Ideas & Inspiration

12 Norwegian Wedding Customs to Include in your Norway Elopement

What draws you to Norway? Is it the breathtaking landscapes? The rich cultural history? The simple, intentional way of living? As an elopement photographer based in Norway, I ask every single one of my couples this question. And everyone has a different answer. If you are considering getting married in Norway, there are so many ways to connect you even further to this beautiful land and culture. This blog includes a number of Norwegian wedding customs that you can incorporate into your celebration. Some of them are well-known, while others are widely unheard of. Either way, I’m sure you can find a tradition within this blog that speaks to you!

The Best Norwegian Wedding Customs for Elopements

Most Norwegian wedding customs fall into two categories. First, there are ceremony traditions that mostly include the couple and their attire. Second, some traditions involve your guests. However, even the guest-centered Norwegian wedding customs can be reinterpreted in a more intimate way. Ultimately, I want you to choose customs that feel aligned with your heart and vision for your wedding day. No matter what they are, we can create an intentional, meaningful way to include them in your elopement.

The Norwegian Bridal Crown

You may have heard of the silver Norwegian bridal crown. This tall, ornamental headpiece is often decorated with small dangling ornaments that make a soft sound as you move. Historically, the bridal crown was believed to protect the bride from evil spirits. It symbolizes purity, heritage, and celebration. Now, it is still worn with a traditional outfit (more on that below) or designed to complement a modern outfit. This is a beautiful piece of history and culture to include in your wedding outfit. Beyond its symbolism, the soft sound and movement of the crown can add a very sensory and almost poetic dimension to the ceremony.

Bunad

The bunad is the traditional Norwegian festive costume. Each bunad is deeply tied to regional identity, representing a specific area of the country with unique colors, embroidery, and specific details. The Norwegian people have very strong emotional connections to their bunads, as the piece is often passed down through generations. Because of this, the bunad isn’t simply an outfit, but a powerful symbol of heritage and belonging.

While destination couples are welcome to wear a bunad, I recommend creating your own version rather than replicating one if you have no connection to the region it represents. Take style inspiration from a bunad you like, or create one with your own details or jewelry! This can be a wonderful way to include this tradition without dishonoring the heritage and connection the bunad represents.

Traditional Norwegian Jewelry (Sølje)

In addition to the bridal crown and bunad, it is very common to see Norwegian brides in sølje, intricate silver pieces of jewelry. They can range from brooches and necklaces to dangling ornaments. Some brides even integrate the sølje into their bridal crown. Similar to the crown, these pieces were historically designed to make a soft tinkling sound and protect the bride from evil. The tradition has continued, and these pieces are still beautifully crafted by hand for special celebrations. If you wish to include these pieces in your elopement, you can purchase local, handcrafted pieces here!

Hey, I'm Sophie

a Norway-based elopement photographer.

I offer planning support and honest storytelling across fjords, mountains, and hidden cabins — for couples who want to slow down, reconnect, and create a wedding day rooted in nature and guided by intention.

Handfasting

This is likely the most popular Nordic wedding custom! While it is not exclusive to Norway, handfasting has strong and ancient roots. In this ritual, you and your partner tie your hands together with a ribbon or cord, symbolizing your commitment and the binding of your lives.

Vows & Readings

While weddings all across the world include vows and readings, many destination couples choose to include Norwegian words, poems, or passages into their ceremony. Usually, these readings are associated with strong Norwegian beliefs, such as nature, simplicity, resilience, or connection. This is a modern and meaningful way to bring a sense of Nordic spirit into an intimate ceremony, and these readings are often one of the most personal and grounding moments of the ceremony, especially when surrounded by nature.

Kransekake

Last but certainly not least is the famous kransekake! This traditional Norwegian dessert is a tower of almond-based cake rings stacked on top of each other. Even the structure of the cake has significance, symbolizing abundance and joy. While it’s usually shared with wedding guests, you can absolutely include it in your elopement! Sharing this delicious pastry with your new spouse can be a simple, meaningful moment after your ceremony, or during a quiet picnic while you enjoy the rugged wilderness around you. This local bakery produces one of the best kransekakes.

The Best Norwegian Wedding Customs for Destination and Micro Weddings

If you’re planning a destination wedding or micro wedding in Norway, there are dozens of traditions that include your guests! In Norway, weddings are about community and fellowship. So much so that guests often participate in baking desserts for the wedding! Unsurprisingly, many Norwegian wedding customs are about inviting guests to participate in the moment, ranging from reception games to communal meals! In this section, I’ve included some of my favorite guest-centered reception customs. If you fall in love with one of these traditions but do not plan on inviting guests to your elopement, don’t worry, we can still find intimate ways to adapt these traditions!

The Skål (Traditional Toast)

The skål is a simple but meaningful ritual when guests raise their glasses, make eye contact with one another, and share a moment of connection before drinking. It’s similar to raising or clinking glasses and saying, “Cheers!” This brief moment is an invitation to slow down and notice the people around you, celebrating presence and togetherness during the festivities of the night. For elopements, this can become a quiet, intentional moment between you and your partner, an opportunity to pause and soak in the landscape and meaning of the day.

Speeches

While most wedding receptions in the United States include speeches, they are usually limited to the Maid of Honor, Best Man, and occasionally the couple’s parents. In Norway, wedding receptions include many speeches, which are carefully organized by a toastmaster who controls the flow of the evening. These speeches can last for hours and are a very important part of the celebration.

Kissing Games

Have you ever been to a wedding where guests tap their glasses to make the couple kiss? Well, in Norway, we have a fun twist on that. Here, if guests tap their glasses, the couple is expected to climb onto their chairs and kiss. If the guests stomp their feet, the couple must crouch beneath the table and kiss. This old tradition keeps the atmosphere lively!

Wedding Songs

Music is a large part of Norwegian weddings. Guests often write personalized songs for the couple, usually set to well-known melodies so everyone can sing along. These songs are equal parts funny and personal, making the couple and fellow guests laugh and cry. For an elopement, you could consider writing a song for your partner’s ears only. Music is such a beautiful thing to add to any occasion, and we could coordinate a moment during the ceremony or private picnic where you present this song to your partner, or even sing together.

Traditional Norwegian Wedding Food

We can’t talk about Norwegian wedding customs and not talk about the food! Here, food is deeply connected to tradition, region, and a sense of community. While there are no specific rules about what is included in a wedding feast, you’ll likely have two main courses. First, the koldtbord, a buffet-style meal of traditional cold dishes, like smoked salmon, cured meats, eggs, bread, and salad. Depending on the region, the hot dishes may include lamb, reindeer, or hearty stews. These dishes are cooked with local ingredients and respect seasonal and regional traditions. In addition to the main courses, it’s common to serve a simple late-night meal, called nattmat.

Kakebord

While we already mentioned the kransekake, it is not the only dessert at a Norwegian wedding! Couples usually include a kakebord, which is a large table filled with cakes. In many regions, most of these cakes are made by friends and family. This is just another tradition that reflects the strong belief in community and generosity. Read this article to learn more about the kakebord!

Honoring Norwegian Wedding Customs Appropriately

Here in Norway, wedding traditions are widely shared, even with people who are not from here. So if you are a destination couple wanting to incorporate Norwegian wedding customs, you are more than welcome. In fact, many Norwegians appreciate it when those from outside their culture want to include meaningful traditions in their Norwegian elopement.

However, in Norway, people have very strong personal connections to these traditions. If you wish to include these traditions, please approach them with intention and respect! Instead of simply trying to replicate a tradition, take inspiration from it through textures, symbols, or rituals, and adapt it in a way that feels authentic to you. Norwegian wedding customs are less about performing a ritual perfectly and more about honoring the essence in a meaningful, personal way.

Hey, I’m Sophie

Your Norway Elopement Photographer

As a French woman who now lives in Norway, I understand the draw that many international couples feel to this country. There is something wild and honest about the Norwegian wilderness that brings out the most genuine version of ourselves. I love photographing elopements in Norway because here, your wedding is not about performance. It is about being present in every moment, honoring the sanctity of your union, and celebrating slowly and intentionally.

I consider it an honor to guide international couples through planning a wedding here. In fact, I share my Norway Elopement Guide with every couple I work with! This guide includes everything from symbolic rituals and styling ideas to local vendors, seasonal considerations, and ways to incorporate Norwegian culture.

My goal is to help you create a meaningful wedding celebration that is connected to the rhythm and roots of Norway. If you are eloping here and want a celebration designed around you, captured in a personal and unobtrusive way, I would love to work with you.

Rayhonor & Louis

“Sophie was absolutely incredible to work with, she listened to all of our questions, likes and dislikes, and offered reassurance every step of the way. On the day it felt like a friend was with us, Sophie is such a kind and talented videographer, making us feel comfortable in front of a camera, giving us more time if needed, making sure we are happy.“