FINLAND UP TO DATE...

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Save The Date! Saturday July 2, 2011

Welcome to our wedding! Please save the date now, and you will receive an invitation in the future.

Our wedding blog contains information and web-links to make your travel and stay in Finland easy, comfortable, adventurous and fun!  We will up-date information often.  Let us know if you have any questions.  (Don't worry about the snow in some of the pictures, there won't be any snow in July!)

The wedding service will be in Kolari, Finland at this church

The wedding reception will be in the village of Vaattojärvi at this dance hall

Our overnight wedding guests will stay in Ylläs, nature area / ski-resort

(link has info about the Ylläs area. we give your accomodation options in the next section of the blog)
http://www.visitfinland.com/web/guest/finland-guide/where-to-go/lapland/yllas

On the wedding day, overnight guests will travel by a charter bus from Ylläs to Kolari church, then to Vaattojärvi reception dance hall, and finally back to Ylläs at the end of the wedding celebration.

Accomodations at Ylläs

While in Ylläs, we suggest you stay at Lapland Hotels Äkäshotelli.  We have contacted the hotel to receive group rates, and have reserved the following 4 room options for you to choose from.  All of the options are not located in an actual hotel, but either in an apartment style building or a single log cabin. 

-(options 1 & 2) Alp 1 & 2 Superior holiday apartments are very new and comfortable.
-(option 3) Log cabins are a bit more rustic and modest.
-(option 4) Kanerva rooms are basic hotel-like rooms.

*The following prices are for 2 people. 
*Extra adults are 15 euros each.
*Extra children (age 4-14) are 10 euros each.  
*Children under 4 are free.

*All options include a full buffet style breakfast served in the hotel restaraunt.

Äkäshotelli: http://www.laplandhotels.com/EN/hotels/lapland-hotel-akashotelli.html

(options 1 & 2) Alp 1 & Alp 2 -Superior Holiday Apartment: http://www.laplandhotels.com/EN/hotels/lapland-hotel-akashotelli/alp-superior-holiday-apartments.html

(option 1) The price of the Alp 1-Superior Holiday Apartment is 90 euros per night.  It has a separate bedroom and can fit 1-4 people, with a sauna and fireplace.

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(option 2) The price of the Alp 2-Superior Holiday Apartment is 110 euros per night. It has 2 separate bedrooms and 2 bathrooms and can fit 1-6 people, with a sauna and fireplace.

(option 3) Log Cabin. The price for a Log Cabin is 77 euros per night and can fit 1-3 people, with a sauna and fireplace.

(option 4) Kanerva room.  The price for a Kanerva room is 77 euros per night and can fit 1-3 people, with a sauna.

*In order to reserve one of these 4 room options, you must contact the hotel before JUNE 1, 2011.  Just mention Ben and Paula's wedding party when reserving your cabin or room to receive the right price.

*Contact Info:   e-mail: akashotel@laplandhotels.com        phone: 011-358-16-553-300
         

p.s. Ben and Paula are staying in an Alp 1 apartment, so we will see you there too!




 

Travel from Helsinki to Lapland

After you fly into Helsinki, you then travel to northern Finland above the Arctic Circle (Lapland).

Kolari: city where the wedding service is located. (Train station is also here)
Vaattojärvi: village in Kolari where the wedding reception is located.
Ylläs: area where overnight guests will stay.
Rovaniemi: city to fly into from Helsinki. (Train station is also here)
Kittilä: city to fly into from Helsinki.

There are 2 airlines that fly to Lapland, Finnair and Blue 1.  You can fly into Rovaniemi (RVN), which is about 180 kilometers from Ylläs.  OR you can fly into Kittilä (KTT), which is about 45 kilometers from Ylläs.  There are more flight options into Rovaniemi, but you will then have to rent a car and drive to Ylläs.  From Kittilä, you have the option of taking a bus or an airport taxi, or rent a car.

*Depending on your arrival time to Lapland we can try to arrange a pickup for you from the airport.

Finnair: http://www.finnair.fi/finnaircom/wps/portal/travel/en_FI?locale=en_FI

Blue 1: http://www.blue1.com/en/fi/

Car Rental Rovaniemi or Kittilä airport: http://www.webcarhire.com/

***We will find information about buses from the Lapland airport to Ylläs later.


Travel by train from Helsinki to Lapland is an option if you have more time and would like to see the country-side.  The northern most train station is in Kolari, but depending on the time of year, trains may not travel this far north.  The next closest train station where trains always travel is in Rovaniemi.  You do not need to purchase your train tickets far in advance (maybe 2-4 weeks), so it does offer more flexibility with your travel options.

Tickets for VR trains: http://www.vr.fi/eng/

WEDDING REGISTRY:

The most lovely gift for us would be your attendance at our wedding and share in our special day.  If you would like to give us a gift, we are registered at Pottery Barn in the U.S. and MTV 3 in Finland.  You can also donate to the bride and groom's honeymoon bank account.  We will add items to our wedding registry throughout the coming months.

Pottery Barn: http://www.potterybarn.com/registry/find-registry.html

*website sign-in will ask for; 

First name: Benjamin

Last name: Riecks

Date: July, 2011

State: Michigan

MTV 3 lahjalista: http://lahjalista.mtv3.fi/lahjalista/2009/haat.shtml

*MTV 3 listan lahjatoiveita voit hankkia sieltä mistä itse haluat. Jotta lista pysyy ajan tasalla, pyydämme että varaat lahjan nettisivulta jo ennen sen hankkimista.

We look forward to seeing you in Finland, and having you at our wedding!
Love, Ben & Paula