It's an ice day for a white wedding (From Stroud News and Journal)

It's an ice day for a white wedding

NEWLYWEDS Simon and Angie Briggs enjoyed a magical wedding in Lapland, with snowmobile rides, life-sized ice sculptures of The Beatles and a chapel built of ice.

The couple, from Badgers Way, Forest Green, braved temperatures as low as -40 degrees Celsius and slept on a bed made of ice - but they say it was worth it for the breathtaking sights.

"We both think the snow is magical," said Mrs Briggs, 32.

"It changes the landscape in such an amazing way."

"Everyone gets married in the sun but to get married in an ice chapel is something else", said Mr Briggs, 25.

At the start of the month they arrived in Jukkasjarvi in Swedish Lapland, 200 miles from the Arctic Circle, and checked in at The Icehotel on the banks of the River Thorn.

The wedding ceremony took place in the hotel's candlelit chapel, also built of ice.

Their five guests looked on as a Catholic priest sang hymns in Swedish.

"She had a voice like an angel," said Mr Briggs, who wore thermal underwear beneath his morning suit. "I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes."

Both the hotel and chapel melt into the river every April and are rebuilt to a new design in October, just in time for the Christmas tourist season.

After feasting on the local cuisine, which includes moose soup, elk and lingonberries, the couple retired to the wedding suite.

They slept on a bed of ice, under reindeer skins, survival sleeping bags and three layers of clothing.

Unfortunately, the champagne got the better of them, and despite holding on untill 4am they were eventually forced to endure temperatures of -20 degrees Celsius to visit the outside toilet.

But the couple say their three days in Lapland was an unforgettable experience that they would recommend to anyone.

"We've both travelled all over the world and this is one of the most beautiful places we've ever seen," said Mrs Briggs, nee Webster.

"It's something else."