A Private South West Iceland Elopement at Sunset
A Private South West Iceland Elopement at Sunset
by a Local Iceland Elopement Photographer & Planner
What was originally planned for this September Iceland elopement for C&A had us adventuring to locations a few hours away from Reykjavik and on top of mountains, but, Iceland had other plans for us that day.
Ya know, the one thing I always say to my Iceland elopement and Iceland adventure session clients is that the best way to enjoy your time in Iceland while also getting the most out of Iceland is to basically have zero expectations and rather be in the moment with whatever is happening, mainly, outside.
So, the story goes like this — the morning of C&A’s private Iceland elopement started out as most Iceland elopements do with the couple getting ready in their hotel room together, all cute and stuff.
We started the day at their hotel, the Miðgarður Hotel by Center Hotels in Reykjavik. It was a nice, slow morning where they got ready together and avoided all of the typical, traditional wedding stressful BS that this part of the day usually has. After C had her hair and makeup finished, the couple put on their wedding attire, hiking boots, and outdoor wear and we took off.
C&A came to Iceland from Florida, which makes this part a bit ironic — on our way out of Reykjavik, before we could even get out of town, we were hit with a very random, not-seen-on-the-forecast, super rare and quick September blizzard.
This would be semi-normal in November through March, but, not in September. It took us all, and by us all I mean the entire city, by surprise. And, took our never-drives-in-or-sees-snow couple by even more surprise. Which, I know a little bit about because before I lived in Iceland, I also lived in Florida and can confirm that the entire time there, I never saw snow. (Cue A New Found Glory song ‘‘It Never Snows in Florida’’.)
Usually a blizzard or snow isn’t that big of a deal here, but, since it was in September, everyone was on summer tires as the law for winter studded tires is that you can change them November 1st. And last time I checked, September wasn’t November so no one on the road was prepared to deal with the snow and ice.
So, on our way out, the snow and ice starting falling like crazy, and C&A’s car started sliding everywhere. We ended up sitting in an N1 gas station for a little while waiting for this storm to pass because we were in a precarious position where the car wouldn’t get traction and we were at the bottom of a huge hill on the way out of town.
This is the part of the story where though it’s a disruption to the day, I personally love and get to create something new on the fly with my two-decades of experience under my belt.
I love problem solving in real time, it feels exciting and spontaneous and like this is what was meant to happen, instead. C&A totally understood that what we had planned for the day was just not going to happen anymore because you do NOT want to attempt to drive up mountain passes in the snow on summer tires. Like all of my awesome clients, they were totally game for an about face Plan B.
I created an entirely new location itinerary for the day and once the blizzard passed we took off in a completely different direction.
C&A’s Iceland elopement adventure ended up being only about an hour outside of Reykjavík and we made it in time for their sunset elopement ceremony.
We had a private day of adventure taking them to black sand beaches, volcanic lava stacks, moss fields, and gorgeous lakes. This elopement was one for the books and so much fun even when the plans totally needed to change (and, a flat tire needed to be fixed).
