Iceland
Getting married in Iceland
Waterfalls and black-sand beaches on the South Coast, icebergs at Jökulsárlón, the rift valley of Þingvellir on the Golden Circle, colourful Reykjavík, Snæfellsnes beneath its glacier, and Akureyri on its northern fjord.
Iceland is a volcanic island just south of the Arctic Circle, of glaciers, waterfalls and black-sand beaches, and its wedding seasons follow the light: the bright nights of summer, from late May to late July, then the dark months, from late August to April, when the northern lights can show on clear nights.
Couples from abroad can marry here legally, without living here: before a district commissioner, a Church of Iceland priest or the officiant of another registered faith or life-stance group — even outdoors. Others sign the papers at home and celebrate here with a symbolic ceremony, by a waterfall, on a black-sand beach or beneath a glacier.
6 places
Where in Iceland
City, waterfalls, glaciers or fjords: each has its own light, landscape and best months. Start with the one that feels like you.
- Reykjavík & ReykjanesA small, colourful capital on its bay, an island church a few minutes away by ferry, and the lava fields, steaming ground and sea cliffs of Reykjanes on the road to the airport.Best: Jun · Jul · AugPhotographers joining
The Golden CircleThe rift valley of Þingvellir, where Iceland’s assembly met for nearly nine centuries, the hot springs of Geysir and the double fall of Gullfoss — a loop that starts less than an hour from Reykjavík.Best: Jun · Jul · AugPhotographers joining
The South Coast & VíkWaterfalls pouring off the old sea cliffs, black-sand beaches with basalt columns and sea stacks, and the red-roofed church above Vík — Iceland’s classic coast for an elopement.Best: Jun · Jul · AugPhotographers joining
Jökulsárlón & the EastIcebergs drifting across a glacier lagoon, ice washed up on a black beach, Vestrahorn above the dunes of Stokksnes and the quiet fjords of the East.Best: Jun · Jul · AugPhotographers joining
Snæfellsnes PeninsulaKirkjufell above its waterfalls, the black church at Búðir, sea arches at Arnarstapi and a glacier-capped volcano at the tip — a peninsula a short drive from Reykjavík.Best: Jun · Jul · AugPhotographers joining
Akureyri & the NorthThe North’s small capital at the head of a long fjord, with Goðafoss, Lake Mývatn and the whale-watching harbour of Húsavík a short drive away — and the midnight sun in June.Best: Jun · Jul · AugPhotographers joining
Through the year
When to marry, region by region
Dark: the easiest months. Outlined: they work with some planning. Grey: the quieter, wetter or hotter part of the year there.
- Reykjavík & Reykjanes
- January: Quieter
- February: Good with planning
- March: Good with planning
- April: Good with planning
- May: Good with planning
- June: Best
- July: Best
- August: Best
- September: Good with planning
- October: Good with planning
- November: Quieter
- December: Quieter
- The Golden Circle
- January: Quieter
- February: Good with planning
- March: Good with planning
- April: Quieter
- May: Good with planning
- June: Best
- July: Best
- August: Best
- September: Good with planning
- October: Good with planning
- November: Quieter
- December: Quieter
- The South Coast & Vík
- January: Quieter
- February: Quieter
- March: Good with planning
- April: Quieter
- May: Good with planning
- June: Best
- July: Best
- August: Best
- September: Good with planning
- October: Good with planning
- November: Quieter
- December: Quieter
- Jökulsárlón & the East
- January: Quieter
- February: Good with planning
- March: Good with planning
- April: Quieter
- May: Good with planning
- June: Best
- July: Best
- August: Best
- September: Good with planning
- October: Quieter
- November: Quieter
- December: Quieter
- Snæfellsnes Peninsula
- January: Quieter
- February: Good with planning
- March: Good with planning
- April: Quieter
- May: Good with planning
- June: Best
- July: Best
- August: Best
- September: Good with planning
- October: Quieter
- November: Quieter
- December: Quieter
- Akureyri & the North
- January: Quieter
- February: Good with planning
- March: Good with planning
- April: Quieter
- May: Good with planning
- June: Best
- July: Best
- August: Best
- September: Good with planning
- October: Quieter
- November: Quieter
- December: Quieter
The seasons
What each season brings
- April – MaySpringThe light comes back fast: by mid-May the sun sets after half past ten in Reykjavík. Snow lingers on the mountains and the highland roads stay closed; the days are cool, around 7 to 10 °C, and the weather changes by the hour.
- June – AugustSummerNights that never get dark, from late May to late July: in Reykjavík the sun sets just after midnight and rises before three. Cool, changeable days, 13 to 15 °C at best. July and August are the busiest months, hotels nearly nine in ten full: book early, and budget for prices about 70% above the EU average.
- September – OctoberAutumnThe nights darken again, and from late August the northern lights can show on clear nights. The heath turns red and gold and the summer rush is over, but rain and wind return — in Reykjavík it rains on about half the days in September — and the highland roads close from mid-September.
- November – MarchWinterShort days — about four hours of daylight in Reykjavík at the winter solstice, the sun low all day — and long nights for the northern lights, which need a dark, partly clear sky. Snow, ice and storms can stop travel at short notice: leave a spare day, and check safetravel.is before you drive.
The legal basics
Three ways to say yes
What makes a wedding legally binding in Iceland, in short. Couples from abroad can marry here legally — even outdoors — with some paperwork first.
- CivilA district commissioner (sýslumaður) or a law-trained deputy marries you before two witnesses, at their office — the capital-area office allows up to eight guests — or, if the office agrees, elsewhere or after hours, for an extra fee. You don’t have to live in Iceland to marry this way. Since 2010, same-sex couples can marry too.
- ReligiousA priest of the Church of Iceland, the Lutheran national church, marries you legally — in a church, at home or outdoors — and so do the officiants of other registered faith and life-stance groups, such as Ásatrúarfélagið (the old Norse faith) and the humanist Siðmennt. All need the commissioner’s certificate first; some churches also ask that one of you be a member.
- SymbolicAny place, any words, any celebrant — but no legal weight; a celebrant from abroad can’t marry you legally here. Many couples sign the papers at home and celebrate here, by a waterfall or on a black-sand beach. In national parks and other protected areas, events, professional shoots and drones may need a permit from the park or the Nature Conservation Agency.
Before any legal wedding
First the commissioner checks that you are free to marry — one office, in the Westman Islands, does it for all of Iceland. Couples who live abroad send the form, signed by two people who vouch for you, with, for each of you, a birth certificate, a certificate of marital status no more than 12 weeks old and a notarised copy of your passport and, if either of you was married before, proof that the marriage ended and its property was divided; a certified translation or an apostille may be asked for. The check usually takes about a week and costs ISK 6,700; the certificate lasts 30 days, so send the papers a few weeks before the date. A ceremony at a commissioner’s office costs ISK 15,400.
Rules, documents and fees change and depend on your nationality: always check with the district commissioner — or, for a religious wedding, your officiant — and, for a ceremony in a national park or other protected area, with the park, before you set a date.
Photographers
Photographers in Iceland
The first photographers in Iceland are joining now
We approve every photographer by hand, from three whole weddings, so the list starts small. Tell our concierge your date and your plans — it checks who is free and fits.
Plan your wedding
Guides
- Which country for a destination wedding? The law, prices, crowds and light, comparedThe legal route for couples who don’t live there, season and crowds, price levels, light, flights, venues and permits for photographs — Portugal, Italy, Spain, Greece, France and Austria compared with official figures, as of October 2026.
- How to choose a wedding photographer: the steps, and the questions to askThe decision in order — whole weddings, style, availability, the package, the contract and deposit, cancellation, delivery and a conversation — then a checklist of questions, with why each one matters.
- A wedding-day timeline for photosFrom getting ready to the last dance, planned around the light.
- A rain plan that still looks goodCovered spots, umbrellas and what photographers do on grey days.
- Deposits and payment protectionWhat you pay when, and what happens if plans change.
- Wedding photography contract checklist: what it should say, and how Lens & Vows handles each pointThirteen things a good contract covers — the day and the hours, what is delivered, deposit and balance, cancellation on either side, date changes, illness, image rights, personal data, backups, travel, overtime and complaints — and what our terms say about each.
All the countries we work in · More countries are coming.
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Tell us about your wedding — we’ll find who is free
The place, the date, the guests, the photos you like. Our concierge checks who is free and fits, and comes back with photographers to choose from.