Malin & patric hornqvist

Malin and Patric’s Hornqvist romance began on the ice in 2004, meeting for the first time at an ice rink in Stockholm, Sweden. With Malin being a figure skater and Patric playing professional hockey, the two were a perfect match, meeting often at the rink and having similar practice schedules.

“I just loved how talented and passionate Patric was; you could really see that he loved doing what he did,” Malin explains. “At the same time, Patric was really impressed by me, and we couldn’t stop staring at each other.”

In June of 2012, Patric surprised his then-girlfriend with a spa day, dinner, and an overnight stay at the Grand Hotel in downtown Stockholm. After dinner, in their room overlooking the royal castle, he dropped to one knee and popped the question. After realizing what was going on, Malin happily said “YES,” and the wedding planning process started right away.

Wanting a wedding venue near the water, the couple fell in love with the beautiful Villa Pauli outside of Stockholm. The morning of the wedding brought picturesque weather; but as the bride and her bridesmaids were getting ready (while the groom and his groomsmen played hockey), the sky darkened and rain began to fall by the time the ceremony came around.

“Just when I was about to say my vows, lightning hit the church tower and everyone heard ‘boom’ instead of my words,” says the bride. “It was kind of humorous at the same time. But the most incredible part was when we stepped outside the church 30 minutes later, the sun was shining and kept shining for the rest of the evening.”

A cocktail hour took place on the patio of Villa Pauli overlooking the water, followed by a reception inside the castle. The bride and groom’s vision of their wedding décor, which included peach as the main color and lots of floral arrangements, came to life as they stepped into the reception space.

“My dream came true when I walked into that room,” the bride describes. “We had a moment to soak it up before the guests were allowed in – it was just so touching at that moment, how beautiful that day was.”

Guests enjoyed a delicious three-course meal, as well as a gorgeous wedding cake decorated with edible flowers. A special sky lantern lighting was also held after dinner, making wishes and watching the lit lanterns float away. After dessert, the newlyweds shared their first dance to “I Won’t Let Go” by Rascal Flatts, and everyone spent the rest of the evening partying on the dance floor.

“At the end of the day, we were both so happy and exhausted,” Malin shares. “There was so much love, happiness and emotion throughout the day, not to mention all of the dancing. We went to bed as the happiest husband and wife.”