An unforgettable waterfall elopement | Tim Wouters Photography

Let’s meet: it’s finally time to see the planning come to life!

After months of planning and brainstorming, it’s finally time to gather: Stacy and Jake are tying the knot in Iceland during their waterfall elopement! It’s early spring, and even though Iceland is a country where the weather can change in 15 minutes, we know it’s probably gonna be cold and in some instances a bit rough! But, we kept everything and every possibility in mind, created a backup plan (even though we don’t want to think about that 😉) and went on for the ride. The couple booked us for 2 days: which means we have one full day to explore and one half day for the ceremony. We visit the Katla ice caves, the black sand beach, and Yoda cave and experience a beautiful and romantic ceremony at a waterfall.

How it started

Together, we’ve organized for the last couple of months two full days packed with adventure and joy. To bring a plan together like this, we send out a couple of fun questionnaires about you and your partner, to ensure we pick locations that fit you and the vision for the day. We also have a lot of connections with local vendors, so if you’re in need of one, we can certainly recommend one! Thordizs is one of our favourite florists and always a joy to collaborate with. With this elopement, we landed at the airport a bit later than the bride and groom did, so we offered to pick up the beautiful bouquet and boutonniere. At this point we were once again blown away by her work and we couldn’t wait to show them to Stacy & Jake! She did an amazing job—after a couple of days, the flowers still looked as fresh as if they were just arranged!

Day one of the elopement kicks off at an Airbnb, where makeup artist Tatyana is giving Stacy her final touches. Julianne helps Stacy into her stunning dress, we gather all their essentials, and off we go! Our first stop at 8 AM is to meet up with Margret, or “Maggie” from Tofa Travel, at the Soup Company in Vík. There, we hop into her super Jeep and start our journey for the day. We’ll be exploring several breathtaking spots in the south of Iceland and capturing beautiful moments of Stacy and Jake’s adventure. Our start is at the Katla ice cave. You might’ve seen some pictures of that amazing arch that was created by the wind gushing over the glacier. It is a touristy spot; a lot of people want to see this natural beauty and we can understand why! We arranged that we could access everything way before the tours started. That is a perfect pro of hiring a tour guide and why we would say she’s worth every penny!

Hiking over Katla Ice Cave

So, our first destination is the Katla Ice Cave. The Icelandic translation is ‘Katla-íshellir’. The ice cave lies on the Myrdahlsjokull and this is one of the largest glaciers in Iceland. In fact, it has a span of around 595 square kilometres! Underneath lies a subglacial volcano named ‘Katla’. She’s known for powerful and explosive eruptions. The last eruption took place in 1918 and is the reason why many spots in the glacier have black sand in them. Nowadays, she’s still active and if she erupts, a lot of water (well, essentially the whole glacier) will melt. Don’t worry: a lot of instances keep a close eye on any changes that might happen, so it’s perfectly safe to visit! Katla plays a big role in legends and stories. One of the more known stories is about the angry witch called Katla. She lived in a volcanic cave and was the cause of eruptions.

An important side note!

Because of volcano Katla’s reputation, we place a side note on this part of the blog. Never, ever, EVER attempt to visit a glacier without a certified guide. If an eruption starts, you don’t want to be swept away by a Jökuhllaups: the flood that comes with the massive melting that starts. You also don’t want to fall into any crevices. For Katla, it is also quite a bumpy ride to get to the parking spot. In some seasons, you might even have to cross a small river. Safety first must always be in the back of your mind-hiking on glaciers CAN be hazardous, but is also absolutely beautiful! Thankfully, for this elopement, we have the company of Maggie, who has all the necessary credentials and equipment. So with crampons on our feet and helmets on our heads, we embark on the hike!

We are absolutely lucky, the glacier is all ours and is bathed in gorgeous light thanks to a sandstorm. That softens the sunrays and creates a glowy golden glow.

Next, we head to a beautiful, secluded waterfall not far from the Golden Circle. Perfect for some elopement photos! It’s easy to miss from the main road, but it’s well worth the visit. We spend some time here, enjoying the sunshine and savouring every moment. There’s no need to rush, the light will be epic for a longer time and we don’t have a schedule anymore. We truly encourage couples to choose for some more time at one location to relax a little. Take a picnic basket with you to have your lunch then and there, clink the champagne glasses for a toast or write some postcards for your loved ones back home: make it a moment to remember! Not every minute has to be filled with photography, we also love it when you do your thing.

Yoda Cave – Wedding Pictures on a Black Sand Beach

On our way back to Vík, we stop at Gígjagjá, better known as Yoda Cave. This charming cave sometimes hosts wedding ceremonies and film sets, but today it’s the perfect backdrop for photos on the black-and-white beach and inside the cave. Can you guess why it’s called Yoda Cave? 😉

The location is easy to reach, although the signage is not as clear as a lot of other tourist attractions. On top of the mountain where the cave is located, there’s a hiking path that leads to the grave of Hjorleifur Hrodmarsson. He was one of the first settlers in Iceland, along with his brother. We didn’t take the hike though; on the black sand beach, with a layer of snow and some glowy light, this spot is perfect as is!

The end of day one

With our stomachs rumbling, we head towards Skogafoss for dinner after leaving Vík and Maggie behind. We eat a bite at the bistro and chat a little about our lives. One of the best parts about our job is that we meet so many people, which gives us a wonderful perspective of lives on the other side of the world! We leave for the night and see that Stacy leaves a little of her dress behind: everywhere we look there is glitter! 🤭

While we ate, we refreshed our phones every two seconds to check the northern lights forecast. There is a small chance so even when driving we keep an eye out. And we have the luck on our side: they are faint but visible in the distance! The wind is too strong and cold to step outside, so we admire the lights from the warmth of the car.

After quite the drive, we drop off Stacy and Jake with their family, who’ve joined them here in Iceland for this special occasion. We see lots of happy faces, share our goodnights, and promise to see everyone again tomorrow for the big “I do.” WE CAN’T WAIT!

Getting ready for the elopement ceremony at the waterfall

When we step into the cabin the next morning, Stacy is already getting her hair and makeup done. Everyone else is just hanging out and relaxing. A wish of the couple was to have a slow morning, so here we are! After a while, Jake heads over to their own cabin to get ready, keeping a bit of surprise for their first look. The girls in the main cabin, the groom and boys in the separate one, and the guests hidden away in their rooms to get ready as well. A lunch station is prepared to get some food in: it’s almost time for the first look! That will happen not only with our groom but also with Stacy’s dad and the kids of the couple.

Now we’re ready to move: it’s almost time for the ceremony! Finding the right spot sometimes takes some time. Through questionnaires and chats, we pinpoint your vision. If you close your eyes and think of the ‘I do’, where would it be? What would you hear? Who will be there? For Stacy & Jake, their perfect spot was a waterfall. It had to be secluded and accessible for all guests. We made up a list with a couple of locations and they chose this one: a perfectly quiet spot with minimal wind. During the ceremony, we can’t help but think about what an incredible and heartwarming job we have!

To wrap up these perfect days of the elopement, we’re invited to a lovely dinner at Hotel Ranga. With all the guests, we share stories, enjoy a delicious meal, and end the evening with an Icelandic wedding treat: the kransakaka. The bride and groom, along with the bride’s dad, mom, and the kids, share a few dances. What a beautiful trip this has been!

Kind words from Stacy & Jake

Having Katla to ourselves was truly magical. I couldn’t have dreamed of a more beautiful location for our pictures none of it looked real. Tim took my random ramblings during our online meets and made the perfect timeline for our two days of photos and ceremony. The photos came out timeless and breathtaking I couldn’t have imagined doing this without them they made it so easy and comfortable!

Good to Know: our tips to plan your adventure elopement in Iceland

In Iceland, the weather is unpredictable and can change by the hour. This means you need to stay flexible with the schedule, be open to changing locations, and keep an adventurous spirit for your unforgettable elopement day. Everything will work out in the end, don’t worry and just have fun!
Safety is a big deal in Iceland. There are many potential hazards, especially on glaciers. Always hire a certified guide for glacier visits. You don’t want to slip into crevices, step on hidden melt spots, or break a leg on your elopement day!
Did you know you can have an all-in-one package with Maggie? She’s also a certified wedding officiant! Even though Stacy and Jake didn’t have a glacier ceremony, we’d love to photograph that someday 😉

Frequently asked questions about an elopement at a waterfall

What are the best locations for a waterfall elopement in Iceland?

There are many locations that are quite public and well-known, like Kvernufoss, Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss, but we have a couple of hidden gems on the back of our mind that we can propose to you if we’re booked. Yes, we keep them to ourselves because we want to keep them as private as possible 😉 Otherwise, it would be a hidden gem that is secluded and quiet!

How do we plan an elopement at a waterfall or on a glacier with you?

Well, send us an email! We get to know each other, and get some shitty paperwork done (definitely not the fun part), but after that’s done we’re up to the good stuff! First off, we send you a couple of questionnaires to pinpoint what vision you two have for the elopement. After that’s filled in, we plan an online video call to chat about it. We propose some ideas, you share your opinion about it and we do some more research, or if we’re lucky, we’ve found the spot of your dreams! We need to keep in mind that the weather could be a complete @%@$$@%, so we also make a plan B. If you need vendors, we also point you the right way. In the past years, we’ve got to know a lot of people in Iceland who are excellent in their jobs and we know we can trust them. For some waterfalls we’d have to drive over certain F-roads or do river crossings, so we always recommend hiring a tour guide like Margret to get us there safely! The same goes for glaciers, you need to be trained to hike on them, so we’d always refer you to her.

What do I wear for a waterfall elopement?!

There is no perfect answer for that, ‘cause you can wear whatever the F# you want! Be sure to pack some layers as Iceland can be cold (even colder than you might think) and bring a nice shawl or jacket to keep you warm in a wedding dress (or suit).

What is your best tip for us, a couple who’s getting ready to elope?

Oof, good question! We’d mostly recommend doing what YOU want to do. Wherever you want to, with whomever you want. Don’t plan something on what other people might expect of you and don’t make concessions if it’s not needed. With elopements, the sky is the limit; if you want to go on a helicopter tour because it’s a thing you’ve really wanted for a very long time: do it! This is going to be YOUR day and we truly believe you should spend it however you want it.

Want to contact us about your elopement?

We’d love to hear about your vision and to help you get that to life! Fill in our contact form on our contact page, or send us an email at info@tim-wouters.com.