky stayed soft and bright without harsh sun or heavy storms, and there was just enough mist in the air to make everything feel a little dreamy. Iceland has this way of making even the simplest moments feel cinematic, like you’ve stepped into a movie and someone quietly pressed “record.”

By the end of the day, my fingers and toes were frozen, my gear had little flecks of ice on it, and my hair had definitely seen better days. But my heart was so full. This glacier elopement was a beautiful reminder of why I love destination weddings and elopements so much. Things don’t always go as planned—sometimes the power goes out and your ice cave ceremony turns into a glacier-top one—but often the pivot leads to something even more magical.

To stand on centuries of ice, surrounded by friends, listening to ancient traditions spoken in a native language while two people promise their lives to each other—that’s the kind of experience that stays with you. I feel incredibly honored that I got to be there, camera in hand, documenting every shiver, smile, and tear on that unforgettable Icelandic glacier.

Full Planning by Lux Weddings

Hair and Makeup by Alise

Full Wedding Video