Does an intimate outdoor wedding by the fjords of Norway sound like a dream to you? Elisabeth and Reidar made this dream come true! They had a small, beautiful and personal wedding ceremony with the sea view in Storekorsnes near Alta. After that many of their guests said that it was the most beautiful ceremony they’ve ever been to.
Spend your wedding day the way you want to
Unlike many norwegians, Elisabeth and Reidar decided to get married in a non-traditional way.
- We wanted to get married outdoors because the church doesn’t feel “at home”. When you go for a church wedding, you are faced with more rules and expectations. With an outdoor wedding, there is more freedom, and you can make it more intimate and personal. Nature is a big part of us, this is where we thrive and spend a lot of time. Therefore it was an easy choice to have our wedding outdoors, tells the bride.
Elisabeth and Reidar decided to have their intimate outdoor wedding ceremony in Storekorsnes (a small village outside of Alta in Northern Norway). The location had several nice features that were important to the bride and groom. A sea view, an indoor location for a small reception as well as accomodation for the guests (the guests could rent a cabin or come with a caravan/camper if they wanted to).
- We were also very happy about the decorations in the reception area. Nice atmosphere with natural and rustic vibes! Says Elisabeth.
How to prepare for an intimate outdoor wedding in Norway?
It was a priest who held their wedding ceremony, and Elisabeth says that it wasn’t very hard to organize.
- We contacted the church on the internet in the same manner as you do for a traditional church wedding. We wrote about the place, date and that we wanted to have an outdoor wedding. Later on we got a confirmation from Alta church. The only requirement from the priest was to move the ceremony indoors in the church in Storekorsnes if the wedding day would be rainy. He also asked how far it would be to hike and whether the ceremony is on a hill or not, Elisabeth tells.
Elisabeth and Reidar decorated the path to the ceremony location with wild flowers and plants from the area around. They also built a flower arch out of birch trunks and decorated it with the plants from the nature and flowers from their won garden and greenhouse. Other than that, they kept the ceremony area simple. Some of the guests sat on chairs, while others stood or sat on blankets on the ground.
Bride and groom replaced wedding hymns with some nice and modern music that both of them like. And they got a lot of nice feedback about their lovely outdoor ceremony. For the reception, they skipped all the traditions such as speeches, games etc. Instead, they just enjoyed the dinner and nice conversations with the persons they love the most.
What do other couples who plan an oudoor wedding in Norway need to know?
- The weather will always be a factor to consider when planning an outdoor wedding, so prepare a backup plan! Use a party tent, umbrellas, marquee or tarp in case of rain. But if you’re lucky with the weather, your outdoor wedding can be so so beautiful, says the bride.
- Make your wedding day to something YOURS! Don’t let other’s opinions and expectations impact your desicions. Rather do something that feels right for YOU TWO, says Elisabeth.
After the cake cutting, the couple went outside and wrapped up the day with a rowing boat tour for two and a first dance on a beach as a husband and wife. It was a nice and romantic ending of a perfect wedding day.
Vendors list:
- Wedding dress: bought second hand here
- Suit: from Match
- Reception & catering: Storekorsnes ferie og fritid
- Wedding photographer: TS Foto Design
Do you need more inspiration for your intimate outdoor wedding in Norway? Check these blog posts: