The stunning Icelandic wedding of Mosha Lundström Halbert and Aidan Butler
Mosha is part Icelandic and lived in Reykjavík during her university years, but it wasn’t until a dinner guest suggested the destination that the two realized it was the perfect choice. “When our friend was over for one of Aidan’s English Sunday roasts, she joked that we should ‘meet in the middle’ [of the Atlantic] and get married in Iceland. Aidan and I looked at each other and that was it,” she recalls. “A winter wedding on New Year’s Eve in the middle of nowhere was so unusual, and so we. The groom had never been to Iceland before, and neither had most of the 100 friends and family who traveled there from six different continents, including Europe, South America and Africa. “It seems like everyone had Iceland on their bucket list,” says Mosha. “I felt a great responsibility to act as an ambassador and show them the best of the best.”
That she did. The entire five-day itinerary included activities for guests, such as a warrior woman exercise and an Icelandic sweater pizza party and, the day before the ceremony, a large Viking-themed party. She says: “Aidan is huge Coronation Games a fan [which often shoots in Iceland] and loves costume parties, so we decided to have Iceland Ínvasion Viking themed in Viðey the night before the wedding with medieval roast lamb and cod with Icelandic curd and berries for dessert.”
Viðey — an island off the coast of Reykjavík with one of the oldest houses in the country and a beautiful view of the city — was one of the two locations the couple finally chose for the celebration. Mosha and Aidan chartered a large three-decker boat to take all the festively dressed guests in “fur, leather and horns” to and from the party. Mosha remembers: “When everyone arrived, they were asked to take a shot of Icelandic Brennivín – a very strong alcohol also called the Black Death – as an ‘entrance’ to the party,” she recalls. “From there, we had professional viking performers stage a duel, and at dinner, my mother asked each table to nominate their strongest vikings for a toast. They were all funny, naughty and touching.”
The night continued with Mosha putting on a viking fashion show for guests in the most outlandish costumes and then dancing to a soundtrack that was strictly Scandinavian—Robyn, Of Monsters and Men, Lykke Li and loads of ABBA. Mosha’s favorite part of this inaugural festival, however, came towards the end of the night. “It was one of those nights when Yoko Ono was Imagine peace tower insertion was lit on the island. It is a beautiful piece of outdoor art that emits a mesmerizing glow that can be seen all over the city. “It’s usually only turned on a few times a year,” she says. “It was something I’ll never forget walking up to her and enjoying her beauty, even when the snow and hail fell.
That was only the beginning of the magic, as the next day the bride and groom prepared to make it official. The wedding was black-tie, held at the Gamla Bíó opera house, an Art Deco-style building with sweeping ceilings, chandeliers and light wooden floors that used to house Iceland’s first cinema. For the ceremony and reception, the bride chose to wear an architectural, unique outfit. “My mom is a veteran Canadian fashion designer, and I always knew that if I ever got married, she would make my clothes, which would be ivory and not white. She adds: “That was the easy part. I’m not a wedding person and I’ve never seen a picture or a person in a wedding dress and thought it was something that would suit me or move me. When my mom and I were in Iceland planning the summer, it finally dawned on us: I wore a top with interchangeable skirts and a touch of fur.” Mosha chose a knitted ivory sleeveless top from Wolford, which her mother then customized by creating a more open neckline. “I love a good bodysuit as the foundation of a look,” she says. “I wanted the ceremony and the party skirts that would go over it to both have a pause, which reminded me.” Balenciaga and Dior looks from the 50s and 60s.” For the wedding, they chose a “stunning, stiff yet airy silk organza” with a train and custom over-the-knee suede boots designed by fashion director friend Paul Andrew. To complete her look for the ceremony, Mosha wore crystal snowflake earrings Oscar de la Renta (her “something new”) and a garter her mother covered with Icelandic blue crystals (her “something blue”). The makeup was kept natural and the hair was put up in a traditional braided crown.
The ceremony began with violinist Greta Salóme playing “Hoppípolla” by Sigur Rós. Mosha remembers, “We kept the lights dim and there were hundreds of white pillar candles lit everywhere. The groomsmen walked the bridesmaids down the aisle carrying black lanterns with candles inside. Just before I entered with my father, Joel, the groom lifted the chuppah that my mother made from ribbon and branches. Two dear friends of the couple officiated the Jewish ceremony, and Mosha and Aidan exchanged special rose gold signet rings they found together in England. (They plan to have them buried with the Butler shield.) When Aidan broke the glass, everyone shouted “mazel tov!” and the newlyweds walked back up the aisle while Salóme played her version of Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros’ “Home.”
Among the flickering candles that filled the hall, the reception was about to begin. After the Icelandic “Happy Marriage” toast, an auspicious offer of the country’s traditional food was offered. “We wanted the dinner to be Iceland’s best spread and for people to have as much or as little as they wanted,” says Mosha. “We made smoked salmon, dill herring, black holiday bread and addictive Icelandic spiced butter. There were blinis and caviar, baked potatoes with curd, langoustines with garlic herb curd, grilled cod, baked halibut, double smoked lamb and tenderloin.” She adds: “While everyone was feasting, we had fun playing Canadian and British music: Arctic Monkeys , Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin and Paolo Nutini for him, Drake and Bieber for me!” After speeches, the dancing began, and the happy couple ended up taking their first spin around the ballroom to a surprise tune. “Naturally, we ended up dancing to a Fetty Wap song,” says Mosha. “It was just what the DJ was. playing when we decided we had to get up and dance. Not very romantic, but hey!”
After the first dance, the couple and their guests prepared to top off the wedding and ring in the new year all together. “I quickly changed into my sequin skirt, tank top and parka,” says Mosha. “After we cut the cake [a traditional Icelandic Vinarterta], we brought everyone up to the roof for fireworks. As soon as you got off the elevator, we had an ad hoc photo booth set up with props and a professional photographer taking portraits,” she recalls. “It was around 11.15pm and the fireworks were going off like crazy. It was the most epic countdown I’ve ever seen.” After the clock struck 12:00, the party continued inside with wild party hats from Danish retailer Tiger, confetti bombs, caviar and champagne, and a candy and sundae bar. Outside there was a snowball fight going on, complete with glow sticks and of course more dancing.
Mosha and Aidan immediately went on a “mini-moon” in the South, riding horses on our friend’s ranch and snowmobiling up a glacier. In the spring they went to Japan and Bali for a proper “mega-moon”. And to commemorate the wild themed party, dance-rave, spectacular wedding in one of the most magical places in the world, the couple got new ink: “We got a tattoo of our wedding logo in Reykjavík to mark the best.” week of our lives.”