Hygge Wedding: Is It Really Possible

Jan 2, 2019Weddings2 comments

Being from Finland I had been aware of Danish Hygge concept for a year or two. This Christmas Santa brought me The Little Book of Hygge by Meik Wiking, which I read through in a day and half. Inspired by the Hygge book I started to think, could a wedding be hyggeligt? After all it’s the very epitome of a happy occasion and heartfelt party.

What is Hygge made off?

Let’s start with looking what things are considered hygge. If you’re interested reading more about Hygge do read the book (I really loved it). I’m just going over the few main things here that are relevant when it comes to weddings.

Hygge means the feeling of comfort and happiness, when there’s no stress or worries and you can forget the world outside this pleasurable little bubble. Coziness, warmth, and feeling of home are all good words to explain what Hygge is. The comfortable corner at your home can be Hygge. Warm socks and the favorite soft knit also, just like having friends over for a potluck dinner when the weather outside is dreadful. Or the moment after a workday when you get to sit down for a coffee and warm bun etc. Hygge is most often small, enjoyable things like that to bring the feeling of happiness to you.

The hygge manifesto as seen in the book summaries the practical ways to create Hygge to your life. Here’s the manifesto as it’s written in the book and some words added by me to further open it.

1. Atmosphere: Turn down the lights and light some candles.

2. Presence: Be here now. Turn off the phones and ignore social media.

3. Pleasure: Coffee, chocolate, cakes, candy. Enjoy the treats without quilt.

4. Equality: ‘We’ over ‘me’. Do thing together, share the nice moments.

5. Gratitude: Take it in. This might be as good as it gets. Enjoy the little things.

6. Harmony: It’s not a competition. We already like you. No need to impress.

7. Comfort: Get comfy. Take a break. It’s all about relaxation, physical and mental.

8.Truce: No drama. Let’s discuss ‘flammable’ topics like politics another day.

9. Togetherness: Build relationships and narratives. “Do you remember…?”

10. Shelter: This is your tribe. This is place for peace and security. This is home.

Creating a Hygge Wedding

Now that we know more about Hygge and practical side of it, let’s look it together from the perspective if a wedding. In my mind the idea of Hygge wedding is perfection: warm and happy occasion where you feel relaxed, loved and make unforgettable, beautiful memories.

Let’s go again over the Hygge Manifesto but this time think how it would work at a wedding. The next list is not in the same order as the original manifesto as I wanted to move from the big choices when it comes to weddings and continue to the smaller details. Here we go!

1. Shelter

If the feeling of home is what we’re after, can you actually have the wedding at your home? This young coupe did! Or maybe at your parent’s home perhaps. If not, consider having the wedding at your home town if you live elsewhere currently or search a place that makes you feel cozy and relaxed. Think outside the box. Maybe you could have your wedding at bookstore or some cozy coffee house or bakery, or rent a cabin, what could be cozier than that?

The next parts: Togetherness, Harmony, and Truce deal with your guest list.

2. Togetherness

With this I think of guests. Keep the numbers small and ask only the closest and most dear to be a part of your wedding. Absolutely keep out the people you feel uncomfortable with if you can. I understand that there may be people you feel obligated to invite. Some of your closest people may even put the pressure on you to invite guests you wouldn’t like. Try to keep in mind that it is your day as a couple and the point is to bring together the nearest and dearest to celebrate you!

3. Harmony

This is greatly tied to the togetherness. When the people you’re inviting are the closest and most loved ones there’s no need to try to impress them. They know you and are absolutely loving the chance to be part of your important day anyway. These are the people who want all the best for you and.

4. Truce

The no drama part can be achieved partly by going over the guest list and trying to keep the extremely strongly optioned people out of it or if you’re doing the seating chart, keeping them well away of each other. If you know that some people you love have a habit of starting a scene you could inform your bridesmaids and groomsmen to keep an eye on those people.

Download our Free Hygge Wedding Toolbox to learn more about how to put together a perfect Hygge Wedding.

5. Comfort

Think about your own comfort when it comes to clothes etc. The wedding dress can be comfy, go with something looser without a corset or crinoline. The groom doesn’t have to wear a suit, khakis and jacket can be enough, add a touch of fancy with a boutonnière. Pick flats over high heels or heck, get married in knitted socks! Make sure you will be warm enough or depending on the weather, not overheated. Remember to tell about the dress code to the guests. I think many people would appreciate more relaxed dress code as suits and gowns can be expensive. Get a feel of simple Scandi style wedding from our moodboard.

6. Equality

Remember why you’re getting married and keep the wedding about ’we’. Make the big decisions together as a couple. If you’re planning to DIY things, ask friends or family if they want to take part. Make a cozy evening or day out of it and don’t be too hard for yourself or others when it comes to crafting invitation or tying flowers.

7. Pleasure

Good food is one of the best things there is in this world. It doesn’t have to be fancy or look like something out of a Michelin restaurant. Think comfort foods and make sure there’s enough of it. Don’t forget the sweets! How about having a potluck wedding or just sitting in a one large table and passing the dishes from one pair of hands to another.

8. Atmosphere

You cannot have too many candles or fairy lights. If you can bring in the living fire in the form of candles or a fireplace, do so. Use plenty of string lights as decoration. Create soft and warm lighting. Light is especially important in winter weddings. Find inspiration from our Viking Wedding moodboard.

9. Presence

Ask people to leave their phones in their pockets and do so yourself. Hire a photographer or ask one or two persons from your friends to be in charge of photographing the wedding. Make sure the guests know they will see and receive the pictures taken during the evening. Send them a link to the pictures after you receive the photographs – or better yet, print few photos for each guests to go out with the thank you notes.

and above all…

10. Gratitude

Stop from time to time to take it in and enjoy the moment!

More Hygge Wedding Inspiration

Sometimes the little details make the big difference and when it comes to Hygge it certainly is so. I’ll add some my own thoughts and ideas when it comes to decoration and other wedding inspiration. Here you’ll also find YES and NO things you can use to get better idea what things can make wedding more Hygge.

The Essence of Hygge Wedding

rustic second hand patina vintage small comfortable natural things nice to touch warm homemade things with history time to just be familiar things wood softness sweetness humble slow simple countryside

Big no for Hygge Wedding

bling shiny bright large noisy hard cold artificial tight schedule totally new and unknown stuff plastic show off expensive city busy formal store bought pressure of perfection stiff dress code titles big spaces

Now that we have a clear idea about what is hygge for weddings and what isn’t (who needs a pressure of perfection anyway) let’s paint a picture of a perfect hygge wedding for inspiration.

Think about a countryside wedding at the backyard or summer cottage of your family, with dozen to twenty guests who you know well. Relaxed and informal ceremony and reception, no stiff dress code and loose day schedule. Comfort food, perhaps at least partly homemade topped off with tea and coffee and cakes. Maybe a naked cake topped with berries! Locally grown flowers which are loosely hand tied to small bouquets and table decorations. Candles, fairy lights and a fire pit to enjoy the warmth at the evening. Hand crafted or vintage decoration to beautify the space. How does this sound? Get inspiration from a real wedding with handcrafted details!

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One of the biggest reasons to love a hygge wedding is that it puts the focus back on what really is important in a wedding. The very fundamental of throwing a party is to get all the lovely people together and enjoy the time. That means hygge translates to a wedding really well because it’s all about creating the mood for safe and comfortable place.

Hygge weddings do remind me of vintage style weddings – a bit like those our grandparents had. When people didn’t have that much extra but the weddings were an important occasion to see relatives and friends.

Actually now that I think about it, I find many similarities of my own wedding to this perfect Hygge wedding. Life is funny sometimes! 😀 Here you go! Hopefully this post gave you tons of ideas and inspiration.

P.S Don’t forget to get your free checklist to help you plan your lovely Hygge wedding. Connect with me and Heili Bridal at Instagram and Pinterest for more wedding inspiration!

Keep the discussion flowing on below! Tell me what do you think about a laid back hygge wedding. Could you have one?