Madison & Stefan’s Intimate Ceremony at Búðir’s Black Church with Icelandic Horses

Madison and Stefan’s Iceland elopement was a beautiful mix of love, adventure, and meaning. The couple traveled from Canada, having fallen in love with Iceland’s landscapes on a previous trip. Their day began with an emotional first look at Hotel Búðir, followed by a heartfelt ceremony at the black church of Búðir. They explored black sand beaches, and secluded waterfalls, and even spent time with Icelandic horses, making their elopement a truly unforgettable experience. Get all the details below.

Are you ready to elope? Explore our Iceland elopement pacakges.

About This Elopement

Photography by Ást og Hraun

“The day started at the cozy Hotel Búðir, where they got ready before an emotional first look right outside, surrounded by the amazing mountain views of the Snaefellsnes Peninsula. Their ceremony was held at the famous black church of Búðir.

Madison, who loves horses and works as a content creator, had always dreamed of including them in her elopement. After the ceremony, we visited a local farm and spent some unforgettable time with Icelandic horses.

The day wrapped up with stops at a dramatic black sand beach and a secluded waterfall, making it the perfect mix of adventure, laughter, and all the beauty Iceland has to offer.” [Daria, the photographer]

Permits and Tops Tips Eloping in Snæfellsnes

“You don’t need any specific permits to have your elopement in Snæfellsnes. However, some locations require a small fee (7-10 USD) to be paid at the parking lot. Otherwise, we always encourage our couples to adhere to the designated trails and not go over rope fences and marked paths. One important thing to remember, they are in place not only to protect local nature, but also for the safety of the visitors.

If you’re wondering where to stay when eloping in Snæfellsnes, Hotel Búðir would be our top recommendation. It’s situated in a gorgeous spot, close to the famous black church of Búðir, has ca harming interior and an amazing restaurant, and planning the rest of your elopement with this hotel as your ‘home’ base is super convenient.” [Daria, the photographer]

Deciding to Elope

“Our decision to elope was driven by a desire for a deeply personal and intimate experience. We wanted to focus entirely on our love and commitment to each other without the stress, expectations, and logistical complexities of a traditional wedding. By eloping, we were able to create a day that was truly our own—one that felt authentic, meaningful, and filled with moments we’ll cherish forever.

We chose to elope in Iceland because it felt deeply meaningful to both of us—it’s a place where we share family heritage, and its breathtaking landscapes made it the perfect setting for such an intimate and special moment. The dramatic scenery, from black sand beaches to cascading waterfalls, created an almost otherworldly backdrop that felt both powerful and serene. Standing together in a place tied to our roots, surrounded by nature’s raw beauty, made our commitment feel even more profound. It was the perfect way to honor our love, our history, and the beginning of our journey as husband and wife.”

Check out these reasons to elope.

Planning Your Elopement

“Since we wanted our marriage to be legally recognized in Iceland, we had to thoroughly research the country’s marriage requirements well in advance. This involved gathering and completing all the necessary documentation, including birth certificates, certificates of marital status, and other official paperwork.

I took a very hands-on approach to finding the perfect vendors to bring our vision to life. Photography was one of the most important elements to us, so I spent time researching and selecting photographers whose documentary-style approach would capture the raw, unfiltered emotions of our day. Their ability to tell a story through candid moments made them the perfect fit.

I also personally reached out to our officiant to plan the wedding ceremony, ensuring it reflected our love story and the intimate experience we wanted. For my bouquet and my husband’s boutonnière, I sought out a florist who could incorporate Icelandic wildflowers and natural greenery, making our florals feel deeply connected to the landscape around us.

Our ceremony still included the traditional elements that made it feel like a wedding: we had a special song to walk down the aisle to, exchanged rings, shared our first kiss as a married couple, and even had wedding bells to mark the moment. It was a perfect blend of intimacy, heritage, and tradition, all set against the breathtaking Icelandic landscape.

We chose to have only photographers present because we wanted the day to be captured as a moment in time. While we love video, we felt that keeping the experience solely between us made it even more special. The photographs allow us to relive those moments while still preserving the quiet intimacy of the day.

That being said, we still wanted to celebrate with our loved ones, so we hosted a post-elopement gathering with our immediate family back home. It was the perfect way to share our joy, reflect on our experiences, and celebrate this new chapter with the people closest to us” [The couple]

Learn how to elope here.

Estimate Cost of This Elopement

Keep in mind that costs can vary depending on the season, vendors, and personal preferences, but this should give a general idea for couples considering a similar experience.

Travel & Accommodation

Flights (for two) | $1,800

Rental car (for a week)| $900

Accommodation (varied stays across Iceland)| $3,000

Legal & Documentation Fees

Marriage license & document processing | $150

Notarization & translation fees | $150

Mailing documents to Iceland | $100

Vendors & Services

Photography (full-day coverage with two photographers) | $4,000

Officiant | $500 (including church)

Florals (bouquet & boutonnière) | $200

Wedding fragrance from local perfumery | $300

Attire & Accessories

Wedding dress (100% silk) | $1,200

Suit (wool) | $1,000

Shoes (including hiking-friendly options) |$2,500

Accessories (jewelry, hairpins, etc.) | $200

Wedding bands | $3,000

Miscellaneous & Experiences

Dining (meals throughout the trip) | $1,000 (including all meals, drinks and snacks)

Horseback riding/photos with Icelandic horses | (this was a gift from the family)

Total Estimated Cost ~$20,000

“While eloping can be more budget-friendly than a traditional wedding, we prioritized experiences and high-quality photography to capture the memories. The most significant costs were travel, attire, and photography, but we intentionally kept other aspects simple to reflect our personal style and values. Although some prices may still be high, there are several areas where costs can be kept to a minimum. The values are in CAD.” [The couple]

Learn more about elopement costs here.

Details We’re Loving

“Madison and Stefan came all the way from Canada, and Madison being an equestrian, wanted to include Icelandic horses in their special day – we thought it was such a cool idea! We don’t get to shoot with horses often, especially with a bride riding one, so it was definitely a very unique and fun experience for us.

Apart from horses, we loved the ceremony at the black church of Búðir – the light inside the church is truly special, more so on a sunny day, and the priest was so down to earth and enthusiastic. She even included a traditional Icelandic song in her speech. We all gasped when at the end of the ceremony the church bells began to ring – no one was expecting that.” [Daria, the photographer]

Memorable Moments From This Elopement

From the photographer:

“For me personally, apart from the horses, a stop at the black sand beach left an everlasting impression. It was a lovely sunny day, and the water was sparkling with reflections, making it a very beautiful and somewhat unusual (counting the fact that clear weather is not very typical for Iceland) background. Madison and Stephan had a lot of fun, being playful with each other, and we really enjoyed documenting these moments.”

From the couple:

“The most memorable part of our elopement was the overwhelming sense of peace and presence we felt throughout the day. Without any distractions or external pressures, we were able to fully immerse ourselves in every moment—walking hand in hand through the breathtaking Icelandic landscape, exchanging deeply personal vows in a place so connected to our family heritage, and embracing the quiet intimacy of a day that was truly just about us.

A particularly special moment was getting to take photos with the Icelandic horses. As an equestrian, it meant so much to me to share that experience with my husband, and the kindness of the family who welcomed us onto their farm made it even more meaningful. It was one of those moments that felt serendipitous like it was always meant to happen.

Beyond the stunning scenery and carefully planned details, what made the day unforgettable was how authentic it felt. It was a pure reflection of who we are as a couple—intentional, deeply connected, and completely present with one another. That feeling is something I’ll cherish forever.”

Final Words of Advice

From the photographer:

“If you would like to include horses in your elopement in Iceland, I would definitely recommend getting in touch with a farm and planning your visit, instead of just randomly stopping on the road when you see them graze behind the fence. We got to choose a beautiful backdrop and 2 lovely farm workers joined us to help – it was very much appreciated and elevated our experience greatly.”

From the couple:

“Looking back, we wouldn’t change a thing. The simplicity, the intimacy, and the freedom to make the day entirely our own made it all the more special. For anyone considering an elopement, I’d say—trust your instincts, prioritize what feels meaningful to you, and embrace the experience fully. It’s a decision we’ll cherish forever.”

Vendors

Photography | Ást og Hraun

Accommodation | Hotel Búðir 
Venue/Church | Black church of Búðir
Flowers | Þórdís Zophia
Horses | Lýsuhóll Snæhestar

Photos From This Elopement