How to Elope in Iceland

Eloping in Iceland: A Step by Step Guide

Eloping in Iceland means focusing on an intentional, intimate, and personal experience for you and your partner.

In my Iceland Elopement guide, I cover topics including the legality of getting married in Iceland, traveling to (and around) Iceland, where to visit and stay while in the country, and lots more!

Is Eloping in Iceland right for me?

Couples who value adventure, an intimate connection to the Earth, and the beauty that can come from remote and wild places will love Iceland. There are literally thousands of waterfalls in Iceland, including Skogafoss (pictured left). Most of Earth’s most majestic and unique ecosystems can be found on the island: volcanos, geysers, glaciers. The Land of Fire & Ice indeed.

Iceland is a wild place. Located just below the Arctic Circle in the North Atlantic Ocean, the volcanic island is rugged, dramatic, gorgeous, magical, and unpredictable.

If you picture your elopement or wedding day infused with nature, adventure, and wild places, Iceland may be a great fit for you and your partner.

“driving around Iceland you’re basically confronted by a new soul-enriching, breath-taking, life-affirming natural sight every five minutes”

— Stephen Markley

Why You Should Elope in Iceland

Iceland is Another World

Eloping in Iceland means embracing a sense of wildness, a desire to feel connected to Earth and all of its beauty. In fact, you may not even feel like you’re on Earth any longer - different movies and TV shows (Game of Thrones, Interstellar, Rogue One, among others) have filmed in Iceland and used it as the backdrop for distant fictional and non-fictional worlds. Apollo astronauts even trained here in the 60’s, using Iceland’s craggy lava fields as a stand-in for the lunar surface.

Iceland: Remote, Yet Accessible

Eloping in Iceland can be what you make it. If you’d like to stay in world-class hotels near fine dining, you can do that, and still be within an easy 1 hour drive of some spectacular landscapes.

Many of Iceland’s most famous and beautiful attractions are located within easy walking distance of the Ring Road that circles the country. Not a hiker, but still want to be immersed in nature? Iceland has you covered.

If you picture eloping after a 20 mile backpacking hike into the Highlands, we can do that too. Maybe you’d like to elope on a remote island where the puffins outnumber the people? Once again, the answer is Iceland.

It’s Closer (And Easier to Get to) Than You Might Think

Iceland Air services most of the eastern United States with direct 5-7 hour flights. At the time of this writing, Iceland Air offers direct flights to Reykjavik from Boston, NYC, Baltimore, Washington DC, Raleigh, Pittsburgh, Orlando, Detroit, Toronto, & Minneapolis among others.

So, for just a slightly longer flight than a cross-country domestic United States trip, you can wake up in The Land of Ice & Fire, ready to explore for your Icelandic elopement.

Is it legal for me to get married in Iceland?

If you do not wish to go through the legal process of having an international wedding, you may also have your legal wedding in the United States or your home country, and then have a symbolic wedding ceremony in Icelandic. Even many of my couples in the United States choose to do this for their local, non-destination weddings!

Yes, it is possible for American citizens and other non-Icelandic natives to get married legally in Iceland (and yes, the marriage is recognized back home in the states!). I’ve listed the current (as of 2023) process below, but do encourage you to also check with the Icelandic authorities.

Getting Married in Iceland: The Legal Stuff

First things first: this list is meant to be a guide and a starting point - I strongly encourage you to verify current requirements with the Icelandic authorities, as legal marriage requirements can change. The Icelandic Government website https://island.is/en is a great resource, and you can also check with your country’s consulate. You might also decide to take care of the legal marriage in your home state or country and have a symbolic wedding/elopement ceremony in Iceland.

  1. Marriage Notification Form from the Reykjavik District Magistrate. This form has to be completed by you, your partner, and two witnesses.

  2. Both you & your partner’s birth certificates. These must be original or certified copies.

  3. Certificate of Marital Status - this is a form from your home country showing that you are legally single, divorced, or widowed (i.e., not already married). While some countries offer this particular form, typically the United States does not. If eloping in Iceland from the United States, you may be able to produce a notarized document. From the United States’ State Department website: The U.S. embassy or consulate cannot attest to your marital status. However, most countries will accept a statement from you regarding your ability to marry if your signature on the affidavit has been notarized by a U.S. consular officer. This form must be dated within 8 weeks prior to your wedding. You may also hear this called a “Certificate of No Impediments” or “No Record of Marriage”

  4. If you are divorced or widowed, you will need to show the divorce decree or death certificate indicating you are no long married.

  5. Your valid passport and/or visa showing that you are legally in Iceland.

  6. Proof of your stay in Iceland (passport stamp, plane tickets, etc).