Iceland Elopement Style Guide for Grooms & Masc Presenting for Adventure Weddings | Local Iceland Elopement Photographer & Planner
Iceland Elopement Style Guide for Grooms & Masc Presenting for Adventure Weddings | Local Iceland Elopement Photographer & Planner
Something rarely written about or spoken about is Iceland Elopement Style for Grooms and Masc presenting folk, and I am here to change that!
There are so many options for brides on what to wear on your Iceland elopement wedding, how to do your hair, what kind of florals. There are so many resources out there from blogs to Pinterest on suggestions and ideas, but I hardly ever see anything for non-brides or femme presenting getting married! Many of my clients ask me ‘what should we wear and what should we pack!’. Well my friends, in this blog I will give you an Iceland Elopement Style Guide for Grooms and Masc Presenting folk!
Don’t be afraid of color on your Iceland elopement!
When you are out in some of the most epic Icelandic landscapes, especially mountain landscapes, a pop of color looks amazing. It really makes you and your boo stand out from the environment in the photos. Though the traditional black is always classic and nice, being a bit bold and having a colorful suit will give your photos an extra added touch.
Your Iceland elopement is also special for you, so wear something that also makes you feel special for your day. This suit here is an amazing color against natural landscapes!
2. Wear something that makes you feel comfortable, it’s your Iceland Elopement Wedding, after all.
If a suit or tux isn’t for you because the thought of hiking in Iceland with it seems cumbersome— that is totally ok!
Wear something that makes you feel like you and not like there is an imposter in some clothes acting like you. You are choosing to elope in Iceland to make your day about your celebration and your love, so you can literally do whatever you want. Don’t shy away from wearing something that makes you feel at ease and ready for the day. This is a nice alternative to a suit if you still wanted something other than a t-shirt.
3. Pick a suit that you can move around in for climbing on your Iceland elopement locations.
This is important for all of the climates Iceland has to offer.
For Iceland’s colder months or elopements with a lot of hiking involved, you want a suit that will not make you sweat too much. Sweating in a colder climate could be a recipe for disaster later in the day once the sun starts setting.
I suggest a Coolmax Slim Fit suit for the hiking elopement locations. For Iceland’s warmer months and other elopement locations with warm beaches such as Greece, the Tropics, Mexico, etc- having a suit that is breathable that you will not over heat in is key. Here is a great round up of some perfect summer suits.
4. Make sure you have waterproof or resistant footwear with a tread on the bottom for your Iceland elopement locations.
I can not stress this enough for Iceland elopements with mountain, hiking, and in volcanic areas. And really, all of Iceland's locations need waterproof or water resistant footwear because Iceland is actually considered a wetland. So though dress shoes may traditionally look nice, they are not the best for Iceland elopements.
If you are eloping in Iceland’s few flat areas such as beach locations or something in civilization, you do not need tread, however, if there is snow on the sand you will wish you did.
For most any locations here in Iceland, I highly suggest tread, ankle support, and waterproof. The areas you might be hiking through could be wet, muddy, rocky, slick lava rock, snowy, and slippery. Tread on the bottom will be key to helping you make it safely and not have to worry about anything but enjoying your moment of celebration with your boo. If you want dress shoes that are flat on the bottom, you can always bring them in your backpack and we can switch them out once we get to the elopement location. If not, that is also OK.
I personally LOVE the look of hiking boots with formal wear for both suits and dresses. I often hike around here in Iceland a lot in my All Weather Vans. I love them, so if you don’t want a hiking boot these could be a great option!
5. Bring something that will keep you warm during your Iceland elopement.
Though a lot of the photos you probably see in blogs and Instagram in Iceland are outerwear free, Iceland and other colder climates are pretty chilly year round. So pack something that will keep you warm and also save you from the wind.
A winter parka, depending on the climate of your elopement location, is not a bad idea. Once you get to the area for photos, I will take the coats from the couple and hold them in my arms as I take epic photos of them loving on each other. Then right after taking the Iceland elopement photo, I run back and hand them their coats.
So, even though you don’t see the outerwear in the Iceland elopement photos, chances are the couple in the photos are wearing them. I also suggest scarves, gloves, wool socks, and thermals for underneath. Ethically sourced wool and other sustainable, eco friendly materials is a big plus plus plus.
6. The power of layers & not wearing cotton for your Iceland elopement.
Layers, I love layers, especially here in Iceland.
In fact, I love layers so much I am going to write an entire blog on it. But for now, here is the skinny of it. They help wick moisture from your skin, they help keep you dry, they protect you, they insulate you, AND they help keep you from overheating.
Here is the quick story of how to wear layers in Iceland:
Base Layer: This is your under layer. You want something that will wick away moisture as you sweat. This should be a polyester or wool, and not cotton. You want to keep your body dry, have a layer that wicks the sweat away from the skin, will disperse the sweat across the garment, which will eventually evaporate. For hiking in sunny areas, a base layer with UV Protection is ideal.
Mid Layer: This is your insulating layer. This layer is what will help you regulate your heat. This can also be an outer layer in the water months or warmer climates. You will want either a lightweight mid layer or a thicker mid layer to retain more of your heat. I suggest wool for this also, and not cotton. Cotton will just hold onto the dampness which you do not want on your body. (HOWEVER: If you have a dress shirt or suit that is mostly cotton and you will be doing a lot of hiking or out in the rainy elements, make sure you have a wool base layer and then a waterproof outer layer.)
Outer Layer: This is your shell layer. It shields you from the elements you might be in. I guess something that will keep warm enough with a massive hood to shield you from the wind and snow in the winter cold months, or a lighter and waterproof jacket in the spring / summer / fall in colder climates.
If you are eloping in one of Iceland’s warmer months, I still suggest having a light, packable, easy to roll up jacket that you keep in your backpack. Even in warmer months a rainstorm could hit you.
7. Gloves to keep your hands warm before and after exchanging your rings during your Iceland elopement.
This sort of goes without much explanation, but I won’t leave you hanging. In Iceland’s colder months the wind can be FIERCE. It doesn’t take very long for fingers to start cursing you out.
So, bring gloves to have with you for most of the elopement day and take them off only when necessary.
And, as far as socks go, wool socks are the best for Iceland and I don’t want to hear otherwise. ;) (Here is an article to back up my claims if you don’t believe me.)
I hope this helped put you on a path on what to pack and wear for your Iceland Elopement adventure out in the wild nature! If you would like to read some more, check these out!