Destination weddings don't have to be all about beaches and sunsets on hot tropical beaches.  From the mountain landscapes of countries such as Austria and Croatia to the crisp, snowy scenery of Canada and Scandinavia there are many options for winter wonderland weddings.

For couples that are looking for a venue which is that little bit special, an Ice Chapel fits the criteria perfectly. Made completely from ice, these Eskimo inspired churches are stunning testaments to the crystalline beauty of ice and the traditional craftsmanship that goes into creating the buildings.

There are only a few Ice Chapels to choose from in the world, so it offers couples an truly unique wedding experience. Although due to the nature of the material that they are made from, the buildings only stand for a few months every year,  that just adds to their appeal.

Sweden, in Northern Europe, has the Ice Chapel, part of the Ice Hotel, which stands on the banks of the Torne River, near the village of Jukkasjärvi which is located 200km north of the Arctic Circle. The hotel is made from snow and ice from the Torne River and building normally starts from mid-November. The snow is sprayed onto steel or wooden structures and then left to freeze.  After a couple of days the frame is removed and the free standing snow forms the hotels corridors, walls, floors and ceilings. In the spring the hotel simply melts away and the water flows back into the river. 

The Ice Hotel is famous for the fact that every single element of the hotel is carved from ice, including the chairs, the bar and even the individual glasses.  No need for ice cubes to keep your champagne chilled!

Finland, another Scandinavian country in Northern Europe, has a number of wintery hotels, although some of them are made from more snow than ice so are known as Snow Hotels. The Snow Village, which is situated on the western part of Finnish Lapland is built with approximately 1.5 million kilos of snow and 300,000 kilos of clear, natural ice. The building here normally starts at the end of October, beginning of November once the temperature has dropped to about ten degrees below zero.

For those couples wishing to travel further afield, 10km west of Québec City is the Duchesnay winter resort in which the Hôtel de Glace stands, the only ice hotel in North America.

Couples who choose to celebrate their wedding in a ice chapel may need to forgo getting married in normal wedding attire. Although there is nothing saying that you can not get married in a normal bridal gown, they may not offer the warmth that is needed but the bride could also wear a bolero or cape, adding extra warmth whilst still allowing for a conventional gown. The venues offer everything that is normally associated with a wedding ceremony, so will still cater for wedding traditionalists. But these wedding locations certainly lend themselves to adventurist couples as well.

Be sure to choose a warm wedding dress, that includes a shrug or coat made from wool, velvet or fur, and don't forget your gloves.