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CASE STUDY: Julie & Nick's Icehotel Wedding

The wedding enquiry
Julie & Nick first contacted us regarding their wedding a year and a half in advance. Initially, they had two destinations in mind but could not decide which would best suit them both. Their basic requirements were to have a ceremony in either the Ice chapel at the Icehotel in Jukkasjarvi Sweden or by a cascading waterfall in Iceland, wedding photographs to reflect the beautiful scenery and with nay luck the northern lights. They also wanted to have a wedding breakfast for them and their 18 guests which included their two children aged 8 and 13 as well as their parents both in their 60’s. 

Wedding location, location, location
The happy couple debated over the idea of a wedding in magical Swedish Lapland wedding or adventurous and rugged Iceland. After a telephone chat about the difference and similarities, it was decided that a magical Lapland wedding was to be and the lure of the wilderness was calling them. Julie and Nick had said they pictured their wedding at more of a quirky destination where no one they knew of had ever been married before. They also chose the Icehotel as they’d often dreamt of an Ice palace where you could be whisked away by huskies under the night sky in search of the northern lights. This was fast becoming the best telephone call they had ever made and their dreams were fast becoming reality. 

Let’s get our Big Day booked
Both Julie & Nick decided to set their wedding date in January as this was a year after they had gotten engaged. They wanted to make their travel arrangements as easy and cost effective as possible for their friends & family, so they took advance of our direct flight which departs from London’s Heathrow airport and is 3.5 hours flying time to Kiruna where the Icehotel is located. They booked a 4 night stay at the Icehotel, with one night in a beautiful Art Suite and all other nights in warm accommodation. The bride and groom asked us to request double sleeping bags for their night on ice whilst some guests opted to have warm accommodation only for the duration of their stay. One of the main questions asked by the happy couple and their wedding party was what excursions they could take part in. We suggested they fit in as many excursions as possible during their stay to make the most of the beautiful surroundings; they booked the Northern Lights by Snowmobile tour as an early evening excursion, in hope of maximising their chances of seeing the northern lights. In addition to Ice sculpting, husky sledging and a moose safari by horseback, the whole wedding party booked an Exclusive Husky transfers to take them from Kiruna airport to the Icehotel which enabled them to ‘arrive in style’. 

All set for the off
The wedding party had arranged to meet at Heathrow airport three hours before departure so they would have plenty of time to check in. As take off was at 10:35 this allowed time to wake up at a decent hour and do some tax free shopping at the terminal. During their flight to Kiruna they were provided with a complimentary hot meal, beer, wine and soft drinks which helped ease them into their Lapland break and wedding. After the short flight all members of the wedding party collected their bags from the small terminal and were met by their Exclusive transfer guides who provided them with a one- piece snow suit, hat, mittens & boots for the journey. As they approached arrivals they could hear the howls of the huskies, eager and excited to pull start their journey. An hour and a half later, the excited wedding party had arrived at the Icehotel ready for an Ice cocktail at the famous Absolute Vodka Ice Bar and get an early night for their exciting day of excursions. 

The Big Day is finally here
After meeting with the Icehotel wedding coordinator the bride and groom were fully aware of the order of events on their wedding day. They were collected after breakfast at around 9am and were taken to the local registry office in Kiruna which was a 25 minute drive away; this is where the legal documentation for the marriage is handled. Julie then had her hair and make- up done by Nina the make- up artist who came highly recommended by the Icehotel; we had previously arranged the appointment a few months beforehand. Nick returned back to the Icehotel to meet up with the best man and his dad and Julie returned an hour and a half later to find two very excited bridesmaids, her mum and a bottle of chilled champagne chilling in her cabin (courtesy of Discover the World). Shortly before 3pm and the bride and her father were whisked away by reindeer sledge to her awaiting groom at the Ice chapel. 

The Wedding Ceremony
Guests watched as Julie walked down the aisle, smiling and trying desperately to hold back the tears. She had always wanted to walk down the aisle to her favourite Michael Buble song so she has brought a CD along with her which she gave to the wedding coordinator the day before. It was a beautiful ceremony and all guests commented on how beautiful the chapel was. The wedding couple were particularly happy that they were part of only a small few to marry in the Ice chapel and that as the Icehotel melts and is rebuilt every year…..their wedding would remain special and unique forever. Nick had decided on wedding package C for their big day which included the priest/ registrar, documentation, return transfer to the registry office in Kiruna, the ceremony, witness fees, marriage certificate, photographer ( with photo album and CD), return reindeer ride for 2 adults to the Ice chapel, assistance locally, organisational and coordination fees. The newlyweds had their photos taken by a professional photographer around the Icehotel grounds, at the Ice chapel and also in the ice bar, helping not only to capture precious memories, but also to show their friends and family who couldn’t make the trip, but who later celebrated with them back in the UK. 

The Wedding Breakfast
The whole wedding party congregated at 7.30pm at the Icehotel restaurant and were shown to the private seating area where the toasts began. The wedding party had chosen their menus with Discover the World beforehand so the Icehotel restaurant was fully prepared for their arrival. After a three course meal, wine and champagne, the wedding party wandered over to the Ice Bar for an ice cocktail, before hitting the sack in preparation for the day of excursions ahead of them.

If Julie & Nick's story has inspired you to start planning your special day, the first step is to talk to our Weddings Coordinator, and start turning your magical winter wedding dream into reality!