Thinking of Norway for your intimate adventure wedding? You may well conjure up images of iridescent colours dancing in the sky, pods of whales swimming close to your boat, and lots and lots of ice and snow. There is, however, so much more to this Scandinavian country. Whether you’re seeking out dramatic mountainous vistas, sparkling fjords or quaint, old fashioned fishing villages, Norway has it all. This is your guide to getting married in Norway including the legal considerations, venue and accommodation options, and the once-in-a-lifetime activities you can do whilst you’re here.
Getting To & Around Norway
From the UK it’s possible to fly into Oslo, Norway’s capital city, from most major airports including Heathrow and Gatwick in London, Manchester in the North of the country and Dublin or Edinburgh for those coming from Ireland or Scotland. If you want to fly directly to Tromso, you can do so from London Gatwick or London Luton, but only at certain times of the year. As your destination wedding planner I can help you with all your travel planning for your celebrations!
If you’re coming from the US or another country in the world, you’ll find flights with airlines such as KLM, Lufthansa, SWISS and Atlantic Airways among others.
Once you arrive you have many options for getting around; Norway’s rail system is well developed, as are its other public transport links. You could hire a car, and bear in mind many cars in Norway are now electric! If you want to travel somewhere a little more remote, consider going by boat; their passenger ferry system is brilliant!
As always, I’m here to guide you in your travel plans for your Norway wedding.
How to say ‘I do’
After all, there is no wedding without a legal ceremony of some sort! When it comes to getting married in Norway you have three options as a non-resident; religious, civil or symbolic ceremonies. If you’re looking for a legally binding ceremony in Norway, as your intimate destination wedding planner I will personally assist you in preparing your marriage paperwork. You’ll need to attend a meeting to process your paperwork in advance of meeting with your celebrant or priest; a certificate of non-impediment is required, along with your wedding application and passport copies, and birth certificates in some cases. You can check the Norwegian Tax Administration website for more details, but rest assured that when you work with me I will ensure all this is taken care of.
You can of course opt for a symbolic ceremony for your intimate Norway wedding, which involves none of the paperwork included in the above options. Many couples sign the paperwork at home either before or after their destination wedding in Norway takes place. The beauty of this option is that your wedding ceremony is then totally customisable, and you can basically get married in any location – let your imagination run wild! Whether you’ve been dreaming of a dramatic, glittering fjord backdrop for your vows, a mountaintop exchange of rings or a gathering of your closest friends and family beneath the Northern Lights, anything is possible! I will work with you to create an experience that you and your guests will always remember, and your intimate destination wedding will be personal, special and totally unique.
Where to say ‘I do’
If you work with me to plan your Norway destination wedding, you’ll have access to my full range of knowledge of the best and most beautiful locations for your ceremony and wedding night! Norway is full of hidden gems, and I’ll share a few of my favourites with you.
Manshausen Island
This small island is a stunning retreat away from mainland Norway, with panoramic views across to Lofoten and even perfect, sandy beaches. You can stay in one of the island’s sea cabins, jutting out across the water with wall to wall glass, and the main building on the island houses a restaurant. There’s a sauna and a hot tub for those seeking tranquility and wellness, but there are also exciting adventure activities for you and your wedding guests such as great fishing spots, kayaking and hiking! You could conceivably hire Manshausen Island for your wedding to be your own little village, at once deeply immersed in the Scandic charms of Norway and also removed from the hustle and bustle of tourism. I don’t mind telling you this is one of my favourite spots, maybe in the world!
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- Image from Manshausen website.
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- Image from Manshausen website.
Lofoten Islands
The Lofoten area of Norway is diverse in its range of activities, landscapes and weather systems! Here you can seek out midnight sun, go kayaking or hiking and even surfing – in fact, it’s one the most northerly surf destinations in the world! What it’s really famous for is fishing; if you choose Lofoten for your Norwegian destination wedding, you’ll find colourful and authentic fishing villages peppering the landscape. One such fishing village is the Nusfjord, in which you’ll find the Nusfjord Arctic Resort – the perfect accommodation for those looking for a blend of heritage and modern comforts. You can also find Hattvika Lodge here, charming fisherman’s cottages (or rorbu) in an area oozing history and authenticity – with all the mod cons, of course!
Other gorgeous accommodation options around Norway
Lyngen Lodge is a boutique hotel specialising in tailor-made, luxury Arctic adventures. Your intimate destination wedding in Norway can be enhanced with their executive chef, qualified mountain guides and boat captains as well as their range of excursions. Experience the Northern Lights and dog sledding adventures, before retiring back to the cosy lodge with world-class service.
The Snowhotel Kirkenes Northern Lights cabins are styled on traditional fishing huts. If you want to be immersed in Norwegian Lapland’s wilderness for your wedding, you’ll find modern, comfortable amenities such as a sauna and luggage service here as well as stunning views of the snowy landscape and fjords.
For those of you dreaming of spending your destination wedding time in a glass igloo hotel, I have just the thing for you. Right by the Lyngenfjord in the north of Norway you’ll find Lyngen North, a series of glass igloos and houses giving you uninterrupted views of the mountains and fjord. You might even spot the Northern Lights from your bed!
Activities & Experiences
You didn’t travel all the way to Norway just to get married and go home, right? So let’s talk about some of the amazing, adventurous activities and experiences you can do whilst you’re here! You and your guests will love Norway at any time of year, so when you’re planning your intimate wedding here you should consider the sorts of things you might want to do.
If it’s long days and midnight sun you’re seeking, the summer months are the best. However, you can expect the most tourism at this time of year – you’ll find people hiking, climbing fishing, taking part in nature excursions such as whale watching, and experiencing daylight phenomena.
If you’re envisioning getting married in Norway among a winter wonderland, you’ll need to visit between October-April. Expect it to be cold, with activities such as skiing, dogsledding and aurora borealis chasing on the itinerary.
Amulet’s Norway Wedding Planning Packages
As an intimate destination wedding specialist I can help you organise and plan all additional elements of your day when getting married in Norway. You can find more information about what’s included by clicking here, but my planning fee covers everything from photography and make up artists to floristry and your wedding breakfast! You won’t have to worry about a thing; your dream Scandinavian escape is in safe hands.
Want to chat about bringing your loved ones to Norway for a magical, romantic adventure? Book a call with me!