Weddings are an exciting time for any couple bold enough to pledge their love and vow to spend the rest of their lives together. It’s important to many couples to plan a wedding that fits the personality of a couple in order to make the most lasting memories, however, a destination wedding ceremony that many couples dream of can pose a challenge.
Let’s debunk the top five myths about Iceland weddings and see what it means to say “I Do” in this icy nation.
The government pays foreign men to marry Icelandic women
This myth came about due to the false notion that the female Icelandic population is greater than the male Icelandic population and women experience a shortage of husbands. Rumors spread on social media that the Icelandic government would pay foreign men thousands of dollars to marry eligible women.
The reality is that there is a minimal population gap in Iceland – 2016 reported there are 1,007 men for every 1,000 women nationally. There never has been a history of government cash-incentives to marry Icelandic women.
Destination weddings in Iceland are not legal outside the country
Iceland’s marriage license is recognized by most countries, so long as all the proper paperwork is filled out in an appropriate timeline. The documentation process needs to start at least eight weeks prior to the wedding and is a fairly painless process. Couples will need to send in the following: 1) a Marriage notification, 2) birth certificates, 3) certificate of marital status, 4) a divorce decree, if relevant, 5) valid passports, and 6) in the event either spouse is a widow/er documentation that the deceased’s estate is finalized.
Do note that the officiant must be legally licensed in Iceland to perform the ceremony.
Getting married in Iceland is cheap
Beauty comes at a cost, and this volcanic island nation is no exception. Unless the plan is to skip a ceremony and elope, hosting a wedding in one of the most expensive countries in the world is not ideal. Since Iceland has to import most of its resources, things like alcohol tends to be pricey. Hotels and restaurants come with hefty uncorking fees, and bringing along personal alcohol to the reception is not an option.
Planning a destination wedding is no small task and can benefit from the professional expertise of a local Iceland Wedding Planner. Destination and adventure weddings are the speciality of icelandweddingplanner.com; from finding the most picturesque and darking backdrops to avoiding tourist destinations and uniquely luxurious details, Iceland Wedding Planner knows how to create the day of a lifetime.
The Northern Lights occur year-round
Most couples choose Iceland as a destination wedding location for the immaculate landscape and scenery. If getting married under the Northern Lights is a life-long wedding goal, understand that the aurora borealis does not occur all year long. Iceland is one of the best places in the world to see the Northern Lights, thanks to an ideal latitude. The optimal time to experience this solar phenomenon is September to mid-April when the nights are dark and cold. Without guaranteed darkness and clear skies, the Northern Lights are next to impossible to view.
Iceland is an atheist country
Iceland does have a national church, but many Icelanders do not adhere to a religious affiliation. The country is predominantly Lutheran but accepts all religions and offers couples dozens of churches. Churches are mostly Lutheran Christian with a handful of Catholic churches as well. There are Buddhist, Muslim, Jewish, and Pagan communities in Iceland but unfortunately the corresponding places of worship (temples, mosques, and synagogues) are underrepresented.
