Wedding

Your wedding day is a momentous and joyful occasion, whether a large celebration or a more intimate gathering. In front of your family, friends, congregation, and God, you promise to love and honour one another in marriage.

From a Christian viewpoint marriage is seen as a gift and can be thought of as a calling from God. Its sacredness comes from knowing and feeling that you have found love in each other. It is also sacred because, in prayer, you acknowledge before God and those dear to you that in each other, you have received God's gift.

In a Christian wedding ceremony, prayers are offered for the couple. Marriage is, above all, about love and the commitment to stand by one another in good and bad times. For this reason, the couple is asked during the ceremony if they are willing to support each other through life.

To book a wedding or marriage blessing, contact the Service centre of the Espoo parishes. 

Formal requirements for a church wedding:

1. Examination of impediments to marriage is used to verify your right to marry your spouse in Finland or another Nordic country. You will need the examination of impediments to marriage to get married. The certificate is free of charge and valid for 4 months. You can request a certificate of non-impediment online through the E-services of the Lutheran Church or from the Population Information System. Note that the examination may be complicated and take time if either partner lives abroad.
    
2. Both partners must be members of the church and have completed confirmation. If confirmation was missed for any reason, it can be completed privately as an adult. More information about adult confirmation. 
    
3. A couple may be married in the church if one partner is a confirmed church member and the other belongs to another Christian denomination or faith community. A church wedding can also be conducted if one of the partners is a member of a Christian church abroad.