How to Plan for an Iceland Elopement as Iceland Borders Open to US and UK | Destination Elopement Photographer and Planner

Is Iceland opening borders to travelers so you can now elope in Iceland?

Hold onto your butts my friends because I have some BIG NEWS. This is something I have been waiting for months and months to write about. THINGS ARE COMING UP MILHOUSE over here in Iceland! It was just announced that Iceland will be opening it’s borders to US and UK citizens starting March 18th who have been vaccinated (which might have already happened at time of you reading this!).

And then, starting May 1st, will also be opening borders to other countries in Europe with a color code system.

You heard that right, Iceland is opening it’s borders to vaccinated US and UK citizens which means you can plan your elopement in Iceland!

The plan has been announced by our Minister of Justice and also includes people with antibodies present. I am so happy to be able to welcome back my amazing couples from the US and UK with open arms. The vaccinations and certificates that will be accepted are the ones that are approved by the EU:

• COVID-19 Vaccine Moderna

• COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca

• Comirnaty; Pfizer BioNTech

• COVID-19 Vaccine Janssen

This new news is such a breath of fresh air for all of us in the elopement industry, as this past year has been such a rough one, and even more of an exciting announcement for alllllllllll of the couples who have had to wait for their dreams of eloping in Iceland to come true.

So now that this looks like a change in tides moving forward, should you elope in Iceland?

Below is some help on eloping in Iceland now that the borders are opening up and the timeline of steps to do so.

Deciding to elope in Iceland with the borders opening is an opportunity to feel freedom.

You have such a love for travel and this pandemic has not only made you stay locked in your house, but it has also taken away that feeling of being in a new country. Experiencing a new culture. Spending your money on things you will cherish. You know, that yearly travel fund you save up for has just been sitting there WAITING to take you somewhere epic.

Now is the time to get that plane ticket and elope in Iceland with your love.

Perhaps you were even thinking about having a wedding at home but just didn’t do it for some reason. Maybe this is that some reason and this can be your permission slip to do what will make you feel happy, free, and your heart filled with adventure like you deep down always wanted.

How should you plan an adventure elopement in Iceland now that the borders are opening?

My guess is it will still be a little while until things are back to as much of a ‘normal’ as can happen. Things such as the plane schedules, tourism companies, and more being back to fully operational might take some time. And, things like local attractions and businesses having a capacity and distance restrictions are probably going to stick around for a while as everyone navigates these new border changes and the pandemic not being officially over, yet. As an elopement specialist and Icelandic local, here is my opinion on

a timeline for planning your elopement in Iceland for 2021 and 2022-

1. Get really excited about the opportunity and possibilities of an Iceland elopement. Instead of getting married inside a hotel ballroom or stuffy venue, you can get married in the fresh air underneath the cold water spray of a waterfall. Instead of having a reception with plated meals that cost $250 a head- you can have a custom picnic while sitting next to the sea cuddling in a wool blanket with your lifetime adventure buddy.
   If this sounds like something you would want, go all in, and say HECK YEAH. Even if you had a bigger wedding planned and the pandemic caused you to postpone or give you undue stress from trying to move all of your plans and vendors and venue and details and and and…. now you can have something that will be a TRUE adventure.

2. Make your appointments to get vaccinated and make sure you get a certificate of vaccination.

3. Look up the flights and see what your options are. I would still err on the side of caution for a few months and pick your elopement week vacation to be from July, 2021 onward.

4. Reach out to your favorite Iceland photographer and planner (* achem *) to get the ball rolling. When couples reach out to me I’m READY TO ROCK and their elopements start to get planned from the MOMENT they officially book.
   Everything is already set up for them, so planning an elopement in only a few weeks time is easy peasy.
   You won’t have to Google for hours upon hours on:
   - where to go
   - what to see
   - what to eat
   - who to hire for your elopement as other vendors
   - what to do ON your elopement day and all logistics
   - where to get a cake
   - Iceland 101 info so you are prepared for the country, culture, and safety
   - where to stay
   - what to pack
   - how to speak Icelandic because you’ll get helpful resources for anything you would need Icelandic for (and even a quick Icelandic lesson on the most important phrase here to learn!)
   And so many more things. So locking in your photographer & planner is a key step in this, even though I could seem bias,

   it really will take so much time, stress, and effort off your plate to have a last minute elopement with ease.

5. Get your wedding attire, this doesn’t have to be anything white, fancy, or expensive. Places I love are ASOS, Lu Lu’s, BHDLN, and more. You can get your wedding clothes, outdoor gear, travel gear, and everything within 2 weeks (typically).
   These wedding attire resources might help:
   - Elopement Style for Grooms and non-femme presenting folk
   - Best Elopement Wedding Dresses- The Ultimate Adventure Elopement Dress Guide
   - What to Wear on Your Winter Elopement
   - 6 Best Alternative Non-Traditional Wedding Dresses For Your Adventure Elopement

6. If you have been lucky enough to be able to save this past year from:
   - not using your funds for travel as you usually do as your quality time with your love
   - not having a conventional wedding anymore (or at all) saving you lots of dough
   - not going out to eat at restaurants as much as you typically do
   You can splurge a bit on your elopement or trip by hiring a helicopter tour (perhaps over the volcanic eruption zone we are about to have any day now in Iceland- how AMAZING would those elopement photos be????), a glacier hike tour, a super Jeep tour into the Highlands, a horse riding tour, book a 2nd or 3rd day of adventure with your photographer like into the Highlands or under the Northern Lights (wink), and so many more AMAZING experiences to really help ease your mind from the last year and be in the moment- in a positive way.

7. If you are planning more than 8 weeks out, you can declare your date and get legally married in Iceland. And, if you are having a last minute Iceland elopement you can always have a symbolic ceremony with the paperwork signing at home (giving you two times to celebrate!)

8. Book the rest of your accommodation for the trip.

9. Check if there are any last minute details you want to bring to make your elopement extra special and meaningful to you both. Like this elopement couple who brought family heirloom goblets and brought a beer from their favorite hometown brewery to drink out of the goblets.

10. Pack your bags, pack your masks, pack your extra hand sanitizer, and head to the airport to elope to the person of your dreams in the land of your dreams to have the adventure of a fricken LIFETIME. Say goodbye to the stress that has been built for the past year, embrace the wind at your face, and create something absolutely special that you will remember for the rest of your lives.
    

So there you have it, eloping in Iceland is not only available to you now, it is also a fricken adventure of a lifetime after the whirlwind of a year you have been through.

I hope this has been super helpful and I hope you’re feeling all sorts of excited! If you are wanting to get your elopement plans moving forward, reach out to schedule your phone call so we can get. it. going.

xoxo Steph