Welcome to Vestrahorn Iceland! If you haven’t heard of this gorgeous little nugget of beauty, you’re in for a treat! As a worldwide elopement photographer, you’ll catch Honeybee Photography bringing you the best of the best from around the globe. FIRST, check out general info on Iceland, THEN we’re going to niche down and give you all the deets with our Vestrahorn Iceland elopement guide. Pstt, this has been on our radar since 2022! You heard it here first: Top Elopement Location Trends of 2022. Buckle up, baby!

American’s Guide to Eloping in Iceland

Where is Vestrahorn Iceland?

According to Hertz, Iceland covers approximately 103,000 square kilometers (39,768 square miles), making it slightly larger than Hungary and about the same size as the U.S. state of Colorado (go Avalanche!!) Yet, with its vast lava fields, towering mountains, volcanic plateaus, and massive glaciers, Iceland feels much more expansive. 

You can see why narrowing down on where is so important! Colorado is big AF! During the Vestrahorn Iceland elopement guide writing process, I knew it was important to get to the nitty gritty with you. Vestrahorn is to the verrrrry East. To put it in perspective, it takes almost 4 hours by car to get to the South, where Reynisfjara Beach is.

Where to Elope in Southern Iceland

Important to note that Vestrahorn, Vesturhorn, and Stokksnes are all names for the same place. Framed by the Vestrahorn black sand beach, the Vestrahorn Mountain, and Stokksness are beautiful at all times of the day. The area is approximately a ten-minute drive away from Höfn. Pro Tip: the beach is a private residence and costs about $7 to visit. It’s a popular destination so prepare for other tourists and photographers. 

This is your sign to rent a jeep with a sunroof AND a driver. I mean come onnnnnn. On your wedding day, you should be cozy in the back seat or adventuring like a dog with your head out the window. Not worrying about driving. Also by having a driver, you are getting someone who understands the terrain and can get you from one place to another quickly and safely. Iceland is the most sparsely populated country in Europe, so having someone very familiar with the area is invaluable. 

Vestrahorn Mountain Travel Guide

How do you get to Vestrahorn Iceland?

To get to Vestrahorn, Iceland, you can fly into Keflavík International Airport (KEF) near Reykjavík. Then you have a couple of choices. You can take a puddle jumper and fly into Hornafjörður Airport (HFN), just outside Höfn. OR!! You can drive from Reykjavík to Vestrahorn along the Ring Road, which takes about 6-7 hours.

I know, it sounds like a long drive BUT. Hear me out. You’re going to need to rent a car anyway. Iceland is expensive, and if we’re checking out the gorgeous mountains and epic glaciers, you might as well start the adventure from the tippy top. Grab some snacks, put on some tunes, and explore the great outdoors!

ORRR, take your Vestrahorn, Iceland elopement up another notch! Get this, you can travel to Iceland through the MS Norrona ferry from Denmark. It will take about a week, but you can have your own car and stop along the way – the Faroe Islands are absolutely incredible if you have the time!

The ferry (kind of like a cruise/ferry situation, and we’re here for it) ports in East Iceland! Many of my couples have a combo elopement/honeymoon, so this is a great way to hit both HARD! We’re kicking off the REST of your life with your favorite person ever. Let’s make all the memories!!

Where you’ll want to elope in Vestrahorn Iceland

First of all, the Vestrahorn Mountain in Stokksnes is insane– you and your partner can WALK ON WATER. Yes, the caps were necessary. Check this out!! By eloping, you can literally consider anywhere as your wedding venue.

Lighthouse 

A skimmed over element in Iceland is the lighthouses. We love a lighthouse like a romance book loves only one room left at a hotel, mmkay? The Stokksnes Lighthouse is gorgeous. Watch the waves crashing below, inhale the salty adventure below, and let your partner be the light of your life.

Black Sand Beaches

One of Iceland’s most notable features is Vestrahorn Beach. The infamous black sand beaches, and it truly lives up to the hype. It’s one thing to see photos, but to be there and experience it?? An elopement you’ll be talking about forever. 

Viking Village

If you’re into Vikings, one: we love you. Two: checking out the Viking Village is a MUST! Fun fact: the Viking village was built as a film set for a movie that was never shot. We kind of dig the erriness of that. 

You and your love can stroll through the wooden houses with thatched roofs, see intricate carvings and decorations. You can lose yourselves in the fascinating world of the Vikings!

Added bonus, they added a fucking Viking SHIP a few years ago. The ship bears the name “DRAKAR” and is a replica of the famous Gokstad ship, a longship the Vikings used for trade, exploration, and warfare.

Viking Iceland Vow Renewal

Mulagljufur Canyon

This canyon is an hour and a half drive from Vestrahorn! Totally a must see.  Jórunn, an Icelandic nature lover and blogger, says, “Múlagljúfur Canyon is simply a must do hike when in the area around the Glacier Lagoon in South East Iceland. Amazing trail along a magnificent canyon offering a few waterfalls and breathtaking views along the way. This trail has been relatively unknown until now, even though it’s only a short drive from the main road. In recent years its popularity has increased tremendously and I’m convinced it will explode in the coming years.” You heard it from the expert first. Let’s make sure you get this hidden gem NOW. 

Northern Lights

Northern lights are never guaranteed, but an eloping couple has to try, right?? The peak months for Northern Lights viewing are November, December, and January. These months have the longest nights and most darkness, increasing the chances of seeing the aurora. Now, Vestrahorn is also a great place in Iceland to catch the lights as it’s less populous. Artificial city lights can obstruct the Northern Lights, so getting out of the big city is your best bet. We cannot guarantee that your wedding ceremony will take place under the Northern Lights, but we can freaking try to make sure you see it!!

Find Vendors in Vestrahorn Iceland

It can be SUPER intimidating to find vendors abroad, but that’s where we come in! Not only will we give you a vendor list for the things you want- think hair and make-up, dessert, officiant, we also seek out partnerships with LGBTQ+ vendors and allies! For Vi and Bryan’s Iceland Elopement at Reynisfjara we reached out to Pink Iceland, who slayed with Vi’s hair and makeup. Pink Iceland tells you front and center on their website, “We are a values based company owned and run by members of the LGBTQ+ community. We strive for equality, respect, honesty, sustainability & kindness. We hope you do too.” 

How to get married in Vestrahorn Iceland as a US citizen?

So, how quickly CAN you get married in Iceland? Pretty fricken fast if you have us planning with you and creating your personalized elopement package! We are here to help you, Americans IE foreigners get married in Iceland.

If you’re wondering how easy is it to get married in Iceland? It’s easier with us! We’ll help you submit the necessary documents at least three weeks before your wedding date – we can do this through email! Just make sure you have all your original documents ready to provide to the authorities, no later than 5 days before your wedding date in Iceland. Then decide on an officiant (Iceland recognizes both religious and non-religious ceremonies!) and who you want to be there (if more than just you two), and away we go! We’ve done this before, so you can count on us!

If you’d rather legally get married in the US, or the above process creates stress for you and your partner, head down to your local courthouse, sign the deal, and celebrate your love with your vows during a symbolic ceremony in Iceland! With this option, you won’t have to worry about the costs associated with having a celebrant, the Icelandic registry paperwork, or obtaining certificates of marital status. 

What is the downside of elopement?

Elopements are not for everyone! Especially with a distance this far from the United States, if you’re considering a micro wedding, not everyone may be able to make it. 

Traditions will also look different! 70% of our couples ask to include some sort of tradition in their elopement, even if it’s as simple as traditional vows or wearing a white dress. The most common reason why people want to elope is that they don’t want to feel required to do “traditional” on a large scale. You can still include classic wedding traditions for elopements, since this day is completely about you. Wear a white dress if you’d like, have a first look, enjoy some fucking cake!

10 Challenges Eloping Couples Face

NOW, if you want to go all in on Iceland, you can expand the tradition options!

An Iceland-specific tradition that’s really cool is The Midsummer Night Wedding: A Nod to Norse Mythology

Under the Midnight Sun

Given Iceland’s Norse roots, many couples opt for a midsummer night wedding. Under the ethereal glow of the midnight sun, these weddings are not only visually stunning but also resonate with ancient legends. Drawing inspiration from old sagas and Norse gods can lend a mythic aura to your nuptials.

Check out more Icelandic wedding traditions here. 

For traditions in general, you can integrate. We put together our own list for our couples: 6 Sweet Wedding Traditions for Elopements

Book Honeybee Weddings as your Elopement Photographer in Vestrahorn Iceland

We are beyond STOKED for your Iceland elopement!! We promise you’ll be so glad you went. Book our 1:1 call below and CHEERS TO THE BEST ADVENTURE EVER!