fjords & mountains & auroras, OH MY!

Why elope in Lofoten?
If you love the outdoors and adventure, there's no better place than the Lofoten Islands. There are hundreds of hikes for all abilities, and no matter the difficulty you know you are guaranteed a beautiful view. One of the most special things about Lofoten is it's perpetual daylight & midnight sun in the summer & incredible displays of the Northern Lights in the winter. No matter what time of the year you visit, you'll be getting something special and unlike anywhere else in the world!
Deciding which season to elope in should be your first step! Each season has it's own perks and disadvantages, so it's important to understand what suits you as a couple the most. Are you hoping to see the Northern Lights? Then September - March is a good idea. Fancy a skiing elopement? Mid-January - March might be best for you! Do you want to hike in the midnight sun? Then you'll be looking at late May - mid July. Other important things to consider is peak season! The summer in Lofoten brings in thousands of tourists - so it can be trickier to plan around large crowds, and may be more expensive during this season.
Spring
April - May
Winter & Spring go hand in hand in Lofoten. It can be hard to know when winter ends and spring begins here! You can still have snowfall & a lot of in-land hiking trails might be covered in snow. It is recommended to bring lots of layers and waterproofs even during this season as the weather is always unpredictable!
Best For:
- Less crowds
- Skiing
- Hiking
- Water activities
summer
June - August
The busiest time of year for tourism, and understandably so! The grass turns a stunning green with lots of wildflowers, and between May 28th and July 14th, you'll experience midnight sun! It is recommended to hike in the evening to experience this, and to avoid the masses on busy trails!
Best For:
- Midnight Sun
- Puffin Safari
- Hiking
- Water activities
Fall
September - October
This is Lofoten's rainiest time of the year. The colours change and turn Lofoten into an autumnal paradise. It is such a gorgeous time of the year. Tourism is still busy but a lot less than the summer. The temperature starts to drop pretty dramatically at the end of September & from the end of August, the Northern Lights should be visible again!
Best For:
- Northern Lights
- Less Crowds
- Whale Watching
- Hiking
Winter
November - March
Polar Night is from December 9th - January 4th, so the sun doesn't rise during this period! The weather is pretty much either rain or snow during December, so usually if you want to experience winter in Lofoten, it's best to go mid-January to March to view the Northern Lights, ski, or partake in other winter activities!
Best For:
- Northern Lights
- Snoeshoeing & Skiing
- Blue Hour / Polar Night
Can I have a legal elopement in norway?
Yes you can! It's important to consider if you want a legal or symbolic ceremony in Norway! Most couples opt to have the legal paperwork done at home before their elopement day, and have symbolic ceremony with the ring exchange and vows during their elopement. However, if you choose to get legally married while in Lofoten, there are a few steps to research and follow!
You'll need a valid passport, visa, birth certificate, an affidavit from the US embassy, and if applicable a divorce certificate if previously married.
You'll need to submit documents to the Norweigan Tax Administration (Skatteetaten) to register your intent to marry. You should do this around 5-6 months before your elopement day as your application may take up to 6 weeks, and the "certificate of no impediment to enter into marriage" is only valid for 4 months once received.
For officiants, you can either hire a Humanist Celebrant, or an authorised person such as a mayor, local registrar or priest if you are wanting to have a religious ceremony.
How much will it cost?
As with all elopements, prices will vary depending on budgets! Norway is one of the more expensive countries to travel in within Europe, but it's possible to travel within a budget! Going outside of peak months and booking early are the best ways to keep costs low. For an elopement, the main costs to consider would be:
Flights
Consider what time of the year is cheapest to go or look out for deals. There are a few airports you can fly into to reach Lofoten. You can fly to Evenes airport and drive 4-5 hours, or fly into Svolvær from Bodø or Oslo. It's worth weighing up your options to see which is cheaper & most convenient.
Travel/Marriage Visa
Currently for US citizens there is no travel visa required if you are visiting Europe/Schengen Area for under 90 days. However they are implementing an ETIAS from mid-2025, so be sure to keep up to date with the start date if you're planning to visit after June.
Marriage Visa - If choosing to have a legal ceremony in Norway, you'll need to obtain some documents (affidavit) which will cost money.
Accommodation
For an elopement day I typically recommend splurging on somewhere nice! Lofoten has many idyllic Airbnbs as well as hotels and traditional fishermen cabins called Rorbu.
Car rental/Petrol
It's best to rent a car unless you're planning on cycling! It's the easiest way to get around the islands.
Elopement photographer/Videographer
Your photographer may be your biggest splurge for your Lofoten elopement. Typically you will be spending all day/multiple days with them & they will help make the process of planning your elopement so much easier and fun, recommending accommodations, locations, and vendors too! As Lofoten is pretty rural, your photographer/videographer may be travelling to Lofoten so their travel fees will need to be covered too.
Celebrant
Not everyone chooses to have a celebrant, but it can definitely make the ceremony feel a little extra special.
Hair/Makeup Artists
If you choose to work with a hair and makeup artist, there are a few salons around Lofoten who offer wedding services! Some will travel to you for a small fee or you can choose to have it done in-salon.
Florists
There are a few floral shops around Lofoten who offer wedding bouquets! Some may deliver to you for a fee or you can collect the day before your elopement.
These are the main costs associated with having an elopement, but other costs such as food and activities should be considered too. You may have to purchase gear such as backpacks and hiking boots depending on your plans & depending on the season, you may need to purchase/rent ice spikes and thermals for example.
If I were to guestimate, I'd say anywhere between USD 10-25k would be a realistic budget for an elopement in Norway! While that's a pretty broad estimate, it really just depends on what is important to you, what vendors you want to hire and activities you want to include. All in all, you can elope in Norway, AND combine your honeymoon for less the average cost of a wedding in the US.. how cool is that?
For couples who want a sense of adventure on their elopement day, Lofoten has no shortage of epic things to do. Hiking is one of the most popular activities, and for good reason. The endless number of mountains and pretty trails makes it impossible to decide where to go next. If you want to really immerse yourself in Norweigan hiking culture, pack yourself a sandwhich or hotdogs, and bring along some Kvikklunsj and hot chocolate to enjoy during your hike!
For those who want something unique to Lofoten, why not consider whale watching, a puffin safari or kayaking? There's also snowshoeing and skiing for those more inclined towards the winter months where the Northern Lights are most visible.
Activities in Lofoten

Let the adventures begin!
Whale Watching
Surfing
Puffin Tours
Cycling
Kayaking
Hiking
Skiing
Boat Tours
Northern Lights
Horseback riding
Spa
Alright I'm sold! Where do we start?
You've already started! Doing a bit of research is the first step anyone can do when considering an elopement in Europe. Here are your next steps:
- Consider if you want a legal or symbolic ceremony.
- Ask yourself whether or not you are bringing some guests.
- Envision what your day looks like. What kind of activities would you like to do?
- Which months work best for your schedule & vision? How long will you be visiting?
- Reach out to a european elopement photographer.

Ready to take the next step?
Hey! I'm Caragh. I'm a destination elopement photographer based in Ireland. Norway is my second base, so rest assured you'll be in good hands for your elopement in Lofoten! When you're ready, drop me an inquiry and let's schedule a call to get to know each other and I can answer your questions about the process of planning your elopement. I can't wait to hear about your ideas & to create the most magical, adventurous day together!