By Joel Reyes, Destination Elopement Photographer
Last updated: March 2026
Saying your vows under the Northern Lights is one of the most extraordinary things a couple can experience. It’s also one of the hardest to plan because the aurora is unpredictable. Here’s how to maximize your chances.
When to See the Northern Lights in Iceland
The aurora borealis is visible in Iceland from September through March, with peak activity from October through February. You need:
1. Darkness. The sun must be below the horizon. This rules out summer entirely.
2. Clear skies. Cloud cover blocks the aurora. Iceland is notoriously cloudy.
3. Solar activity. The aurora is driven by solar wind. Higher KP index = stronger aurora.
Best months: October, February, and March offer a balance of dark skies, reasonable weather, and enough daylight for daytime portraits.
How to Maximize Your Chances
Stay multiple nights. One night gives you maybe a 30% chance. Three nights pushes it above 70%. Five nights and you’re almost guaranteed at least one sighting.
Monitor the forecast. The Icelandic Met Office (vedur.is) provides a cloud cover and aurora forecast. Check it daily.
Be mobile. If it’s cloudy where you are, drive toward clear skies. Having a rental car is essential. I track the forecast in real time during elopement shoots and will drive 30+ minutes to find a clear patch.
Get away from Reykjavik. Light pollution in the city washes out weaker displays. Drive at least 20 minutes outside the city for darker skies.
Stay awake. Peak aurora activity is often between 10 PM and 2 AM. Some displays start as early as 9 PM.
Best Locations for Northern Lights Photos
Vik and Reynisfjara: Dark skies, dramatic foreground elements (sea stacks, black sand), and no light pollution.
Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon: The aurora reflected in the lagoon water with icebergs is one of the most photographed scenes in Iceland.
Budir (Snaefellsnes): The black church with the aurora overhead is iconic.
Thingvellir National Park: Close to Reykjavik (45 minutes), dark skies, and the tectonic plates as foreground.
Diamond Beach: Ice chunks on black sand reflecting green and purple auroral light.
Northern Lights Elopement Timeline
This is how I structure a winter Iceland elopement to maximize aurora chances:
Afternoon (1 to 4 PM): Ceremony and portraits during the short winter daylight. South Coast waterfalls, black sand beaches, or glaciers.
Sunset (3:30 to 4:30 PM in winter): Golden and blue hour portraits. Iceland’s low winter sun creates extended golden light that lasts much longer than in warmer climates.
Evening (6 to 9 PM): Dinner and rest. Check the aurora forecast.
Night (9 PM to midnight): If the forecast looks good, we head out for Northern Lights portraits. I’ll find the darkest, clearest location within driving range.
The result: you get both daytime adventure portraits AND Northern Lights photos in a single elopement day.
Camera Settings and What to Expect
Your photographer (me) handles all the technical details, but here’s what to expect:
Northern Lights photos require long exposures. You’ll need to hold still for 2 to 8 seconds per frame. I’ll guide your poses to minimize movement.
The aurora moves. Sometimes it’s a faint green glow on the horizon. Other times it fills the sky with curtains of green, purple, and pink that dance overhead. You can’t predict which you’ll get.
The camera captures more color than the eye. Modern cameras pick up vivid greens and purples that may appear more subtle to the naked eye. The photos will be stunning either way.
What If the Northern Lights Don’t Appear?
This is the reality of aurora chasing: sometimes the sky doesn’t cooperate. That’s why I always plan a complete elopement experience that stands on its own without the aurora. The Northern Lights are the bonus, not the entire plan.
Iceland in winter is dramatic and beautiful regardless: moody skies, snow-covered mountains, ice caves, and that extraordinary low-angle winter light.
[Plan Your Northern Lights Elopement →]
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