Travel wedding: a minimalist wedding in northern Europe

my husband and I are both very troublesome people. We have attended friends' weddings and experienced getting up at four or five in the morning to pick up relatives, change our mouths, take video photos, take pictures, welcome guests, and so on, not to mention that we are as busy as preparing for a battle in the early stages of the wedding.

because of laziness (and poverty), we both decided to have a very small wedding by the way of "traveling wedding". At this point, I am also very grateful to the parents of both sides for their openness and agree that we do not follow the traditional process and accomplish this wish in the way we want.

since there is no precedent for "travel marriage" around me, it is difficult to learn from friends or relatives, and the time is very tight (I plan to resign during the Lunar New year, and my husband happens to have a holiday in April, so he decided to go out to get married in April, all preparations are under the pressure of deadline), all preparations are very unprepared.

1. Travel wedding destination

of course, travel marriage is important to determine the destination, because the time is too short, so it is easier to visa in Europe, plus the title of "the happiest region", we choose the scope in northern Europe.

almost on weekends, we both stayed in the bookstore to check all kinds of Nordic travel books, and found that everyone had a more comprehensive description of the capital, while some small towns could hardly find information, until it was mentioned in the book "all over the World-Northern Europe" that Sweden has a beautiful island called "Gotland". Although the island is small, it has nearly 100 churches, large and small, and Visby, the capital of Gotland, is famous for its rich roses. There is the title of "Town of Rose", so let's hit it off and make it here.

Gotland is so beautiful that it brings together all the elements that girls look forward to the wedding-the church, the lawn, the seaside, the blue sky and white clouds.

II. Determining the church

confirming the church involves a lot of questions: can you get married in a church if you don't believe in religion? Which church is still in use? How do I get in touch with the church? How do I contact the priest? Can I take an oath in church after I have obtained a license in China? (foreign license and wedding are one) and so on.

1 two illiterates contact churches anxiously

although the above-mentioned book "around the World-Nordic" has relatively more information about the Nordic islands, it is more about scenic spots, and since there are as many as 96 churches on Gotland Island (remember this number), there is no introduction to each church, let alone the contact information of each church.

so choosing a church is the first difficulty we encounter, which is directly related to the possibility of traveling weddings. We both panicked when we couldn't find any strategies for churches on Gotland Island on the Internet.

the only clue is to find out how to get to the island.

there are two options for going to Gotland Island, either by boat or by plane from Stockholm.

We sent e-mails to destinationgotland Shipping Company and airlines with Gotland Island routes, but there was no reply.

found a regiongotland website, which appears to be the official information platform of Gotland Island, and wrote an email. It is conceivable that it failed.

every Gotland-like official website found these days is Swedish that we are confused about, and we can't even find the option to change the language to English. Very nervous and frustrated.

in the case that we have not left ourselves a way back at all, it can be said that we are fighting against each other, and seizing any opportunity is a life-saving straw.

until I found an official website of Tourist Center suspected of Gotland, I finally got a reply and shared it with you:

one is wedding officiants in Gotland: www.gotland.se/52229

(and kindly told us that, it is in Swedish, but you should look under the word "vigself ö r ä ttare" to the right, and egg click into it can't understand it.)

the second is to contact priest's email address, Visby Domkyrkof ö rsamling (what is the word? ) [email protected]

at this point, unlock the second step gate.

2 two dreamer chose the strangest church

after looking up a lot of information on the official website of many churches, we chose a church that seemed strange to outsiders and could not even be called a "complete church": it had no roof, no impression of the portrait of Jesus in the church, no prayer desk, no neat rows of prayer seats behind.

it is surrounded by a gray fence, and inside is the ruins of the green lawn.

this is the highest, untopped, and gray picture on the official website

. In the Middle Ages, visby, the capital of Gotland, had more than 16 churches, but experienced a series of events such as war, turmoil, natural disasters and so on. Only St. Mary's Cathedral, and others were preserved.And the ruin of St. Clemens we chose is one of them.

Why did you choose it?

maybe we were both moved by the words on the official website:

"Once you step in through the portal it feels as though time is standing still."

in this nearly 800-year-old church, we want to feel the beauty of temporary stagnation in our weddings, that's all.

it accepts any ceremony that is important to your life: baptism, weddings, and many niche concerts, which makes us feel that this shabby ruins actually contains a lot of happiness.

at the formal wedding, the priest said a few words about the church and us, and I burst into tears (later).

the church is usually closed and is only open from May to September each year. Activities can be booked. Although it was April when we went there, the church said that they were very surprise. Chinese people came all the way to Gotland to hold a wedding and were willing to open it for us for one day!

after experiencing the anxious mental pressure before, I wept with joy. After

, it is conceivable to email the church at a scheduled time.

of course, this is related to the arrangement of the whole honeymoon itinerary. At that time, the visa had not yet been issued, and the time was tense but resolute, and the hotel corresponding to the church was booked. Hotel is actually the manager of the church (because the church is in the backyard of hotel), and there are special staff to deal with our wedding. Lena was so nice that everyone cried when he left.

We are not religious, and we have confirmed this with the church: we respect Christianity and go to church with our friends when we study in uk, but we are not religious and just want to have a holy wedding. The church said that there is no problem, we need to provide marriage documents, for us to avoid registration and other procedures, only hold ceremonies.

(one more thing: I think everything can be communicated, and you should never lie and say that you are religious. Moreover, if the church does not allow non-believers to hold weddings, there are other options, right? you can go to the hotel or the castle, and there are numerous choices of wedding sites in Europe. )

3. Remote operation around the wedding

Lena will help us do a lot of work, such as finding a priest, determining wedding decorations, booking flowers, booking music, identifying photographers, and so on.

when we were busy with visa itinerary in China, she thoughtfully thought of every detail and worked it out one by one, which hardly cost us much energy.

Reverend: the Reverend is a person whom Mrs. Hotel respects very much. She is a very old and elegant lady. I was almost weak on my legs and so magnificent when I saw her for the first time.

Wedding Decoration: because visby is Town of rose, we naturally ask for roses, but as Sweden is still in winter in April, all flowers are imported, so the choice is very limited, mainly flowers that look like roses.

Bride bouquet: because there are no other guests in the whole ceremony except the newlyweds are parents, so everything is required to be simple. I like small bouquets, gentle, white, clean bouquets, they just play freely, like the following picture:

Cosmetic Artist: I am worried that Swedes' aesthetics is different from that of the East, and they are also afraid that they will help me paint deep eye sockets and other makeup by painting white people, so I refuse them nervously (Xiaobai is really worried about makeup, after all, I need to use cosmetic contact lenses for the first time and wear false eyelashes for the first time).

photographer: Lena helped us find several photographers and asked us to choose samples, and finally chose the most natural one, which is not concave and not given to PS (I must be crazy).

European and American photographers are different from Chinese wedding photography teams. They don't need reflectors, deformed wide angles, or procrastinating teams to help. Photographers record the real you of the whole ceremony alone with a camera, and they don't ps facial expressions in the later stage. In their view, everything is the best (but actually I'm ugly).

Music: except for one love song of my husband and me, Lena is asked to help us choose local Swedish songs.

IV. Wedding on the journey

the Nordic itinerary after

will not be described one by one, just before and after the wedding.

before we arrived in Sweden, we had been driving ourselves in Norway, and the scenery was so beautiful that we were often suffocated. We also forgot about the wedding until we arrived in Stockholm. A day later, we were about to take a boat to the island. I suddenly panicked at that moment. I feel like I'm not ready for anything. Why are you wearing a white dress to get married?

sitting on the boat for a few hours, I was nervous, looking at the boundless sea, as if I was trapped in the middle of the sea, and there was no one around. This panic was because I had no sense of control over my wedding. I don't know what's going to happen. I didn't even put a mask on it for a few days.

We don't know the process of the Swedish wedding at all, but we just arrange to meet with the priest to discuss the details after arriving in the afternoon, and the next day is the ceremony.

after arriving, Lena, came to pick us up and hugged everyone and welcomed us to stay. A particularly handsome Swedish brother helped us carry our luggage into the room. Lena told us that the rooms had been upgraded. Oh, my God, another surprise from Sweden. Love Sweden!

I walked into the room and saw a very exquisite picture on the table with Ruins of St Clemens Church, and a card with "Best wishes for your coming future together" written on it.

the sky outside the window is so beautiful

We have brought back both of them and cherish them very much.

after seeing Reverend Astrid, the first question I asked her was: what am I going to do tomorrow?

Astrid smiled and said, "Don't worry, tell me your story first."

in Sweden, the priest doesn't read for every couple with a stereotyped template, so she doesn't know what everyone should do at the wedding until she hears the couple's story.

at that time, I wanted to hold a wedding abroad, because my husband and I were very addicted to the movie-like "I, XXX, take XXX as my husband/wife" vows, which was also the part we were most looking forward to.

A corner outside the church

when the priest roughly said vows, I cried like a tearful person.

she said, "you have come from so far away in China for a private and solemn wedding. I know how much you love each other and what I should pray for you. Don't worry."

after communicating, I took my parents for a walk at the beach behind the church. The cell phone made do with it.

5. Sweden time

it can be said that bad luck. It was strange weather of strong wind, sun, light rain, Lesser Snow and small hail that morning. Our honeymoon suite is the top floor of a small House. I have been sitting at the table facing the skylight, staring out of the window, staring at the top of the church, hoping for the weather to improve.

looking up out of the window is the top of the church.

my parents are more nervous than me. My mother has been ironing my skirt. My father is running up and down to feel the weather. He is afraid that I can't stand wearing too little, so he says he will try to see if he can resist it. Fatherly love is like a mountain.

Lena wheezed upstairs and told me that they had studied it carefully and that the weather at 3pm was the best.

therefore, the exact time of the wedding is not determined until noon on the wedding day.

Is it surprising and exciting to get an elegant mother of the bride dresses with jackets for your event? Find your favorite and it will remain its fashion look over time.

I started dressing after breakfast without sticking false eyelashes, which my mother tried to wear. It is also the first time in my life to put on makeup so seriously.

the hair is made by my mother, the princess's head is made by braids, and my mother's favorite brooch is pinned to her hair.

by this time my husband has gone downstairs, one is to take a look at the weather with you, and the other is to social with the priest and the relevant staff in charge of my wedding.

three o'clock in the afternoon. I went downstairs in my wedding dress, with high heels in my hand, and my mother helped me with my skirt.

I am cold and nervous, shivering and even stomachache.

Mr.

Mr.

the wind is still strong, with a little snow particles and raindrops in the wind, but the sky is blue, the sun is strong, and rainbow can be seen vaguely. Several Swedes told me that the weather was fine and there was everything, especially when raindrop means luck, said we would be very happy.

the path outside the church

I walked into the church and saw Astrid, dressed in her most grand priest's dress, standing opposite and waiting for me with a smile.

Lena trotted hurriedly, handed me the bouquet and told me that she had kept it carefully for several hours. It was beautiful. Parents are sitting on the side of the church. There are a few rose petals sprinkled on the road, and our love music sounded behind it.

I thought I would be so nervous that I couldn't hear the priest clearly. But in fact, I heard every word she said very clearly.

Astrid said:

We do not know how many thousands of blessings have been said here and now today it is you.

There are three things that last forever: faith, hope and love.

some excerpts from the priest's prayer

I refrained from crying throughout the whole process. Everything in the world disappeared, leaving only the husband standing beside me, the priest who spoke, spinning like a dream, and time and space stood still within the two square meters where the three of us were standing.

the weather was so cold that my husband and I were so cold that our noses and hands were so red that we could vaguely feel that he was shaking because he was nervous, and I didn't even dare to look up at him. I am clearly aware of theseTen minutes will be an unforgettable time in my life, so force myself to feel the cold, tension and excitement deeply while I am so nervous and numb.

in fact, when this moment is happening, we can realize how difficult, cherish and irreplaceable this moment is. It is often accompanied by slow and repressed heartache, afraid that time is too fast, and fear that I will forget. Happy and heart-wrenching two diametrically opposite emotions are intertwined, feeling fragmented, but at the same time knowing that the most important people are around, in fact, very complete. It's dizzy. It's beautiful.

when it came to vows, I choked up several times and even couldn't make a sound. My husband handed me a tissue and hugged me tightly. Astrid told me it\ & # 39 | s ok, just deep breath.

the line of sight is so blurred that when exchanging the ring, my mind is even blank. I don't know where the ring is going. I looked up at my husband. His eyes turned red, and I couldn't stop crying.

I know that this is where the new life really begins.

vows, exchange rings

at the end of the wedding, Astrid hugged us and blessed us again.

after the wedding, Lena and the photographer took off their clothes and trotted over me. I was extremely cold and numb.

Lena prepared hot tea and coffee for me, warmed up for a quarter of an hour, and everyone went to the seaside to take pictures with us.

after experiencing extreme tension and bewilderment, there is some excitement of wanting to misbehave and rebel. Ears, nose and hands were red with cold, but I was still happy to walk to the seaside.

Yes, the Nike shoes I wear

the sea breeze is very strong. I took a lot of pictures and everyone had a good time.

the sea breeze is blowing so hard that it is colder than at the wedding.

the follow-up is to invite you back to hotel, a small Swedish party.

recall that when I came back from a walk with my parents the day before the wedding, I couldn't help crying when I mentioned the wedding in my room. My husband and I simply danced at home with music and love songs, and felt that the time was so beautiful.

before leaving Gotland, the staff opened the church and left us enough to hang around inside. When I went in, I saw that the rose petals of the day before yesterday were still on the ground, and the simple pots of flowers for the wedding were placed in the room. I hugged my husband and cried again.

this is a minimalist wedding, there is no complicated process and anxious preparation, do not need to care about the arrangements of the guests, is really our own small wedding.

of course, I can't help but envy the magnificent and large weddings of many friends. I feel that this is really a little shabby. But in retrospect, I still feel happy in my heart, like a force running through the bone marrow, injected with a powerful soup that will not dissipate or dissolve, such as Popeye ate spinach, the beautiful girl changed her body, and the gray wolf finally ate Pleasant Goat. It is the most precious memory for me and my husband in this life. It is an important part of our lives and a concrete connection between life and dreams. It is simple but important.

May every couple who are going to get married have their own dream wedding, to bless everyone.