Iceland · West Iceland · Location guide

Snæfellsnes Elopement

Snæfellsnes is often called Iceland in miniature: a glacier-topped volcano, sea cliffs and stone arches, black beaches, lava fields covered in moss, a famous mountain and a black church, all within a day’s drive. It is a little over two hours from Reykjavík and much quieter than the South Coast. I have filmed more than fifteen weddings and elopements on the peninsula since 2018 – here is how I would plan one.

A couple by Kirkjufellsfoss with Kirkjufell mountain behind them

Where: West Iceland – about 2–2.5 hours from Reykjavík
Best for: Elopements that move between several places in one day
When: All year; my couples come most often from June to October
Weddings I have filmed here: More than fifteen since 2018

Búðir and the black church

On the south side of the peninsula, the black church at Búðir and Hótel Búðir next to it are where many of my Snæfellsnes days begin or end. It is the best option on the peninsula for a ceremony inside a church; I have written a separate guide to getting married at Búðir church.

Arnarstapi and Hellnar

A twenty-minute drive west, the coast between Arnarstapi and Hellnar is a line of basalt cliffs, sea caves and a stone arch where seabirds nest in summer. An easy coastal path connects the two villages. It is a beautiful place for portraits, with the glacier behind you and the ocean below.

A couple on the sea cliffs of the Snæfellsnes coast

A couple on top of the stone arch at Arnarstapi above the sea

This stretch of coast is protected: drones can be flown here only with a professional permit, all year round, which I apply for in advance when a couple wants aerial shots.

Djúpalónssandur

On the western tip of the peninsula, inside Snæfellsjökull National Park, a path leads down through lava formations to Djúpalónssandur, a beach of smooth black pebbles and the rusty remains of a shipwreck. Fishermen used to test their strength on the lifting stones that still lie by the path. Like the beaches on the South Coast, it has dangerous sneaker waves, so we stay well back from the water.

Kirkjufell

On the north side, near the town of Grundarfjörður, Kirkjufell is the cone-shaped mountain you have probably seen on a thousand postcards, with the small Kirkjufellsfoss waterfall in front of it. It is busy around the waterfall in the middle of the day, but in the early morning or evening light it is one of the most beautiful places on the peninsula. The mountain itself is steep and has seen several fatal falls – after them the landowners banned climbing for a time – so we stay at the viewpoints and on the paths.

A couple standing small below Kirkjufell mountain on Snæfellsnes — Kirkjufell from the meadows on the north side of the peninsula.

A typical Snæfellsnes day

Because the places are spread around the peninsula, I usually plan a loop: getting ready at Búðir, the ceremony at the church or on the coast, then Arnarstapi and Djúpalónssandur in the afternoon and Kirkjufell in the evening light. In summer that is a long, relaxed day; in midwinter, with only four or five hours of daylight, we choose two or three places instead. In the dark months there is also a good chance of northern lights on a clear night, far away from the lights of Reykjavík.

Northern lights over Snæfellsnes on the evening of an elopement

Where to stay: Hótel Búðir on the south side, or Grundarfjörður and Stykkishólmur on the north side.
Drive: a little over two hours from Reykjavík to Búðir; the full loop around the peninsula is about three hours of driving.
Weather: it changes quickly and the north and south sides often have different weather – one more reason to keep the plan flexible.

Aerial view of the Snæfellsnes coastline on a clear day

More about the legal side and the seasons is in my guide on how to elope in Iceland.

Planning your elopement on Snæfellsnes?

Tell me your date and place – I’ll let you know if I’m free.

Check your date

Questions about eloping on Snæfellsnes

How long do we need for a Snæfellsnes elopement?

One full day is enough to see Búðir, Arnarstapi, Djúpalónssandur and Kirkjufell in summer. Most couples stay one or two nights on the peninsula to make the day relaxed.

Can we fly a drone at Arnarstapi?

The coast between Arnarstapi and Hellnar is protected and drones there need a professional permit all year; in Snæfellsjökull National Park the same applies from May to mid-September. I apply for the permits in advance.

Can we climb Kirkjufell?

I would not plan it for a wedding day. The mountain is steep and has seen several fatal falls, and the landowners have banned climbing for periods. The views of Kirkjufell are best from below anyway.

Is Snæfellsnes good in winter?

Yes – it is quieter than the South Coast and the northern lights can be seen on clear nights. With only a few hours of daylight in midwinter, we choose two or three places instead of the whole loop.