Simple, meaningful ideas for couples travelling from abroad
The Best Norway Destination Wedding Ideas
On my own wedding day, I didn’t think about creating space to slow down.
I wish I had. Maybe that’s why I’m so passionate about helping couples build a day that actually feels like them.
There’s something about the north that’s hard to describe but impossible to forget. The way the mountains rise straight from the sea. The quiet of the mornings. The clean, crisp air that makes you breathe a little deeper without even noticing.
Norway has a way of slowing you down. Reminding you of what really matters. And giving you space — not just to celebrate, but to feel everything fully.
Why Norway is one of the most meaningful places for a destination wedding
Forget big guest lists. No pressure. freedom to be yourselves. A trip built around connection, quiet moments, and the raw beauty of nature.
Links for Norway
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Get ready together in the same place
Get married in Norway, celebrate at home
Have a simple outdoor ceremony
Small ideas with big impact
How to make everything meaningful
Choose a place that means something to you
Many couples want a meaningful, quiet ceremony in nature — but still want to celebrate later with friends and family. One option is to get married in Norway (just the two of you or with a few guests) and host a relaxed party at home afterwards.
I’ve noticed that couples who get ready together are usually the most relaxed. You don’t lose the emotion — if anything, you get more of it.
If you still want a first look, just use different rooms in the same place.
You don’t need arches, chairs, or decorations. Nature is enough here.
A ceremony by water, under a tree, or with a mountain behind you often feels more meaningful than any built venue.
You only need a place that feels right to you two.
Forget “perfect” locations. Pick a spot that has meaning: Mountains, because your first trip together included mountains, or the sea, because your first date was near the sea.
Rent a cabin = less stress
A ferry to a real island
Wearing wool layers
Ideas That Make Your Day Feel Like a Real Experience
Norwegian minimalism: no decoration needed, nature is enough
sauna or hot tub
Norway’s coastline is full of small islands, reached by short ferry rides.
A ceremony here feels peaceful — just you, the ocean, and maybe the cry of a seabird somewhere far away.
After photographing hundreds of weddings, I’ve noticed that the couples who stay in a cabin are usually the least stressed and the most present.
There’s something about being away from hotels and people that changes the entire day.
If you’re getting married in Norway, please don’t try to look perfect for the camera. Wool sweaters, jackets, hiking boots — these always look better in photos than being cold and uncomfortable.
This is one of those ideas people don’t think about, but almost every time a couple adds a sauna or hot tub at the end of the day, it becomes a moment they really wait for. It's an amazing place to process everything that just happened. It’s a very Scandinavian way to end your wedding day.
Morning swim
A cabin breakfast
writing vows
Ideas for a meaningful wedding day morning
How to start the wedding day
first look at nature
A slow breakfast together is one of the simplest ways to start your day with intention. Don’t start your morning rushing. If you slow down, the whole day changes.
This is very Norwegian — and couples love it more than they expect. It wakes you up, clears your head, and completely changes the energy of the day. I've also done this with my couples!
One of my favourite moments was in Lyngen last year — this couple decided to write their vows outside in the morning light. What a way to turn your mind into your relationship!
A first look at nature is always more emotional than doing it inside a hotel. It frees you in a way that it's hard to explain and looks amazing, too!
A mountain viewpoint
A quiet island
By the fjord
Ideas for Norwegian wedding ceremonies
Norwegian minimalism: no decoration needed, nature is enough
Add A Scandinavian ritual
Personally, I think island weddings in Norway are one of the most underrated ideas. Couples often think they need a big viewpoint or a dramatic mountain, but these small islands usually end up being the calmest and most meaningful places I’ve photographed.
Norwegians often go “ut på tur” — out for a walk — and even a short one can bring you to incredible views. You don’t need a long hike; many easy paths open up to wide landscapes perfect for a ceremony.
Fjords are one of Norway’s most iconic features. The calm water, the sound of distant waterfalls, and the mountains rising almost vertically around you create a simple, impressive backdrop.
Handfasting, lighting a candle together, reading something personal — it doesn’t need to be big. Just something meaningful. Norwegians value simplicity, and simple moments often feel the most genuine.
Celebrate after your vows
small cake
Dancing outdoors
Simple Ways to Celebrate in a Norwegian Way
How to start the wedding day
Bring your favorite drinks
Norway doesn’t need decorations.
A small cake, a thermos of something warm, and a quiet place to sit is often the perfect ending.
Right after the ceremony is when the emotions are the strongest — don’t rush past it. Pop a bottle, throw flowers in the air, let the wind take the petals, or bring soap bubbles if that feels like you.
You don’t need a perfect dance floor.
A flat rock, a patch of grass, or even a gravel path works fine. It might be windy or a bit cold, but that’s part of the charm. I'll bring the music!
Bring something you actually like. If you don’t drink champagne, don’t force it. A beer on a mountain tastes better than champagne in a hotel lobby.
I'm a Norway elopement photographer, and when I’m not doing that, I’m usually running trails, reading maps, or trying to keep up with my two kids. I’ve been drawn to the outdoors since I was seven, when I first learned to navigate a forest with nothing but a map. It was exciting – and honestly, a little terrifying, but it made me fall in love with being outside.
I grew up with friluftsliv, the Norwegian idea that life is best lived outdoors. Most of my childhood was spent exploring nature or traveling around Scandinavia for orienteering competitions. Even now, a day outside, whether I’m running, hiking, or just breathing mountain air, still feels like the best kind of day.
Almost 30 years later, that early connection to nature is what guides my work. I know how to adapt when weather changes in five minutes, and I love working with couples who value adventure, simplicity, and the freedom that comes with celebrating their wedding in a quiet, meaningful way.
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