Kate Bullock, 32, Wodonga, Vic
Love might make you feel all warm and cosy inside, but me and my boyfriend, Dan, have endured our fair share of chilly moments.Take the time we hiked to the base camp of Mount Everest, or the holiday we took to Iceland.We weren't even fazed by swapping sunny Australia for chilly London for a few years. There is just something so refreshing about being cold. Perhaps that tingle in the tip of your nose makes you feel the warmth of true love even more?
What I do know is that when Dan, 35, popped the question three years ago, there was only one place on earth to celebrate our big day. The Arctic Circle! A few years earlier, Dan and I had spent a couple of nights at the Ice Hotel in Sweden. As its name suggests, the hotel is made from packed snow and ice.Each year in spring, the hotel melts before being rebuilt by artists, architects and snow builders, every November. Immediately we knew it was the perfect place to cement our love. But I was so caught up in the idea of a white wedding, it never crossed my mind it might cause some problems in the wardrobe department. 'I'm actually going to freeze,' I groaned to Dan. What had I been thinking?
Every dress was flimsy and strapless - not ideal when it's minus 25 degrees.Fortunately, I'd heard of a place that made costumes for music videos and stage productions. I was thrilled when they said they'd make me an icy green silk dress with a blue underlay and thermal material sewn into the corset. To top off my warm dress, I got a bolero jacket and a pair of $15 sheepskin boots. Dan got snow shoes and thermal leggings for under his suit too.
The hotel looked after all the details, from the green Swedish wedding cake to the banquet. When we arrived with our 12 guests, the astonished looks of my parents John and Julienne made it all worthwhile. They'd never seen anything like it! Carved from huge blocks of ice taken from the Torne River nearby, the hotel and chapel were jaw-droppingly beautiful. Even our room had a moon and stars theme, with tiny lights twinkling in the walls.While I got ready by having special make-up applied that wouldn't freeze, our guests took a husky ride in the snow.
As the wedding began, I sat next to Dan on a bench covered with reindeer skin. We happily endured the ceremony at minus five degrees! Afterwards, Dan and I headed off for a romantic husky ride before joining our guests for a wedding meal served on tiny plates made of ice. Then my sister, Renee, 35, put the icing on the cake, so to speak. After her speech, she pulled out photos attached to Paddle Pop sticks. 'Here's a few people who wished they could have been here to help celebrate,' she said, as our guests cheered happily. Taped to each was a photo of a family member who wasn't able to make it to Sweden. As we posed for photos to send home, I felt so warm inside. Finally it was time for our first dance, which Dan and I performed on a frozen floor. We had a ball and I guess it's no surprise we all ended up dancing to a specially-selected rendition of Ice Ice Baby!
Two years on, Dan and I are happier than ever. And while Dan's glad to be baking on the beach these days, I can't wait for our next icy adventure. Because if there's one thing I know for sure, it's that there's nothing quite like cuddling up to the man of your dreams when it's cold outside.
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