The best venues for an intimate celebration
The best 20+ small Wedding Venues in Norway
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Hey there! My name is Jaakko. I help you plan your wedding in a way that it doesn't feel like a photoshoot.
Your wedding should be about you and what connects you. A celebration of your relationship, planned around your love for one another. It's the way I wanted to get married to my wife but didn't know back then.
What counts are the moments. And the memories of moments. To me, as a photographer, your experience of a shoot is so much more important than a photo.
Who am I and what can I do for you?
In this guide, I've curated a list of 30 exceptional small wedding venues throughout Norway. These aren't your typical banquet halls; instead, they encompass cozy coastal restaurants, mountain lodges with panoramic views, and other hidden gems that provide both stunning backdrops and intimate atmospheres for your special day.
Choosing the right venue is crucial—it sets the tone for your wedding and can offer unique experiences that standard locations might not. Consider the surroundings:
- Can you hold your ceremony outdoors, perhaps with a fjord or mountain as your backdrop?
- Does the venue offer opportunities for unique activities or photo locations nearby?
The venues listed here vary in style and setting, but each offers something special. Whether you're dreaming of a seaside celebration or a mountaintop vow exchange, this list aims to inspire and assist you in finding the perfect spot for your intimate wedding.
What to consider when trying to find a small wedding venue from Norway?
Updated 19.11.2025
What’s unique: Cozy alpine lodge (location) surrounded by sharp glacier peaks – feels like a chalet dropped into the Alps.
Why you should consider it: Works for winter weddings or summer midnight-sun celebrations; the lodge fits small groups comfortably and feels private.
Cool nearby: Hike Steindalsbreen Glacier (short, unreal), boat ride on Lyngenfjord, or ski-touring if you want a snow adventure wedding.
Lyngen Lodge, Lyngen Alps
What’s unique: Remote island (location) with Snøhetta-designed sea cabins hanging over turquoise water – sunrise literally hits your bed.
Why you should consider it: Everyone sleeps on the island, so it instantly becomes “your world” for a weekend: no crowds, no cars, just ocean and mountains.
Cool nearby: Hike Prestkona for a quiet summit with ocean views, paddle to Tranøy Lighthouse at sunset, or take a boat to Engeløya for WWII coastal fort ruins and beaches.
Manshausen Island, Steigen
What’s unique: Old cod-factory (location) turned culture hub with concerts, sea sauna, rooftop terraces, artisan pizza + coffee. Industrial meets fisherman-village.
Why you should consider it: Perfect for couples who want a stylish gathering in a tiny village – not wilderness, but still wild views from every window. Different spaces for less than 50 people to 200 people.
Cool nearby: Short walk to Festvågtind (sunset hike, classic Lofoten peak), café hop in Henningsvær, or take a zodiac trip to hidden beaches.
Trevarefabrikken, Lofoten
Northern Norway Best Small Wedding Venues
The best places in the north
What’s unique: Classic red fisherman cabins (location) over water + a historic 1860s manor house with a garden pavilion literally built for weddings.
Why you should consider it: Great balance of rustic Lofoten atmosphere + town convenience (restaurants, boats, shops within walking distance).
Cool nearby: Epic hikes: Tjeldbergtind (easy sunset views) or Djevelporten + Fløya; sea eagle safaris; kayak the fjord right from the pier.
Svinøya Rorbuer, Lofoten
What’s unique: Remote farm-restaurant (location) with Nordic fine dining using ingredients grown on the farm. Feels like a chef’s retreat at the end of the world.
Why you should consider it: If food is a core memory of the day, this is one of Norway’s most praised rural restaurants. Great for <30 people.
Cool nearby: Coastal drive toward Nyksund (abandoned fishing village now turned artsy), beaches at Bleik, puffin safaris in summer.
Kvitnes Gård, Vesterålen
What’s unique: Arctic coal-town restaurant (location) with one of Scandinavia’s best wine cellars – surrounded by polar desert mountains.
Why you should consider it: If you want to be truly remote, Svalbard weddings feel like Mars. Works best for micro groups.
Cool nearby: Boat to Pyramiden Soviet ghost town, hikes around Platåfjellet, or cruise among glaciers + walrus colonies.
Things to note: You might need to rent a gun or book a private tour if going outdoors.
Huset Restaurant, Svalbard
What’s unique: Minimalist glass cabins tucked into mossy forest and cliffs (location) – architecture disappears into nature. Featured in Ex Machina.
Why you should consider it: Best for couples who want nature + design + privacy without feeling like they’re in a “wedding venue.” Feels like a secluded creative retreat.
Cool nearby: Road trip through Trollstigen, swim in Valldal river, or visit Gudbrandsjuvet gorge (2 min away).
Juvet Landscape Hotel, Valldal
What’s unique: A historic 1891 hotel (location) surrounded by sharp peaks and a still fjord.
Why you should consider it: Works incredibly well for intimate groups because you can take over rooms, wander old lounges, and enjoy candlelit dinners that feel like a private retreat.
Cool nearby: Hike to Løsethornet, fjord kayaking at sunrise, drive to Ørnesvingen + Geiranger for wild viewpoints, or rowboat photos right from the shoreline.
Hotel Union Øye, Norangsfjord
What’s unique: Norway’s oldest hotel (1640) with rose gardens and wooden architecture (location) in the quiet fjord village of Solvorn.
Why you should consider it: Perfect for slow, intimate family-style gatherings in a place that feels preserved in time – breakfast by the water is a memory.
Cool nearby: Ferry to Urnes Stave Church, hike Molden, glacier adventure at Nigardsbreen, fjord swims at sunset.
Walaker Hotel, Sognefjord
Western Norway's Best Small Wedding Venues
The best places in the west
What’s unique: Iconic fjord hotel with orchards and glacier peaks (location) in Lofthus.
Why you should consider it: Great base if guests want amenities (pool, spa, dining) but you still want fjord adventures + ceremony options nearby.
Cool nearby: HM Queen’s Trail, Trolltunga, Hardanger cider farms, fjord cruises.
Hotel Ullensvang, Lofthus
What’s unique: Restored farm buildings turned boutique lodge (location) – rustic meets Scandinavian minimalism.
Why you should consider it: A great alternative to staying in Flåm – same fjord access but calmer, atmospheric, and way less touristy.
Cool nearby: Stegastein Viewpoint, boat into Nærøyfjord, goat cheese + farm café at Styvi Gard, sunrise hike to Prest.
29/2 Aurland, Aurland
What’s unique: A quiet 1700s coastal trading post turned boutique hotel (location) in Angvik, with spa + gallery vibes – quiet and classy.
Why you should consider it: Works well if you want a private coastal feel but need easy access, refined food, and indoor spaces that still feel warm.
Cool nearby: Scenic drive to Innerdalen Valley, kayak calm fjord waters, or small-town wooden-harbor photo vibes.
Angvik Gamle Handelssted, Nordmøre
What’s unique: A designer lodge built from restored farm buildings (location) in the forests of Valdres—traditional outside, themed rooms + modern interiors inside.
Why you should consider it: Cozy, creative, intimate—feels like hosting friends in a mountain cabin but with boutique-hotel taste and attention to detail.
Cool nearby: Road to Beitostølen, lakeside walks, hikes toward Jotunheimen, and scenic drives through mountain passes.
Herangtunet Boutique Hotel, Valdres
What’s unique: A tiny 1870s lighthouse (location) on a skerry in the Oslofjord, reachable only by boat – 360° water views and total isolation despite being near the city.
Why you should consider it: Probably the most unique micro-wedding setting in Eastern Norway. Boat arrival makes the day feel like a story, not just a venue. Works best for ~10–25 people.
Cool nearby: Sunset boat rides, portraits on the deck with Oslo skyline behind you, dinner in Oslo afterwards, or combine with fjord island hopping.
Dyna Fyr, Oslofjord
What’s unique: A luxurious coastal farm estate (location) on the island of Tjøme with gardens, greenhouses, and English-inspired architecture.
Why you should consider it: Refined but warm atmosphere—perfect for slow weekends where guests stay, swim, bike, drink wine, sit in gardens.
Cool nearby: Verdens Ende ("World’s End") viewpoint, coastal trails, island hopping, small harbor cafés, and swimming in rock pools.
Engø Gård, Vestfold
Eastern Norway's Best Small Wedding Venues
The best places in the east
What’s unique: Historic manor estate (location) with its own little chapel and lush grounds—classic Norwegian heritage setting.
Why you should consider it: Good for intimate weddings where guests want indoor ceremony options and a touch of royal old-world aesthetic.
Cool nearby: River walks, fjord coastline toward Trondheim, short drive to cafes + harbor vibes in the city.
Bårdshaug Herregård, Orkanger
What’s unique: A calm family-run farm hotel (location) in Heidal with a fine-dining barn restaurant and cozy riverside gardens.
Why you should consider it: Great if good food matters, but you don’t want anything formal or pretentious – just warm, thoughtful, and peaceful.
Cool nearby: Close to Jotunheimen, rafting in Sjoa, hikes around Rondane, and scenic forest/photo locations right outside the door.
Nordre Ekre, Heidal
What’s unique: Riverside organic farm (location) in Romerike with restored barn halls and relaxed countryside charm.
Why you should consider it: Great for budget-friendly, warm, down-to-earth gatherings close to Oslo—easy travel, casual atmosphere.
Cool nearby: Bike roads along Glomma river, forest paths, and quiet farmland sunsets.
Huser Gård, Nes på Romerike
What’s unique: Europe’s only underwater restaurant (location) – a concrete monolith half-submerged in the North Sea with floor-to-ceiling marine views.
Why you should consider it: Works best when the ceremony happens outdoors on land, then guests head underwater for a fine-dining dinner – totally surreal atmosphere.
Cool nearby: Windy coastal hikes at Lindesnes Lighthouse, tidal pools, rugged seascapes toward Lista, and storm-watching in shoulder seasons.
Under, Lindesnes
What’s unique: A restored 1813 riverside estate (location) surrounded by forests, old orchards, and white manor buildings—luxury countryside without feeling staged.
Why you should consider it: Perfect for multi-day celebrations where people stay on site, wander the gardens barefoot, and eat seasonal food straight from the grounds.
Cool nearby: Forest walks along the Tovdalselva river, coastal cafes in Kristiansand, island-hopping to Bragdøya, and golden-hour portraits on rocky beaches.
Boen Gård, Kristiansand
What’s unique: A renovated historic wharf (location) on a tiny island cluster in the Søgne archipelago – boat access only, saltwater air and sun-bleached timber.
Why you should consider it: A real “private island weekend” feeling, but softer and more cultural than Arctic islands. Great for groups that want saunas, wine, ocean swims.
Cool nearby: Island hikes across Helgøya and Kapelløya, sea kayaking routes, and dinner cruises along sheltered fjord-inlets at sunset.
Verftet i Ny-Hellesund, Søgne
Southern Norway's Best Small Wedding Venues
The best places in the south
Every couple deserves a day that feels like them. My goal with this guide is to help you plan an experience that reflects that – whether you’re eloping under a waterfall or on a mountain ridge.
When I'm not having my camera with me, I'm an avid orienteer, trail runner, husband, and father of two. My love for the outdoors started when I was seven, navigating forests with just a map – exciting and a little scary!
My childhood was full of Norwegian term friluftsliv, meaning I spent my summers playing in nature or traveling to orienteering competitions all around Scandinavia. A day spent in nature, with or without exercise, is a day well spent, if you ask me.
Now, almost 30 years later, I know how to adapt when Norway’s weather turns. Having lived in Scandinavia my whole life and explored Norway often, my family is temporarily moving to Norway for next summer, with hopes of making it our permanent home. Even though we'll be moving to the neighboring country, I'm looking for opportunities to connect with couples who share the same love for adventure, nature, and the feeling of freedom that comes with intimate elopements.
A Note from Me
Born and raised in Scandinavia
Read more about me
“We didn’t know where to start or how to plan. What we love about Jaakko is that he’s passionate about finding the most breathtaking spots off the beaten path, far from tourist crowds. When you finally meet Jaakko in person, all your worries melt away — it felt like reconnecting with an old friend. You’ll find yourself not just with an amazing photographer, but with a lifelong friend.”
GIGI & BERNIC - 2025
“Planning an intimate wedding in another country was intimidating, but Jaakko guided us through it all — helping us find locations, scouting ceremony spots, and showing us how to prepare. We never felt rushed or set to a specific timeline, and when things didn’t work out as planned, he always had solutions. For those on the fence, if there’s one person who is going to take your elopement as seriously as you and your partner, it’s Jaakko.”
RACHEL & ANDREW - 2025
“That face-to-face over the internet left both of us so excited for our wedding day. He took the time to understand what we wanted in terms of a secluded outdoor space that showed off everything that is Lofoten. It surpassed all expectations. Jaakko does such an incredible job of creating a calm, controlled, safe atmosphere to be vulnerable in — a place that elicits authenticity. We came away from Lofoten with a true friend.”
LINDSIE & DANIELLE - 2023
5-Star Experiences, In Their Own Words
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