Wind, Mist & Love: A Real Iceland Elopement Story

Yaël Bar Cohen
Aug 5
2 min read

When I met Samantha and Alec, I knew right away: this was going to be one of those unforgettable days.

The kind of couple who says yes before you finish the question. Who climbs the highest rock without hesitation. Who laughs when the waterfall soaks their clothes and just holds each other tighter.

⁠We started the day at Kvernufoss - tucked away, roaring, and completely ours. From there, we continued to Skógafoss. The usual access path was blocked by a new river that formed there, but they didn’t blink - ran straight into the cold water, got drenched in mist, and looked even more connected because of it.

Then, we wandered to a black sand beach near Vík, completely empty, just the three of us and the wind. I sent the drone up for stills and video, while they walked along the shore, laughing and leaning into each other, the waves crashing behind them.

Suddenly, I heard a sharp whistle. I looked up and saw a small herd of horses walking across the beach. The drone had flown a bit too close, and the first horse had stopped in its tracks. The guide whistled for me to move it away. Once I did - magic. I took some of my favorite photos of the whole day: Samantha and Alec, barefoot in the black sand, and the horses behind them, their manes wild in the wind. For a moment, they looked like unicorns.

They embraced every element, every unpredictable part of the day. It wasn’t about perfection. It was about presence.

Between the climbing, the wild wind, and all the wet clothes, there were these quiet moments. Glances. Laughter. Hands held tight. A kind of love that doesn’t need a stage to be seen - it just shows up, fully.

And maybe that’s what makes eloping in Iceland so powerful. The land pulls everything back to the core. No fluff. Just two people who trust each other enough to go all in.

Samantha and Alec aren’t just adventurous. They’re grounded. You can feel it. They’re raising foster kids together, which they didn’t mention like a headline, just like something they do because they care. That energy? It shaped everything.

This wasn’t just a beautiful shoot. It was a reminder of why I do this. "Yael did our photo session in the south coast. She gave amazing suggestions on locations which were much appreciated and in the end, was the best choice! We had such a fantastic day with her! She pushed creative limits and encouraged us to go for the great photos. In the end, we loved the final product and will cherish these photos for many, many years to come. I would absolutely work with her again and again." - Samantha Rieger