The Ultimate Guide to Norse Wedding Traditions and Customs

Norse wedding traditions are a beautiful way to honor your heritage while also showing the everlasting love between you and your partner. Often referred to as a "Viking wedding," these Icelandic ceremonies are sacred and rooted in centuries-old tradition. Guests can expect to see traditional handfastings, braided bridal hairstyles and even sword ceremonies.

Whether you or your partner come from a Nordic background and are looking for ways to incorporate Norse wedding traditions into your upcoming ceremony or you are just attending a Viking wedding and want to know what to expect, this guide deep dives into a few wedding customs and traditions to help you prepare for the big day.

A Brief History of Norse Wedding Traditions

The Norse people have a rich and complex wedding culture filled with beautiful, Old-World traditions that are still practiced today. The history of these weddings are as fascinating as they are beautiful. Their culture was rich with poetry and storytelling, which is how many of these traditions have been passed down.

In fact, it's said that the very first wedding ceremony took place when Odin, the king of the Norse gods, married his wife Frigg, the goddess of love, marriage and fertility. This union was considered holy and set the precedent for all future Nordic marriages. The bride wore a flower crown while her bridesmaids carried her train behind her, and everyone gathered around them as she walked down an aisle formed by guests holding candles in their hands while Odin donned a fur cape draped over his shoulders.

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Norse Prewedding Traditions

Even before the big day arrives, there are some notable Norse prewedding traditions to be aware of. Read on to get the scoop on what to expect prior to the main event.

Weddings Take Place on a Friday

Traditional Viking weddings were always held on a Friday, which is known as Frigga's Day or Freya's Day. Freya was the goddess of marriage, love and fertility, so it was considered good luck for the couple to marry on a Friday.

The Norse wedding rituals also stated that ceremonies had to be held at a specific time of year, between the end of the harvest in late summer or fall and before the arrival of heavy snowfall, to avoid difficult travel and food scarcity. Be sure to book your wedding venue early if you are considering getting married during this particular window of time.

Bathhouse Maidenhood Ritual

Prior to the ceremony, brides would be accompanied by married female friends and family. The bride would cleanse herself in a bathhouse to symbolically wash away her maidenhood status. Scandinavian women set to be wed also wear a kransen, a circlet on their hair that symbolizes their virginity. This is removed during the bathhouse ritual to represent the transition to womanhood and saved for the bride's future daughter.

Norse Wedding Attire

Norse weddings are known for their beautiful, distinct attire. When planning out what to wear to a Norse wedding, keep this guide in mind.

Bride and Groom Attire

Traditionally, Norse brides didn't wear white for Viking wedding ceremonies but rather flowy dresses with different colors and patterns. Due to the cooler temperatures of the region, couples would wear multiple layers of clothing as well with fur-lined coats over the top. The grooms would also bear their sword, which was considered the most important piece of his attire.

Intricate Bridal Hairstyles

Historically, the bride's hair was very important to the Vikings, even more so than the dress itself. Loose, flowing hair and intricate braids symbolized the bride's sexuality. Women would gather flowers, straw, wood, crystals, or any other material available to create a bridal crown. The more intricate and ornamented the bride's hair, the better off they were.

Wedding Guest Attire

If guests are encouraged to wear Nordic wedding attire, there are plenty of options out there. Guests can wear boho-inspired dresses with ruffles, flowy fabrics, and faux-fur cloaks. Accessories like Viking headdresses, flower crowns, capes, boots, or even shields and helmets are appropriate.

Norse Wedding Ceremony Traditions

Norse and Viking weddings are steeped in years of tradition, so it's no surprise that the wedding ceremony itself is packed with meaningful rituals. From the handfasting ceremony to an exchange of swords, here's what you can expect.

Handfasting Ceremony

Have you ever heard of a handfasting ceremony? This ritual typically takes place during pagan weddings and is traced back to the ancient Celts, but the Vikings also used it as well. It is often performed by the officiant or an elder member of the family. The bride and groom's hands are bound together with ribbons or cords while reciting their wedding vows. The ceremony symbolizes the intertwining of their lives and is actually the origin of the beloved expression "tying the knot."

Thor's Hammer

Thor isn't just a superhero character! In Norse mythology, he is the God of Thunder and the Son of Odin, and he is known to even represent fertility. During the wedding ceremony, a representation of Thor's hammer, Mjolnir, is often placed in the bride's lap as she asks for Thor's blessing for healthy and strong children.

Exchanging of Swords

You may have heard of the exchanging of rings, but how about swords? Traditionally, the groom would break into the tomb of an ancestor and retrieve a sword to be given to the bride. The bride would also exchange a sword to represent the transfer of protection between the two families, who were now responsible for supporting one another. These days, swords are obviously not stolen; they are just symbolically exchanged with the wedding rings placed on the hilt, making great heirloom pieces to be passed down from generation to generation.

Norse Wedding Reception Traditions

After the wedding ceremony, traditions Norse weddings have receptions with festive entertainment and even a unique sporting event. Here's what you should know.

Running Rituals

Bride running, also known as the bruðhlaup, is a ritual that involves foot racing. Once the ceremony ended, the groom's family would race the bride's to the reception hall. The family that lost would have to serve drinks to the family who arrived first for the rest of the wedding night.

Viking Wedding Entertainment

Many games can be integrated into your wedding entertainment if the venue is outdoors, such as throwing competitions, mock swords, and archery. Some couples even hire an artist to do rune tattoos at the reception. Another fun tradition is to tell guests that throughout the night they can tap on their glasses with cutlery, signaling to the couple they must stand and kiss. If they stamp their feet, that is the cue for the couple to kiss under the table!

Norse Traditional Wedding Food, Drinks & Dessert

Wondering what's on the menu at a Viking or Norse wedding? Read on to find out more.

Viking Wedding Feast

At the newlywed's reception, a magnificent feast is served. Traditional dishes like fish, hog roast, and seasonal vegetables gathered during the early harvest season are served family style for all to enjoy.

Mead and Bridal Ale

Alcoholic beverages, specifically mead, are always expected to be in abundance at Nordic wedding receptions. Newlyweds would drink their mead from a "loving cup" to further represent their marriage, while guests would use Viking drinking horns to hold different ales and mead. If you're planning a Norse wedding, consider providing Viking drinking horns as favors that guests can use during the reception for their beverages!

Norse Postwedding Traditions

It's common for Scandinavian couples to enjoy a honeymoon after their wedding. Believe it or not, the word "honeymoon" is derived from Scandinavian culture. It comes from the practice of drinking mead, or fermented honey, during the first month of the marriage (measured by one moon cycle) in order to improve the likelihood of fertility. For modern-day couples, take a trip to the Nordic Region of Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland, or the Faroe Islands, Greenland, and Åland to immerse yourself in the culture.