One of the things I really wanted to do while I was in Sweden, was spend a night at IceHotel. Always on the lookout for unusual places to stay, I was immediately entranced by images of IceHotel. Rooms made of ice, fur lined beds, ice crystal chandeliers...never mind that the inside temperature is a crisp -5 degrees!
Located in a tiny village in Lapland, just north of the artic circle, IceHotel is an ever-changing art installation made entirely of snow and ice. Each year, the hotel is reborn...carved and shaped from ice harvested from the Torne River. Builders, architects, designers and artists from all over the world arrive each year to create rooms, furniture, art, sculptures, and even lighting from nothing but frozen water. In the spring, the entire thing melts back into the river...waiting to be reborn again the following year. The only thing they reuse is their signature chandelier...
And the best part...they do weddings! There is an Ice Church located right next to the hotel. Imagine planning the ultimate winter wonderland wedding in a fairytale chapel made of ice. Weddings at the Ice Church only happen from the end of December through the end of April, so be sure to plan ahead. Like the hotel, the church is redesigned every year...check out some of the past designs...
After the wedding, you could stage the perfect icy reception at the hotel's very own Ice Bar. Your drinks will come served in glasses carved from ice. No need to worry about the ice melting and diluting your drinks!
After the party, you and your guests can retreat to the cozy comforts of the frozen art suites. Each room is different and is, again, crafted entirely of snow and ice. You'll sleep in toasty warm sleeping bags on top of warm fur skins. In the morning you will be greeted with warm lingonberry juice and a trip to the sauna! Here are a few of my favorite rooms from past years...
When it's time to leave, what could be more romantic than being whisked away in your own personal dog sled?
Maybe you'll take advantage of the opportunity to visit one of IceHotel's wilderness camps to check out spectacular northern lights like these...
Ready to sign up? UK based TravelBee specializes in white weddings across northern Europe and Canada offering all-inclusive wedding package that include flights, accomodations, photos, wedding dinner and even "arctic clothing rental." What could be easier?
If you would rather plan out the details yourself, there is a ton of information on the IceHotel website. I also found this great photographer, Ian Johnson, who would love to shoot your ice wedding. You can see more of his work here.
So, unfortunately, my hubby and I couldn't work in a stay at the hotel on this visit, but we did make a point to stop by the IceBar in Stockholm and, yes, it was cold! After borrowing some "arctic clothing" that consisted of a fur trimmed cape and some big thick gloves, we were ushered inside for our ice cold cocktails served in carved ice cups....that oh, by the way, glowed in the dark! No idea what they put in them to do that...
So, what do you think? Would you get married in a church made of ice? Better make up your mind quickly...it's melting... ;)
Image Sources: Fashion photography by Carl Bengtsson, IceHotel images via Pinterest
