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Andy and Amanda knew from day one that their wedding wasn’t going to be about matching napkins or perfectly choreographed first dances. While most couples were Pinterest-boarding reception venues, these two were scrolling through hiking trails and remote waterfalls in Iceland.
They were dreaming of something wild and quietly rugged. A wedding that felt like them: rooted in adventure, simplicity, and the magic of the natural world.
Their day was a full-hearted journey through some of the most breathtaking places Iceland has to offer. They hiked to the island’s tallest waterfall, said their vows in front of the roaring Skogafoss with close friends gathered nearby, and spent two days immersed in wild landscapes exploring black sand beaches, winding through canyons, climbing to glacier vistas, and laughing through the ever-changing Icelandic weather.
Photographed and planned by Emily Hary, this two-day Iceland elopement was about letting go of expectations, trusting the journey, and leaning fully into the beauty of the unknown.
Are you ready to elope? Check out our Iceland guide to start planning.
Meet Andy & Amanda
Andy and Amanda are Michigan natives with restless hearts and hiking boots that rarely stay clean. They’re the type of couple who’d rather spend a weekend exploring a new trail than planning centerpieces, which is exactly why a traditional wedding felt all wrong.
“We wanted the day to be centered around each other,” Amanda said. “Not other people or expectations.”
When they first reached out to Emily, they had no clue where they wanted to elope. They just knew it needed to feel like them. After hearing their vision, Emily threw Iceland into the mix—a suggestion that caught them completely off guard and immediately felt like home.
“Going to Iceland was a dream of mine, for years. So the opportunity to go AND get married there was too good to pass up.”Amanda shared.
With Emily’s help turning their wildest ideas into reality, Andy and Amanda were about to discover that sometimes the best adventures are the ones you never saw coming.
Their Vision & Planning Process
Photography by Emily Hary Photography
Iceland elopements can feel pretty overwhelming when you’re staring at endless Pinterest boards from 4,000 miles away, but not for Andy and Amanda. They had a secret weapon.
“Emily did most of the work,” Amanda laughed.
Emily became their Iceland insider, connecting them with the perfect local vendors and scouting locations that matched their vision. Think full-service planning wrapped up with world-class photography.
For Amanda’s bouquet, Emily recommended Thordisz, a local florist who totally understood the “beautiful but won’t fall apart while hiking to a waterfall” brief. Amanda’s dress came from Bridal Couture Plymouth, where Jacqueline worked some serious magic.
“Jacqueline was a dream to work with. She understood the vision and really helped me find and style the perfect look. It turned out perfectly. The dress was surprising easy to hike in and somehow still looked amazing the entire time.” Amanda said.
Shop our favorite elopement dresses
Andy’s custom suit from Manno Clothing was built to handle whatever Iceland threw at them—wind, rain, or random snow flurries in July. They added personal touches too: embroidered shirt sleeves and custom vow books (which, in true couple fashion, they almost forgot to actually write in before the trip).
Emily crafted a location-hopping itinerary for both days and even arranged a private super jeep tour into Iceland’s backcountry highlands—the kind of places you can’t reach in a regular rental car. What started as “we want to elope somewhere cool” turned into a completely seamless, all-inclusive adventure tailored just for them.
Ready to make your own elopement magic happen? Learn how to elope here.
Permits, Weather & Leave No Trace
Photography by Emily Hary Photography
One of the biggest gifts of eloping in Iceland is the accessibility of its wild beauty. Since Andy and Amanda were legally married in the U.S. beforehand, no permit was required for their ceremony locations. Still, they followed Leave No Trace principles carefully, because when nature is your wedding venue, you want to leave it exactly as beautiful as you found it.
Learn more about leaving no trace during your adventure.
Now, let’s talk about Iceland’s real wild card: the weather. Emily’s been doing this long enough to know the drill.
“Layers are everything,” she stressed. “Rain jackets, waterproof boots, thermal gear, and mindset flexibility are non-negotiables.” The willingness to roll with whatever Mother Nature throws at you? That is what separates a good elopement from an unforgettable one.
Good thing Andy and Amanda came prepared. Despite getting hammered with hail and sideways rain early in the day, they stayed warm, dry, and completely in their element.
Amanda still can’t believe how it all worked out: “We even got lucky on the weather. It hailed in the morning while we were getting ready and rained the entire drive. But by the time we got out of the car, the weather cleared and it was perfect for the rest of the day.”
Sometimes Iceland rewards the brave with perfect timing.
Day One: Rainbows, Haifoss, Hot Dogs & Skogafoss Vows
Andy and Amanda started their wedding day at Black Beach Suites on Iceland’s southern coast, where Mother Nature decided to throw them a little bit of everything—rain, hail, and then, like a peace offering, a perfect rainbow. They got ready together casually while their friends trickled in. No dramatic reveals or nerve-wracking first looks, just the easy comfort of two people who couldn’t wait to marry each other.
The first adventure of the day: a scenic roadside turf house, then the main event: Haifoss, Iceland’s tallest waterfall. The hike down was cold, wet, and absolutely worth every slippery step.
“Watching them see Haifoss for the first time from the top and the bottom was priceless. It’s such a tall powerful waterfall. Hiking down to it gives more life to it. There was still snowpack at the bottom of the falls, which made for some interesting textures and compositions.” Emily shared.
After refueling with Iceland’s legendary gas station hot dogs, the group headed to that evening’s main event at Skogafoss—one of Iceland’s most iconic waterfalls and the perfect backdrop for saying “I do.”
With Amanda’s brother officiating and the waterfall’s mist creating the most natural special effects you could ask for, they exchanged vows as soft golden light settled over the canyon.
Then came portraits on the nearby black sand beach. Amanda was wrapped in a gorgeous faux fur coat, while Andy looked sharp in his custom suit, both of them radiating that unmistakable just-married glow
Day Two: Super Jeep Adventures in a Secluded Valley
Day two was all about going where regular cars fear to tread. Andy and Amanda climbed into a super jeep with Midgard Adventure for a private tour that Emily had arranged
They wandered past glaciers and craggy peaks, explored caves, and hiked to a panoramic viewpoint that made them feel like the only people on earth.
“It was relaxed, exclusive, and peaceful,” Emily reflected. “It’s one of my favorite elopement days I’ve ever been part of.”
Amanda couldn’t agree more. “There was no agenda except to enjoy nature together. It was just us. That’s what made it perfect.”
Sometimes the best wedding memories happen when you venture off the beaten path—literally.
If Iceland is calling your name too, check out our elopement timeline to help you start planning your own adventure.
Photography by Emily Hary Photography
If you could give one piece of advice to a couple considering eloping, what would it be?
"Don't let certain months of the year scare you away from doing what you want or going where you want. There are so many amazing locations and options out there. Find an elopement photographer that specializes in planning help you narrow down and guide you in crafting something that excites you! They can be a huge resource during your planning journey. Generating personalized ideas for you is part of their job!"
Advice from the Couple
Photography by Emily Hary Photography
Andy and Amanda have some real talk for anyone considering the elopement route; honest, practical advice that comes straight from the heart:
Trust your gut
“If a big wedding doesn’t feel like you, skip it. Eloping was the best decision we made.”
Don’t be afraid of the weather.
“We planned for all conditions and ended up getting every kind of weather in 24 hours—hail, rain, sun, and clear skies.”
Invest in the experience
“Our trip cost around $15,000 for 7 days. It wasn’t cheap, but it was so worth it.”
Let your photographer be your guide
“Emily made everything easy. She knew the country, the vendors, the vibes. It was like having a planner and photographer in one.”
Do it for yourselves, not anyone else
“So many people told us they wish they’d done what we did.”
The Vendor Team
Photographer & Planner | Emily Hary Photography | @emilyharyphotography
Florals | Thordisz
Dress | Bridal Couture Plymouth
Suit | Manno Clothing
Tour & Super Jeep | Midgard Adventure
Final Reflection
Photography by Emily Hary Photography
Andy and Amanda didn’t just visit Iceland for their wedding—they let Iceland become part of their love story. They embraced every bit of its personality: the raw, dramatic beauty, the moody skies that changed by the hour, the slippery trails that kept them laughing, and those surprise rainbows that felt like personal gifts from the universe.
What made their elopement truly unforgettable wasn’t just the stunning backdrops (though let’s be honest, those didn’t hurt). It was watching them move through each moment with pure wonder—grateful for every soggy sock, every muddy boot print, every unexpected weather curveball that came their way. They turned what could have been obstacles into part of the adventure.
That’s the difference between just getting married somewhere beautiful and creating a story you’ll never stop telling: it’s not about controlling every detail or hiding from the elements. It’s about saying yes to the unknown, trusting each other completely, and finding magic in the messy, unscripted moments that no traditional wedding could ever replicate.
Some couples plan the perfect day. Andy and Amanda lived one instead.
Photos From this Elopement
