One of the best things about photographing weddings in Sweden is getting to witness all the traditions that make weddings here feel so unique, joyful, and full of personality.
Some Swedish wedding traditions go back centuries. Others are still very much alive today, just in slightly more modern forms. And that’s part of what makes Swedish weddings so special. They often blend old customs with a relaxed, personal atmosphere that feels warm, emotional, and very fun.
If you’ve ever wondered what happens at a Swedish wedding, this guide will walk you through some of the most beautiful, meaningful, and straight-up entertaining Swedish wedding traditions.
Many of the traditions you’ll see at a Swedish wedding today have roots stretching back more than a thousand years. Weddings have been a big deal in Scandinavia for a very long time. Viking Age celebrations could last for days, and later generations added church traditions, regional customs, songs, crowns, processions, and plenty of local quirks along the way.
While modern Swedish weddings are usually much smaller and more personal, traces of these older customs still remain. The focus on togetherness, shared celebration, speeches, songs, and meaningful traditions continues to shape weddings across Sweden today.
What is a Swedish wedding like?
The short answer? A lot of fun.
Not every Swedish wedding looks the same, of course, but many of them share a few familiar elements. There is often a strong sense of togetherness, a relaxed atmosphere, a lot of emotion, and usually a very good party.
Modern Swedish weddings can be anything from a church ceremony in the countryside to a stylish city wedding or a small celebration by the sea. But even when couples do things in their own way, there are still traditions that show up again and again.
Swedish wedding ceremony traditions
Walking in together
One of the most well-known Swedish wedding traditions is that the couple often walks in together, side by side, rather than one person being given away.
It’s a lovely tradition and a meaningful one too. It symbolises that the couple is entering the marriage as equals, by their own choice, and as partners from the very beginning.
A smaller wedding party, or none at all
Another thing that often feels different at Swedish weddings is that the wedding party is usually less of a big production.
You may not see a large group of bridesmaids and groomsmen standing at the front. In many Swedish weddings, the focus stays very much on the couple themselves rather than on a whole formal wedding party setup.
A marriage of equals
Swedish weddings often feel grounded in the idea of equality.
That shows up in the way couples walk in together, in the general tone of the ceremony, and in the way the day is often shared more evenly overall. It tends to feel less performative and more like two people choosing each other in a calm, intentional way.
Sweden’s marriage legislation has been gender-neutral since 2009, which means same-sex couples can legally get married here too.
Traditional meets contemporary
A lot of Swedish weddings today are a blend of tradition and personality.
Some couples include church customs, flower crowns, speeches, songs, and old family traditions. Others keep just one or two elements and mix them with a more modern wedding day that feels completely their own.
That’s what makes Swedish weddings so interesting. They can be deeply traditional, very contemporary, or a bit of both.
If you’re curious about the legal side, paperwork, and how the process works, read my guide to getting married in Sweden as a foreigner.
What do Swedish brides traditionally wear?
Today, most Swedish brides wear a white wedding dress, but that wasn’t always the case.
Before white wedding dresses became common, many Swedish brides wore black. In regions such as Hälsingland, brides could be dressed in elaborate traditional outfits decorated with colourful ribbons, pearl chains, embroidered gloves, and silver jewellery. Many also wore bridal crowns, a tradition that dates back centuries and can still be seen in some Swedish churches today.
Photo credit: Nordiska Museet
White wedding dresses gradually became popular during the 19th century, inspired by European upper-class fashion, and eventually spread throughout Sweden.
In northern Sweden and across Sápmi, some Sámi brides and grooms wear traditional clothing known as gákti (often called kolt in Swedish). These garments vary between regions, families, and Sámi communities, and remain an important expression of Sámi identity, culture, and heritage.
You may also see traditional folk dress at Swedish weddings, especially if the couple wants to honour regional heritage or family traditions. Sweden has many different folk costumes, and each region has its own distinctive style.
Today, people wear whatever feels right for them, from timeless white gowns to colourful outfits, tailored suits, folk dress, or something entirely their own. Like many Swedish wedding traditions, modern weddings often blend old customs with contemporary style.
Swedish engagement ring traditions
Swedish engagement traditions have their own little twist.
Traditionally, both people in the couple receive an engagement ring, often a simpler band. Then, on the wedding day, an additional wedding ring is added, often a little more elaborate.
That means the ring tradition can feel slightly different from cultures where only one person in the couple traditionally receives an engagement ring from the start.
What happens at a Swedish wedding party?
This is where things often get very fun.
Swedish wedding dinners and parties are known for being lively, emotional, and full of surprises. There are usually lots of speeches, songs, games, kisses, laughter, and moments that go completely off-script in the best possible way.
It’s one of the reasons I love photographing Swedish weddings so much. There is nearly always something happening.
Toasts and speeches
If you’re attending a Swedish wedding, prepare for speeches. A lot of them.
Speeches are a huge part of many Swedish weddings, and they are often one of the most memorable parts of the entire day. Some are emotional, some are hilarious, and some are both at once.
It’s very common for several different people to speak throughout the dinner, not just parents or a best man. That means the dinner can stretch out over quite a long time, but in a very entertaining way.
Personally, I love this tradition. The speeches often say so much about the couple and the people around them.
The toastmaster
Because there are often so many speeches, Swedish weddings usually have a toastmaster or toastmadam keeping everything together.
This person helps organise the dinner, keeps track of who is speaking and when, and makes sure the whole thing keeps moving. It’s a big role, and a very important one.
At many weddings, the toastmaster also helps with practical flow throughout the day, together with the photographer and other suppliers.
Games at Swedish weddings
Swedish weddings can also be very playful.
Games are common, especially during dinner or during the reception and they tend to bring a lot of laughter into the day. One of the best-known examples is the shoe game, where the couple sits back to back holding one of their own shoes and one of their partner’s, answering questions by raising the shoe that matches their answer.
It’s usually funny, a little chaotic, and a great way to get everyone involved.
Songs and singalongs
Songs are another big part of many Swedish weddings.
These can be drinking songs, humorous songs written especially for the couple, or songs that guests are expected to sing together during dinner. It is not unusual for there to be a printed song sheet waiting at the table. This is especially common if one or both of the couple studied at one of Sweden’s older, tradition-rich universities, where singing is a big part of student culture.
So yes, if you’re going to a Swedish wedding, there is a decent chance you will end up singing.
The Swedish wedding kissing tradition
This is one of the traditions that often surprises people most.
At many Swedish weddings, if one person in the couple leaves the room during dinner, the guests may take it as their chance to play along with the tradition. The person left at the table might suddenly find themselves surrounded by laughing guests lining up to give them a quick kiss on the cheek before their partner returns.
Exactly how this plays out can vary from wedding to wedding, but the point is usually the same: it’s playful, funny, and not meant to be taken too seriously.
It also tends to create some of the best reactions and some very memorable photos.
Swedish wedding cake traditions
Traditional Swedish wedding desserts have changed a lot over the years.
One classic example is krokan, an elaborate almond-based confection that has long been associated with celebrations and weddings in Sweden. In fact, a version of krokan was served at the wedding of King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia in 1976.
These days, though, you’re much more likely to see elegant bakery-made wedding cakes, dessert tables, pastries, or a mix of different sweet treats. Many couples skip the idea of one traditional wedding cake altogether and instead create a dessert spread that feels more personal and fun for their guests.
Like many Swedish wedding traditions, wedding desserts today are less about following a specific custom and more about creating an experience that reflects the couple.
Swedish wedding gifts and old superstitions
There are not a huge number of strict rules around wedding gifts in Sweden today. Many couples ask for money toward a honeymoon, contributions toward something meaningful, or no gifts at all.
In some regions, brides traditionally carried a silver coin in one shoe and a gold coin in the other as a symbol of prosperity and protection.
Whether or not anyone still does it, it’s a lovely little tradition to know about.
Swedish weddings today
Not every Swedish wedding includes all of these traditions.
Some couples have church ceremonies. Some marry outdoors or at City Hall. Some include folk dress, songs, games, and cheek kisses. Others keep things simple and choose just one or two traditions that feel meaningful to them.
That’s part of the charm. Swedish weddings are often deeply personal. They can be elegant, emotional, relaxed, a little eccentric, and a lot of fun.
If you’re dreaming of a city wedding, you can also read my guide to getting married in Stockholm.
If you’re dreaming of something more remote and nature-focused, you can explore my guide to getting married in Swedish Lapland.
And if a slower, more intimate countryside celebration feels more like you, you might also love this post about cottage weddings in Sweden and Finland.
The history behind Swedish wedding traditions
Many Swedish wedding traditions have surprisingly old origins.
Bridal crowns have been used since the Middle Ages, wedding guests once contributed food through a tradition known as förning, and some weddings lasted for days rather than hours. In some parts of Sweden, brides carried silver coins in their shoes for good fortune, while others wore crowns borrowed from their local church.
Not every tradition has survived, but many modern Swedish weddings still reflect the same ideas that shaped celebrations generations ago. Community, family, shared meals, meaningful rituals, and creating a memorable day together have been part of Swedish weddings for centuries.
FAQ
What is the most famous Swedish wedding tradition?
Walking down the aisle together is probably the Swedish wedding tradition that surprises international couples most. Rather than being given away, many Swedish couples enter the ceremony side by side as equals.
Why do Swedish wedding guests kiss the bride or groom?
At some Swedish weddings, guests playfully line up to kiss the bride or groom on the cheek if their partner leaves the room during dinner. It’s meant as a fun tradition and often creates some of the funniest moments of the day.
Do Swedish weddings have bridesmaids and groomsmen?
Sometimes, but often in a much smaller role than in countries like the US or UK. Many Swedish weddings focus more on the couple themselves than on a large wedding party.
Planning a wedding in Sweden?
If you’re planning a wedding in Sweden and looking for a photographer who can help the whole thing feel relaxed, personal, and very you, I’d love to hear from you.
If you’d like to get a feel for photography coverage, pricing, and what working together could look like, you can explore my wedding packages here.
And if you’re ready to start planning, you can get in touch here.