It was, after months of anticipation and preparation, a day. Erik and Astrid both decided to perform the second marriage ceremony deep inside Lapland-a region that always enchants the couple with its brutal beauty and stubborn quiet. They had traveled north with their closest friends and family, ready to celebrate their love in the vast, snowy wilderness that felt, to them, like the edge of the world. This ceremony would be smaller, less formal, but in many ways, even more special than the first-a chance to simply exist with each other in the moment, surrounded by the timeless landscape.
The morning was quiet, in an ethereal calm that hung over the terrain of snow. Erik and Astrid had rented a cluster of small, cozy cabins for everyone, and the guests were slowly stirring awake, muffled in the warmth of soft blankets, sipping on hot coffee and tea. The snow had blanketed the land overnight, leaving the world untouched and pristine, and a pale morning light bathed the scene. It was as if even the falling of the snow waited for this day to fall, and somehow, everything in nature was ready for that day.
Astrid was awake, staring from her window into the world. She was feeling her heart swell-up with excitement and serenity. Dressed in a thick woolen robe, she stood there, lost in thought, the world outside reminding her of all the long walks she and Erik had shared. It was a world that made her feel as though time had slowed down, a reminder of all the gentle moments that had led her here. Erik tapped lightly on her door, opening it a crack and calling in to her. "Morning, love. You ready to go for a walk before everything gets started?" She turned, her face lighting up at the sight of him, dressed in his usual warm winter layers, his cheeks already flushed from the cold.
"I'd love that," she replied. They wrapped themselves in layers and stepped outside, the crisp air filling their lungs and their breaths forming misty clouds that disappeared into the chill. They wandered along a snowy path that stretched between trees weighed down with fresh snow, their branches bending like gentle arches. Erik reached for her hand, and together, they walked in companionable silence, appreciating the peacefulness of the day and the landscape that surrounded them.
"I think I'm more nervous for this one than the first," Erik admitted, breaking the silence with a chuckle. "It feels. different, doesn't it?"
Astrid nodded, squeezing his hand. "It does. I think it's the place. It's like… everything here matters a little more, as if it's all magnified by this incredible beauty." She looked up at him, her eyes bright and clear. "I wouldn't have chosen anywhere else."
They returned to the cabins by midday, where everyone was in a quiet, excited bustle of preparation for the ceremony.
Astrid's mother dressed her in a gown especially chosen for the snowbound setting. The gown was simple and elegant, layered over soft, white wool, lined with delicate fur along the collar. She put on a shawl and gloves to keep warm and finished it off by tying a small bunch of local winter berries and pine branches together with a ribbon. Her mother stepped back, surveying her work. "You look beautiful, Astrid," she said, her voice full of pride and emotion. "I'm so happy to be here with you today.
Astrid hugged her mother close, grateful for the chance to share this day with the people she loved. It was all one big, extended family affair: intimate, warm, and full of laughter. Astrid could hear soft music drifting from the central cabin, where Erik's friends were busy setting up for the evening celebration.
Meanwhile, Erik was getting ready in his cabin with his father and brothers, all of whom had bits of advice, encouragement, and even a few well-meaning jokes to offer. His family had brought him a traditional Nordic shawl to wear over his suit, hand-stitched by his grandmother. Wrapped in this shawl as he stepped out, the love of his family cloaked him, and he felt deeply connected with his heritage.
Finally, the moment of the ceremony had arrived.
Erik stood at the edge of a frozen lake where they had chosen to say their vows, a space framed by tall pines that formed a natural cathedral. As Astrid walked toward him, the snow crunching beneath her feet, it seemed as though the entire world fell silent. With snow-clothed trees around her, blending with the landscape, she seemed almost framed in with a sparkle in her eye, filled with all joy and calm of the heart. This small gathering of family and friends watched in quiet awe-wrapped in scarves, hats, and heavy, wrapped blankets-as Astrid slowly, deliberately made her way toward Erik.
This was one of those real, genuine moments that sort of caught everybody by surprise. Here, amidst the vastness of nature, Astrid and Erik fitted into this landscape of wild beauty. Side by side, they gazed into each other's eyes as the officiant-an old friend of the family-started the ceremony. "Astrid and Erik," he began, his voice resonant in the cold air, "we stand here together, surrounded by the beauty and power of nature, to honor the commitment you've chosen to make to one another. May this place, this moment, serve as a reminder of the strength and depth of your love."
In the giving of their vows, the words were simple but spoken from the heart with quiet certainty. Erik's voice was firm as he looked into Astrid's eyes. "Astrid, you have been my strength, my home, and my friend. I promise to love you in all seasons, through every challenge, and to share with you every joy. Today, here in this place we both love, I promise to be yours.
Astrid's voice wasn't quite steady, but her eyes didn't waver. "Erik, with you, I came into my own. You are my partner, my friend, my choice every day. I promise to stand with and support you in the following of your dreams and to build a life with you filled with love and meaning.
Their words hung in the air, each one a promise woven into the silence of the snow-filled world around them.
They slipped rings onto each other's fingers, their hands trembling only slightly from the cold, and then, in front of those closest to them, they sealed their vows with a kiss. The guests erupted in cheers, their voices echoing through the trees, laughter filling the air as Erik wrapped his arms around Astrid and held her close. As the afternoon wore on, the wedding party moved to a small lodge near the cabins for the reception.
Inside, the room was warm and inviting, lit by a roaring fire and the glow of dozens of candles. Lush garlands of evergreen decked out the tables, and an unobtrusive set of dinnerware graced each setting. As families settled into their seats, steaming bowls of slow-cooked vegetables, fresh catches of fish, and golden brown loaves of bread soon followed. The room warmed up in a way no fire could provide: The love within the space would grow. Erik's family gave toasts, remembering tender moments and funny stories; each story was followed by laughter and applause. Then Astrid's friends toasted her too, sharing their memories, until the room resounded with music, laughter, and dance. Erik had ordered a live band for the time being, and when they started playing their first tune, he took Astrid's hand and pulled her into the small dancing area. They swayed together in each other's arms, moving slowly without haste.
They danced into the hours, and as it wore on, some of the guests began to filter outside, stepping into the stillness of the night. Above them, the northern lights started to dance across the sky, their colors swirling in shades of green and purple, casting a surreal glow across the landscape. Astrid and Erik joined their guests, standing hand in hand as they gazed up at the celestial display.
The beauty of the moment left them speechless, and Erik looked down at Astrid, pulling her close as the lights continued to play across the sky.
They stood in the quiet of the night, surrounded by family, friends, and the vastness of the world around them, feeling a deep and profound gratitude for the love they had found. They knew this was a beginning of something beautiful: a promise under the wide, starry sky of Lapland, bound by timeless wilderness and the love they would always carry.
THE END!