Search
So what were the Norse traditions like, and how can you incorporate them into your wedding?
Here we provide our thoughts and some suggested ideas for Ring, Clothing and other essential accessories.
Viking themed weddings are becoming increasingly popular as couples look to add a touch of Norse culture to their big day.
If you're considering having a Viking-themed wedding, here are a few Viking wedding ideas you need to consider to ensure it's truly authentic.
Set The Date
The most important thing is to keep the wedding on Friday, which is also called Frigg's day and the Vikings had their wedding on this day to get the blessings of Freya, the goddess of love, fertility, and marriage.
Viking Dress Code
The next step is to think about the dress code. For a Viking-themed wedding, traditional Scandinavian clothing is a must. This means that both the bride and groom should wear cloaks and tunics made from wool or linen. The bride's dress should be especially beautiful, as she is meant to represent Freya, the goddess of love and beauty.
Viking-Themed Venue
You will also need to choose a venue that ....
We've helped outfit entire Viking wedding parties with authentic tunics, cloaks, dresses, and Norse jewelry. From the bride and groom to every guest at the table, we carry everything you need to make your ceremony look right.
Viking weddings were not casual affairs. They involved days of preparation, sacred rituals, feasting, and deeply symbolic traditions rooted in Norse religion. If you want to plan an authentic Viking wedding or a Norse-inspired handfasting ceremony, this guide covers everything from the ceremony and vows to the clothing, jewelry, and food.
Norse weddings followed strict customs passed down through generations. The Icelandic sagas give us most of what we know about these rituals, and many couples still practice them today.
In Norse mythology, Friday belongs to the goddess Frigg (also associated with Freyja), the goddess of love, fertility, and marriage. Vikings believed holding a wedding on any other day was a bad omen. If you want your Viking wedding to honor tradition, Friday is the only day that counts.
Maidenhood carried great significance in Viking society. The bride wore a Kransen, a gilt circlet symbolizing purity and virginity. During the wedding ceremony, the Kransen was removed and stored away, later passed to the bride's future daughter when she reached marriageable age.
Replacing the Kransen was the bridal crown. This marked the bride's transition from maiden to married woman. It was one of the most important moments in the entire ceremony.
Viking grooms underwent their own preparation rituals. The most significant was the sword ceremony. The groom's attendants placed a sword in a grave, symbolizing the groom's death as a boy and his rebirth as a man. Many Norse sagas describe the groom breaking into an ancestral grave to retrieve a family sword before the wedding day.
No Viking wedding was complete without the bride and groom exchanging swords. This tradition symbolized the union of two families and the strength of the new couple. The swords represented a willingness to defend and sacrifice for each other. The groom's ancestral sword would eventually be passed down to their future son.
Before the ceremony, the couple would ask Thor for his blessing. A goat was often sacrificed in his honor, and the blood was kept in the temple for use during the wedding rituals. Today, couples honor the Norse gods by including statues, images, or small offerings of food and drink during the ceremony. Some keep a fire burning in honor of the gods throughout the event.
The handfasting ceremony is one of the oldest and most recognized Viking wedding traditions. The bride and groom each take one of the other's hands and bind them together with a cord or ribbon. As they do, they make pledges of love, devotion, fidelity, and support. Once the pledges are complete, the couple is officially married.
Handfasting has roots in both Norse and Celtic traditions, and it remains one of the most popular elements in modern Viking-themed and pagan wedding ceremonies. Whether you call it a handfasting wedding ceremony, a knot-tying ceremony, or a hand-binding ritual, the meaning stays the same.
Viking wedding feasts were massive events lasting days. The bride and groom sat at the head of the table, flanked by both families. The meal started with soup, followed by roasted meats and vegetables. Mead, ale, and wine flowed throughout. The couple shared a drink from a horn to signify their union, then feasted and celebrated late into the night with music and dancing.
Known as the bruðhlaup, this foot race between the families of the bride and groom showcased the bride's strength. The losing family served drinks to the winner at the feast. In some cases, the bruðhlaup also helped determine which family held the upper hand in marriage contract negotiations.
Viking brides brought a dowry to their new household. The size reflected the wealth and status of her family. Common items included a bed, linens, a loom, spinning wheel, cooking pots, food supplies, and a dowry chest containing personal clothes, jewelry, and keepsakes. Even kings and queens offered enormous dowries for their daughters.
Viking wedding vows were simple and direct. A few lines focused on the couple's love for each other and their commitment to spend their lives together. The ceremony was more than a personal pledge. It was a way of uniting two families and forging a new alliance. The exchange of the ancestral sword reinforced this bond, showing that the bride was now part of the groom's clan.
Modern couples writing Viking-inspired handfasting vows often draw from Norse poetry and saga references. Keep them short. Keep them strong. That's the Viking way.
What you wear matters. Viking wedding clothing was carefully chosen to reflect status, family honor, and devotion to the gods.
The traditional Norse bride wore a dress made of wool or linen, often decorated with detailed embroidery. The dress was full-sleeved or short-sleeved and reached the ground. It was belted at the waist and sometimes featured a train. The more elaborate the dress, the higher the bride's social standing.
We carry a full line of women's Viking wedding clothing including dresses, underdresses, cloaks, and belts made from natural fabrics like cotton and linen.
The groom's outfit is just as important as the bride's. Viking men wore tunics made of wool or linen, reaching from mid-thigh to knee-length. A cloak or cape was worn over the tunic for warmth and status. Belts, arm rings, and brooches completed the look.
Our collection includes tunics, cloaks, trousers, belts, and accessories for the groom and his entire party.
The bride's hair was usually pulled back from the face, often braided. Some brides chose updos or loose curls. Flowers, jewels, and decorative combs adorned the hair, with the bridal crown as the centerpiece. The more elaborate the crown, the higher the bride's social status.
Grooms typically wore their hair simply as a sign of respect for the bride. Some chose braids or pulled-back styles, but the focus was on the bride.
Viking wedding bands carried deep symbolism. The groom's ring was often made of iron, representing strength. The bride's ring was typically silver, representing purity. Both were sometimes inscribed with words of love or Norse symbols.
Beyond rings, Viking wedding jewelry included arm rings, brooches, pendants, and torcs. These pieces displayed family wealth and honored the gods. Browse our full collection of Viking wedding rings and Norse jewelry to find the right pieces for your ceremony.
Viking women took care with their appearance on the wedding day. For a Norse-inspired look, start with clean, well-prepared skin. Use a long-wearing foundation that holds up through hours of feasting and dancing. Add a natural flush to the cheeks with blush or bronzer. Define the eyes with dark liner for a dramatic look. Finish with a long-wearing lip color that complements your dress.
More couples are choosing Viking-themed weddings every year. Here's how to make yours authentic.
Honor Frigg's Day. The Vikings held their weddings on Fridays to receive the blessing of Freyja, the goddess of love and marriage. This is the single most important scheduling decision for an authentic Viking wedding.
Both the bride and groom should wear traditional Scandinavian clothing. Wool and linen tunics, cloaks, and dresses are a requirement for authenticity. We've dressed entire wedding parties from head to toe with historically-inspired garments made from quality natural fabrics. No cheap costumes.
Outdoor settings work best. A meadow, forest clearing, or riverside location creates the right atmosphere. Barns and rustic halls also capture the Viking feast hall feeling. The key is natural surroundings and open space for the ceremony and feast.
Stick to hearty, simple dishes. Roasted meats, root vegetables, bread, stews, grains, and berries are historically accurate. For drinks, honey mead is the traditional choice, made by fermenting water and honey. Ale and wine round out the table. For dessert, try an apple or cherry cake.
Hire musicians who play Nordic folk songs or traditional instruments. Consider medieval reenactors for a mock battle or combat demonstration. Storytelling, skaldic poetry readings, and traditional dancing all fit the theme.
Planning a Viking wedding takes more than just knowing the traditions. You need the right gear. We supply complete wedding parties with authentic Viking tunics, dresses, cloaks, belts, brooches, rings, and arm rings. Real materials. Traditional designs. Pieces your guests will actually want to wear again.
For Wedding Clothing: Visit our collection of Women's Viking Wedding Clothing
For Wedding Jewelry: Visit our collection of Viking Wedding Rings
