Inside the winter wonderland nuptials of Olympic darling Therese Johaug and Nils Jakob Hoff

For Norwegian Olympic darling and four-time gold medallist skier, Therese Johaug, planning her wedding day was just like prepping for a podium moment, except this time she knew who’d be standing by her side.

“Nils Jakob and I met by chance at the airport in Zürich back in 2013,” she says, referring to her beau, former medal-winning rower, Nils Jakob Hoff. “I didn’t really believe in love at first sight, until then. It was just something about him that made my heartbeat fast from the very first time I saw him – it was meant to be.”

The couple spent the next eight years dating until Nils Jakob proposed at Johaug’s favourite place in the Italian Alps, Seiser Alm, on Christmas Eve. “We were out cross-country skiing – of course – and suddenly, he was on his knee, asking me to marry him,” she says. “I was preparing for the Winter Olympic Games, but let’s just say we celebrated like there was no tomorrow that day!”

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The couple chose wedding planner, Amanda Strand, to help create the winter wonderland wedding of their dreams, Strand saying the design was “inspired by nature with green forests and snowy mountains.” And of course, there were symbolic nods to Johaug’s Olympic career throughout, including her gown.

The couple’s New Year’s Eve nuptials was held in Røros, a small, quaint town in middle of Norway which was meaningful to the bride and provided the perfect fairytale winter wedding backdrop. “Røros is close to Dalsbygda, the village where I grew up,” says Johaug. “It’s well known for its cold, white winters, and picturesque environment.”

The wedding weekend began with a welcome dinner in Dalsbygda, with the theme of ‘old après ski,’ and included outdoor games and some skiing. The ceremony was held in the church of Røros, which dates back to 1784 and is considered one of the most important cultural heritage sites in Norway.

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The bride’s custom silk, tulle, and lace wedding gown was designed in collaboration with Norwegian brand ByTimo.

“It was extra special getting married in a Norwegian design, and the team were a joy to work with.” Two years in the making, Johaug’s gown was both unique and meaningful. “Snow crystals and diamonds have been symbols for my cross-country skiing career, and so it felt both very meaningful and personal to include this handmade embroidery,” she says. “Since we got married on New Year’s Eve, I thought it would be fun to add some sparkle, too, and so we added pearls. It turned out amazing, exceeding my wildest dreams.” The second dress, also made by ByTimo, was made for dancing, and was also adored with glittering snow crystals.

Johaug’s great aunt made a beautiful cape with matching gloves for her sleigh ride from the ceremony to the reception. Outdoors, Johaug donned white moon boots and champagne coloured Loeffer Randal heels indoors. Her earrings were white gold and diamonds, shaped as snow crystals to compliment the embroidery in her gown.

The groom wore the bunad, the traditional national costume, which was fitting with the music for the ceremony – also traditional Norwegian.

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Johaug says, nothing can compare walking down the aisle to meet her husband, perhaps, not even the Olympics. “Words cannot describe that feeling,” she says. “I was a flower girl when I was five years old and ever since then I've dreamt of one day becoming a bride myself, and to get married in church,” says Johaug. “To walk down the aisle with my father, surrounded by all our loved ones, and the sight of Nils Jakob waiting for me at the altar was just pure magic.”

For Johaug, the wedding reception had to be the perfect balance of wedding elegance meets “one hell of a party with a New Year’s sparkle to it!” It’s safe to say this objective was achieved. “We welcomed all our guests [to the reception] straight from the ceremony,” she says. “The dinner was in many ways a continuation of the party, with several surprises and an electric atmosphere,” she says.

During the wedding dinner (a delicious compilation of local ingredients including reindeer, root vegetables, and goat cheeses), guests were treated to live music performances including a concert by Norwegian artist, Staysman (Stian Thorbjørnsen).

Looking back at their weekend, the couple set out to have the winter wedding of their dreams – and they did. “I felt extremely grateful for the love we share, and for all the wonderful people who had come all the way to Røros to cherish this precious moment with us.”

See all the snapshots from the nuptials below: