Háifoss, Sigöldugljúfur, a picnic and a wild hot spring in Landmannalaugar, then a ceremony at Breiðabólstaðarkirkja, Reynisfjara, Kvernufoss and Skógafoss with 20 of their favourite people

When I asked Tracie and Jay why they wanted to elope instead of throwing a big wedding, their answer was four words long: “We want an epic adventure.” And when I asked how they imagined feeling on the day, they needed just one: “Epic!”

So that’s what we planned: two full days in Iceland with 20 of their closest family and friends from North Carolina. One day deep in the Highlands, and one day for their wedding.

Planning two days for 20 guests

I planned the whole trip around Tracie, Jay and their group. We had a bus so everyone could travel together, and a wonderful local guide, Miro from Icelandic Roamers, who knows the Highlands inside out. I organised sandwiches and water for the long days, because there are no shops or restaurants out there, and made a little PDF guide for the guests with the itinerary, what to wear, and what to pack for a wild hot spring. Mike from M Videography came along to film both days.

Day one: the Icelandic Highlands

We started at Háifoss, one of the tallest waterfalls in Iceland, on what was probably the hottest day of the summer: over 20°C, which in Iceland is practically a heatwave. I was 20 weeks pregnant and melting right along with everyone else.

From there we drove to Sigöldugljúfur, the “Valley of Tears”, a canyon full of little waterfalls on the edge of the Highlands, on the way to Landmannalaugar.

A picnic and a wild hot spring in Landmannalaugar

At the Landmannalaugar base camp, we had a picnic surrounded by colourful mountains. Then Jay jumped straight into the natural hot spring, where a hot stream meets a cold river, and we took photos of the two of them and all their guests. On the long drive back to Reykjavík, we kept stopping whenever the light was good, for more photos of the two of them and a few big group shots.

Day two: a wedding at Breiðabólstaðarkirkja

The next morning, the whole group got back on the bus, singing along to Going to the Chapel all the way there. Tracie and Jay got married in Breiðabólstaðarkirkja, a little wooden church in Fljótshlíð. Father Axel Árnason Njarðvík led the ceremony. He was warm and funny, and he made every word feel true to them. He asked Tracie and Jay to exchange their vows in the middle of the church, which he called the heart of the church. One of their friends said a beautiful prayer for them, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the room.

Reynisfjara, Kvernufoss and Skógafoss

After the ceremony, we headed along the South Coast: first to Reynisfjara black sand beach, then the hidden Kvernufoss, and finally Skógafoss. The area in front of Skógafoss was flooded that day, but Tracie and Jay didn’t hesitate. They took off their shoes and walked straight into the icy glacier water. So did I, 20 weeks pregnant, because some photos are worth cold feet.

Hákarl, kransakaka and Viking costumes at Ingólfsskáli

We ended the day with a three-course dinner at Ingólfsskáli. Tracie and Jay were brave enough to try hákarl, the famous fermented shark, and celebrated with a traditional Icelandic kransakaka, a tower of almond ring cakes made by Gina Christie, who makes custom wedding cakes in South Iceland. Then everyone raided the restaurant’s collection of Viking costumes, and the night ended with a lot of laughter.

One more souvenir: Jay found a whale bone at the Kolaportið flea market in Reykjavík. It turns out you can’t ship whale bones to the US, so it’s still wrapped in bubble wrap in my garage, waiting for them to visit again.

Watch their wedding film

A few weeks after the wedding, Jay wrote to me:

“Just want you to know how much we end up talking about this every day. It’s been amazing, with all of the people that went on the trip, how much we run into each other and talk about the time and how epic they felt the experience was.”

That’s exactly what I hope for every couple.

Planning a two-day Iceland elopement with guests

• Travel together. A bus keeps the group together, means nobody has to drive on Highland roads, and turns the drive into part of the celebration (singing optional, but highly recommended).
• Bring food. There are no restaurants in the Highlands. Plan picnics and snacks.
• Pack for everything. Even on a 20°C day, bring layers, and pack a swimsuit if a hot spring is on the plan.
• Give your guests a guide. A simple itinerary with what to wear and what to bring saves everyone a lot of questions.
• Two days means less rush. One day for adventure and one for the wedding gives you time to enjoy both, and a backup if the weather turns.

Tracie and Jay, thank you for trusting me with your two days, your people, and your epic adventure. See you in December, and your whale bone will be waiting!

Dreaming of a two-day adventure in Iceland with your favourite people? See my packages or let’s plan it together.