Wedding in Lapland

Hi all!!

I am the original poster on this thread! and it has been a while since I have been on!!

We got married at Luvattumaa Ice Chapel on 28/01/2014 and it was magical!!

here is a link to some of our photos - http://adamlaura.pixieset.com/

we brought our own photographer with us because I wasn't happy with the quality of photos we had been shown of the photographer our wedding planner uses. We used Sun and Snow weddings and Rue was great. My only gripe was that on the day of the wedding we were rushed out of the chapel to get to the restaurant which annoyed me a bit! So missed out on a couple of photos. She didnt seem keen on the idea of me bringing my own photographer though either... But all in all she was very helpful, always available to answer silly questions I had and helped everything run smoothly!

If anybody has any questions please feel free to ask!!

xxxx

Hello Laura! I was bex23 but changed my name on here lol. Your photos look stunning! I was hoping you would pop on here and flash some :-) did you take your own flowers with you? They are a beautiful colour! Which restaurant did you go to? And did you get to see the northern lights? You looked beautiful in your dress and your photos have just made me more excited for next year :-) x

Hi Laura - firstly thank you for coming back and sharing your amazing photos!! You look stunning. And I agree they are in a different league to others I have seen. Was your photographer a friend or just someone you hired? If it's the latter can I ask what sort of deal you got in order to get them out to Lapland with you. We are not a photographic couple, in 5 years I think we have 3 photos of us together, and I had always intended for our wedding photos to be something special and amazing. Bit like you did, I have concerns over those out there.

Xx

Thank you!! Yes I took my own flowers with me. They are actually silk flowers so I can keep them forever and didn't have to worry about them in the cold or travelling. We ordered our flowers from here - http://www.silkblooms.co.uk/ and got a local florist to make the bouquets. The quality is fantastic!!

We went to the Pihvipirtti Steakhouse in Levi for our meal and the food was amazing!! would recommend the reindeer!! yum!! We are heading back for our Wedding Anniversary next year and are going to go back here for a meal. It really was excellent.

I missed the Northern Lights but members of our party saw them! I always miss out!! lol. xx

Thank you very much! I am so happy with our photos and would have been devastated to not be 100% happy with them. its not something you can do again!

It was a local photographer from the Isle of Man that we hired. (who have since become friends for life!!) We paid their travel and accommodation and for the photo package. This included an engagement shoot, pre-wedding shoot to practice in the snow, the wedding day, the day after to get some photos in the day light and our reception back on the Isle of Man. It was very good value for money for what we got and was worth every penny. This is their website - http://www.sarahjewell.im/

It might be worth getting in touch - they have done other weddings abroad before. I can't guarantee anything though xx

That will be a fantastic anniversary! I haven't been to lapland in about 4 years so I'm really excited to be going back :-) the steakhouse looks great on their website how did you find going there in your wedding dress? I have never been to a wedding meal in a restaurant so that's the thing I worry about haha. I hope you get to see the lights on your anniversary :-) x

You will love it!!! It was four years since our first visit as well, we couldn't believe it had been that long

It was fine, there was plenty of room and they arranged the tables with lots of space round the edge to squeeze past. The staff were very accommodating as well

So do I! hehe

What date is your wedding? xx

That's good to know they give you space as I go into overdrive thinking I will be sat elbows touching with some strangers haha. Where did you stay? Were thinking levitunturi spa hotel. We stayed in a log cabin last time but I like the idea of everyone being in the same hotel if possible. We get married 30th December 2015. Times flying past so far and I go dress shopping on 25th so it's starting to feel real now :-) x

All of this is soooooo exciting!

Laura, I love your boots, can i ask what make they are? How did you get on with the long cape? I'm tossing up between a long cape and a short bolero jacket ?

xx

We stayed at the Levitunturi! It was perfect! We were all in one block together, apart from the ones who upgraded to suites. We didn't bother as wanted to be with everyone else. It was ideal, we had great fun there. The spa is soooo nice!! make sure you go in the outdoor hot tubs. We had a little roll in the snow in our bikinis before jumping back in the hot tub!! haha. xx

We were considering a suite but if all the regular rooms are in one block I might just do that. Were they big rooms and what was the food like there? I like the fact the crazy reindeer has more restaurant choice but the Levitunturi just looks nicer, has better reviews and I'm not going to lie the hot tubs are a plus hahax

We thought about the crazy reindeer but as there's only 3 adults going we wondered if it might be a bit kiddie orientated (reading the write ups etc)
Decided on Levi Sokos

Still trying to decide on my boots and jacket!
Really pee's me off that things are so so much more expensive than in the states, boots there work out at £105, here they are £258!!!! Might have to go for some walkie type ones instead of furry ones ?

There are lots of sales on boots atm my sister got snow boots that retail at £165 for £35!! I guess it depends what brand your looking for but iv started getting thermals etc already as the summer discounts are insane haha. I already have snow boots just need to re-waterproof them as they are white so ideal x

Wow! where did she find those! bargain or what!

I like these...... http://www.zalando.co.uk/merrell-boots-white-me111c01l-002.html?wmc=AFF44_AW_EN.92295_..&awc=3356_1399409661_7910e258ecc792e2c21321ff815af17d&wmc=SOM44_PI_EN_DS_2020215.

But lurve these...... http://www.overstock.com/Clothing-Shoes/Bearpaw-Womens-Kola-Hair-Calf-Boots/7399238/product.html

OH already has his thermals but I do need to get my leggings (thanks for the reminder!)

xx

Not sure of the make ? will have a look later if I remember! hehe. I just searched for white snow boots on Amazon and found them!!

The cape was great, hard work getting it there because it was so heavy but I really appreciated it. It was very cold!! -20 on our wedding day so we both wrapped up in it! ?

xxx

They were big enough, and I used mum and dad's suite to get ready. The suites are lovely and that is where we would stay if we stayed there again. Unless we were a big group. It really was great all being together

I really liked the food, and found something to eat everyday. I can be a bit fussy but never went hungry. Its not 5* food but we all really enjoyed it xx

My sister got her boots from mountain warehouses which is where I got thermals from too. I found most snow stuff is cheaper online than in the shops. Luckily I already have the trousers, jacket etc so it's just new thermal bottoms I need but I want white ones and they seem hard to find lol.

I cannot wait to book the holiday side now, I think the flights get released January so I will be straight on the phone booking! I might have a chat with people coming and see what their plans are hotel wise and decide if a suite or normal room will be better. I figure even in the most basic room you have access to saunas and hot tubs so it's not like I'd miss out this time round. We loved staying in a cabin last time but I am secretly hoping by booking a hotel everyone else will just copy haha. How long was the reindeer sleigh to the venue? Do they pick you up from your hotel? X

Hi Laura,

So, following your lead I contacted the photographer we had intended to use over here, and (my fiancee is a wedding DJ so knows him well) and asked if he'd be interested in shooting our wedding Lapland - he said yes, and I think is a tad excited! Anyway, we are using Rue too and I just wondered if you negotiated the price of the package they offer down at all seeing as you were taking your own photogrpaher?... I know if your recent post they weren't keen on you taking your own, so any 'heads up' would be great.. Thanks!!

I just want the 2015 holidays to go on sale now so i can get it all booked! I have to stop mysefl from buying things too... x

Hi Nicola! That's great news!! yes our photographers were super excited!!

Yes we got the cost of the photographer taken off the total cost of the package, we also took off flowers and cake Rue was very helpful and happy to do this, but when we met she seemed a little put out maybe. It wasn't a problem though

x

Hi all just currently trying to plan our wedding for december 2015. Has anyone booked flights and accom and know a rough idea of what it would cost per person? Really struggling to get prices and family want to know xx

Hi, we have booked for January 2015 with inghams and they release the holidays for next year just before xmas (I know as I hounded them every day last year and we booked the chalets as soon as they came on sale). For us in the 2 years since we booked for the previous trip it had gone up around £100. Id suggest looking at your dates this year and adding about £50 on.

Hope this helps

Hi!

Have you had a look on Inghams website? http://www.inghams.co.uk/ that is who we book through for Lapland. We used them for our wedding and got a group discount as well. In total it came to approx £625 per person for flights, hotel and half board That was at the Levitunturi Hotel Spa and flights from Manchester.

Hope that helps xxx

That is lovely thank you so much it is so difficult to know how much to budget for when you have no idea on prices so thank you so much! Doesn't help that i am so excited right now xx

What date are you getting married? Were getting married 30th dec 2015 :-) x

We are getting married 19th December 2015. That is pretty much all I have organised so far haha! xx

Not far apart then :-) I have arranged nothing with Rue yet but iv arranged almost everything back home as I want it completely stress free lol. Even got my dress as it was the only time I could get everyone together! Are you getting married in the ice chapel too? X

Levi ice gallery January 2016 for us. Exciting. Only two friends are with us no family. In fact the family don't even know yet. I booked direct and satu has been great. No stress for me. I have a mermaids dress type style as it hides my snow boots and a short fur jacket in Brown's. I'm having a matching fur headband. Other half in suit and thermals and trapped hat lol.

I need to decide whether to travel by taxi, reindeer sled etc and whether to book a snowmobile for h2b. Any tips? Can I get into that sled in a tight dress? Does it take me all the way from the k5 hotel? Help!!

My other thought is it will be dark at 4.30. Do I get dressed up.Another day for daylight photos or get ready early to do photos and first look earlier on the day of the wedding. What did other Lapland brides decide on please?

Hello, I think we messaged in another thread. I'm having a reindeer sled purely because huskys seem so noisy! We're hoping to husky sled as an excursion instead. The sled I went on before seemed pretty open so I don't think you would have a problem with a tight dress. My oh is having a snow mobile too as he didn't want to miss out. We are getting OHs suit in a few weeks and debating shoes or snow boots but I think snow boots would be wiser!

Hi,

we got married march 5th 2014,

my wife had the reindeer sleigh and i had the snowmobile ride to the ice castle. what happens is the minibus takes you and your guests to the ice castle but drops you off 10 mins away. the sleigh has a nice warm blanket that covers you and your father (or whoever is giving you away) so its not too bad. the grooms party set off first from the hotel and again drops the groom and best man off 20 mins away and we had thermal over clothes to put on over our suits.

Claire had a fake fur shoulder coat thing and had blue ugg boots under her wedding dress as the something blue.

the organizers use radios to make sure you don't arrive at the same time and it all want very well. it was amazing and we had a fantastic day. i must say the wedding cake was ridiculously crap lol so bad it was funny but its still a good and funny talking point.

we stayed at the flying reindeer hotel and it was so good we went back for our 1st anniversary.

oh and go to the restaurant at the front of the slopes, i cant remember the name of it but its on the corner, bit of a snowboarders bar but the foods massive and amazing, oh and the pancake restaurant is just the best food ever!!!!!!

Wthanks for that believe me I'm looking forward to the pancakes. I'm keep ing this quick as is my 4th attempt and phone.crashes every time.

Yes I defo want the sleigh I think. Be daft not to in Lapland!

I definitely wouldn't do the huskies to the chapel. The sled is very low and they will go pretty quick so will be really bumpy!
I did the reindeer and although it was only 5 mins it was worth every penny

If you want to book any other excursions do it when you are there - if you are planning with Rue she'll help you do that too!

Oooh, and the steakhouse is amazing!

Anyone want to look at our pix they're at www.ourlaplandwedding.webs.com

Have an amazing time!

Sharon x

If you want any more info and this site makes your phone crash you can contact Claire and i at our email address ***************@*******.**.**.

i have tried attached a photo to this reply of Claire in the sleigh so you can see what it was like but its not playing ball, if you want to email us i will send you a couple of pics.

how are you getting on with the paperwork? lol bit of a nightmare lol

our wedding was a bit like that don't tell the bride program is as much as Claire did nothing for the wedding other than getting her dress lol

i highly recommend you don't book any excursions until you get there as the costs to book online and the costs when you get there are miles apart. we were expecting to pay around 1200 euros each when we looked online but it was about 700 when we got there.

who have you booked with? we found Hugh at Lapland weddings to be fantastic.

good luck and best wishes

Richard and Claire