I am pleased and slightly surprised that the couple will hold their wedding in Norway, though I think Durek Verrett has become warmer over time in his comments about his wife's country, so perhaps I should not be.
It was thoughtful of them to highlight the cultural and historical heritage of Geiranger in their announcement. Does the city have any previous relationship with the royals?
The Church of Norway website seems to indicate that its weddings must always take place in a church (couples even need special permission to marry in a church other than their own parish's), so it would appear that the couple's hotel wedding will be a non-Christian wedding ceremony.
https://www.kirken.no/nb-NO/church-of-norway/Ceremonies/wedding/
As far as I know, that will be a first for the royal family. I imagine the couple made the choice due to the Church of Norway leadership's
longtime theological issues with the princess's spiritual teachings (which was not a problem at the time of her first marriage, as she had only just begun her professional career), and now those of her fiancé.
I wonder who will officiate and whether it will be a secular ceremony or one incorporating their shamanistic or spiritual beliefs.
Interestingly, the hotel actually appears to spell its name Hotel and not Hotell, even on the Norwegian version of the site. It also has a page on weddings there.
https://www.hotelunion.no/en/weddings/
The family seems to be taking the same line as the announcement of the engagement: The palace and the senior royals offer warm congratulations but are playing no active part in the arrangements, not even to the extent of making the announcement - very unlike how it was handled for the princess's first marriage.
Is there still no confirmation that King Harald will give his
constitutional consent as required under Article 36 in order for the princess to remain in line to the throne? I expect he will, but it is interesting if he is keeping it quiet.
