Propose, say “I do” or honeymoon in Lapland with Winter Weddings
As the name suggests, Winter Weddings does just that – it arranges weddings in Lapland (primarily Finland) and also in Sweden and Iceland “during winter”. However, the specialists don’t just stop there. They also arrange proposals and honeymoons for couples looking for an alternative way to celebrate inside the Arctic Circle.
Says Stephanie Eddy, Marketing Manager of Winter Weddings, “Not only have we expanded our honeymoon programme for winter 2012/13, we are also now offering different wedding packages: classic, deluxe and platinum. Of course we still offer tailor-made options, but we have also now packaged our weddings together to show how straightforward a winter wedding can be – as well as economical (from as little as £1,620 per very atmospheric wedding).”
Covering every step along the way – from proposals to weddings and honeymoons – here are some sample packages from Winter Weddings:
The Proposal:
If you’re thinking about popping the question, but not sure where or how to go about it, Lapland could be the answer with its serene white landscapes, frozen lakes and light-pollution-free skies which provide endless opportunities for a Northern Lights display. Offering quiet seclusion – it’s a 45-minute drive from the nearest town – the little village of Nellim, in Finnish Lapland, is a romantic and proposal-perfect place. Spend a week hurtling across the white landscapes on snowmobiles, walking meandering trails in snow-shoes, and cuddled under cosy rugs on a husky sled. Then, on your chosen day, enjoy a private Aurora snowmobile trip or spend a night in a glass igloo star-gazing and (hopefully) Northern Lights-spotting. With every proposal tailored to the individual couple’s requests, would-be grooms can pick the Winter Wedding team’s brains for proposal ideas.
A proposal stay at Nellim Wilderness Retreat costs from £1,625 pp (two sharing – hopefully!) including flights (Heathrow via Helsinki), transfers, airport lounge, four nights’ full board in a log cabin with private sauna, activities, cold-weather clothing and guides. A private Northern Lights safari, a night in a glass igloo and any other proposal extras are at an additional cost.
The Wedding:
Cosy wooden chapel? Contemporary glass teepee? Impressive ice chapel? Whatever image a Lapland wedding conjures up, Kakslauttanen in Northern Finland should have it covered. Set amid the spectacular landscape of Saariselka fell – in prime Northern Lights territory – the charming Lappish hamlet offers lots of family-run accommodation, as well as a picture-perfect setting for a magical wedding ceremony. With all the stressful organisation taken away – legal admin, magistrate’s fees and the like – you’re left to enjoy the fun; from a reindeer sleigh ride to the partying afterwards and a night in a glass igloo. Helpfully, as a tour operator, Winter Weddings can arrange for family and friends to celebrate with you but, if you’d prefer to say “I do” à deux, they’ll happily provide the witnesses.
An ‘Ice Chapel and Igloos Wedding’ costs from £2,420 including civil ceremony, flowers, candles, all fees and admin, wedding co-ordination and a professional photographer (classic package). Flights and accommodation cost extra.
The Honeymoon:
Just one of a number of new honeymoon ideas, ‘Jeris, Northern Lights and Cottages’ combines all the must-do Lapland experiences, offering an unusual trip for couples looking for a short, active and memorable honeymoon. Commence married life in the Narnia-esque setting of Jeris in Finnish Lapland. Surrounded by woodland and set beside frozen Lake Jerisjärvi, the hotel (with log-cabin rooms) is ideally located for winter activities. Mush huskies, snow-shoe in search of the Northern Lights (with an increased chance in 2013, with it being the peak of the current Solar Maximum), cross snowy landscapes on a snowmobile and learn to drive your own reindeer sleigh. Afterwards, unwind by an open fire at the hotel, at the lakeside spa or in the typically-Finnish smoke sauna. Prolong your honeymoon with a night at a luxury glass igloo or by staying in a snow village.
The ‘Jeris, Northern Lights and Cottages’ honeymoon costs from £1,540 pp (two sharing) including flights (Heathrow via Helsinki), transfers, four nights’ half-board accommodation, one lunch, activities, cold-weather clothing, wilderness guides and private Northern Lights safaris on request. An extra night in a glass igloo costs from £265 pp (including breakfast and transfers) and the snow village costs from £295 pp (including dinner, breakfast and transfers).
For more information, visit winterweddingcompany.com.