The village in ecstasy: – Probably have to do some extra washing and cleaning

On Wednesday came the news that the celebration of the wedding of Princess Märtha Louise and Durek Verrett will take place in spectacular scenery at Hotel Union Geiranger on 31 August 2024. For the village, such a wedding means even more attention, royal guests and perhaps also big foreign celebrities. Because on the guest list, the names of shoe player Gwyneth Paltrow and singer LeAnn Rimes can quickly appear. They are both in Verrett’s network. Former director of the hotel, Karl Mjelva, has attended royal events in the past, but he is honest that it would be great to have such a wedding for the hotel and the village. – This is very pleasant. The royal family has visited the village ever since King Haakon’s time. The first time was in connection with the opening of the Trollstigen. Then he bid here at Hotell Union, says Karl Mjelva. Karl Mjelva used to drive the royal doctor who comes to Geiranger in this car. He will not answer whether he will do it when Durek and Märtha Louise come to celebrate their wedding. Photo: Remi Sagen / news First princess wedding – This is great and historic news for us. It is the first time Geiranger will host a princess wedding. This is huge for us. That’s what Katrin Blomvik Bakken, director of Geirangerfjorden Verdsarv, says. Although there has never been a princess wedding in the village before, Blomvik Bakken does not think that it will be a problem. – Geiranger is good at being a good host. We in Geiranger will take that role quite well. We probably have to do some extra washing and cleaning. We are determined to make a nice folk festival, she says. Katrin Blomvik Bakken is looking forward to the folk festival. Photo: Remi Sagen / Remi Sagen Head of tourism at Destination Ålesund and Sunnmøre, Tom Anker Skrede, believes the wedding will mean a lot for the entire region. – This is a stamp of quality. It was a feather in the hat to have this wedding. Many will follow this wedding both nationally and internationally. We think this will tempt many new guests to visit the region, and not least Geiranger. And it may seem that there are many who want to be in the village on the day of the festival, because the hotels in the vicinity are already starting to fill up. Photo: Screenshot from booking.com – Maybe I’ll hang out the flag It’s not just the business world that is happy that the wedding party will take place in Geiranger. Geir Gjørva, who is a familiar face to those who visit Geiranger, is very excited that his village is now getting even more attention. – This confirms the attractiveness and quality of Geiranger and Hotell Union, says Gjørva. Geir Gjørva is delighted that the village will be referred to in even one arena as a tourist village and a destination within Norwegian tourism. Photo: Mia Sofie Ytreberg / news The local man, Olav Merok, also admits that it will be great. – It’s a bit funny that they get married here. – Are you going to prepare yourself in some way? – I may hang out the flag, but otherwise I think I’ll take it easy, he says. – An honor Monja M. Mjelva is director of the hotel. She is looking forward to August next year. – It is a great honor and very pleasant to be allowed to welcome the bride and groom who have chosen Geiranger and Hotel Union as the place to get married. – There will be a little extra around it, says Monja M. Mjelva. Photo: Remi Sagen / news



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