Stockholm City Hall in the background of the siluetts of three men conducting a civil ceremony. — Stockholm City Hall in the background. Remember it’s free to get married in a park, just like these guys did. Just reserv your spot with a blanket.

There are tons of amazing options when it comes to getting married in Sweden, but there’s just something particularly special about Stockholm. There’s just no city like it anywhere else in the world! So whenever people ask me where to get married in Sweden, Stockholm is always my first recommendation! If you’ve been thinking about a Stockholm wedding and don’t know where to start, I’ve got you covered every step of the way. Here’s my ultimate guide to getting married in Stockholm!

Why Get Married In Stockholm?

Simply put, Stockholm is one of the most gorgeous and thrilling cities in the world! It consists of fourteen islands on the eastern coast of Sweden, right where Lake Mälaren flows into the Baltic Sea.

This means that Stockholm is surrounded by gorgeous coastal vistas that provide an enchanting backdrop to the city’s breathtaking architecture and world-famous landmarks. Dubbed the Venice of the North, Stockholm itself has a lot of greenery and parks to get married in as well!

As a wedding photographer, Stockholm is an absolute dream location with all the excitement of a vibrant, bustling city combined with the awe-inspiring natural beauty. There are so many amazing spots to take couples portraits or engagement photos!

If you’re considering getting married in Stockholm, I can guarantee you’ll end up with truly unique and stunning wedding photos that will always remind you of the magical time you spent in this one-of-a-kind city.

Can I Get Married In Sweden As A Foreigner?

Absolutely! Sweden is an awesome place for an international wedding, and Stockholm is a particularly popular wedding destination for couples travelling from abroad. There’s just something about this city that calls out to people from all over the world.

I promise that once you arrive, you’ll feel right at home — people are incredibly friendly here and it’s one of THE safest cities in the world! You’ll be in good hands.

How To Register Marriage In Sweden

Okay, so this part of your Stockholm wedding is going to be a little bit less romantic than watching a sunset over the Baltic Sea from the archipelago, but there are some forms and documents you’ll need to fill out if you’re travelling from abroad to get married in Sweden.

Fortunately, the process is pretty painless and I’m here to walk you through it! Here’s what you’ll need to register for marriage in Sweden:

A Single Status Affidavit: This is a document that certifies that there is no legal impediment to your marriage, and is required for all weddings in Sweden. You can typically find this document through your Swedish Tax Agency (tax office) or Skatteverket. It takes just a few minutes to fill out, so once you get a copy of the paperwork, this part should be smooth sailing!
A Certificate Of No Impediment: This is a document that certifies that there are no legal impediments to your marriage under Swedish law. They are issued by the Swedish Tax Agency for a fee of 800 Swedish Krona (about $78 USD), and typically take about 4 weeks to arrive. It takes just a few minutes to fill out the form, so once you get a copy of the paperwork, this part should be smooth sailing!
A copy of your birth certificate: No need to send the original document! A copy will do just fine.
A valid passport
A government-issued ID: A driver’s licence is perfectly acceptable.

Obtaining A Marriage Certificate

Swedish marriage certificates are issued by the Swedish Tax Agency. You can contact them by email at vigsel@stockholm.se or over the phone at +46 (0)8-508 29 330.

You’ll need to give them some basic information including your name, date of birth, address, and phone number. You’ll also need to let them know in what language you’d like the wedding ceremony to be conducted and what language you’d like on the marriage certificate.

You’ll receive your marriage certificate by mail in about 2-3 weeks!

Where To Get Married In Stockholm

Now that the paperwork is finally out of the way, we can focus on the fun stuff: exploring some wedding venues! Most of the couples I photograph don’t get married in a church. Instead, they choose to hold their wedding ceremony in Stockholm’s City Hall!

This place is not the boring, bureaucratic building you might usually think of when you hear the term “city hall.” It’s a gorgeous building right on the water built in Sweden’s traditional National Romantic architecture style.

A Stockholm City Hall wedding is a magical (and quick!) event you’ll never forget. The beautiful interior is filled with dozens of gorgeous rooms for banquets and receptions. It’s even where they host the annual Nobel Prize ceremony!

When you get married here, you’re tying the knot in one of the most historic and elegant locations possible, and it makes for some truly mind-blowing wedding photos!

Get married in Stockholm City Hall and you could have this amazing backdrop.

Don’t Count Out Restaurants And Museums!

In addition to City Hall, Stockholm is home to an endless variety of restaurants, bars, and museums perfect for hosting wedding celebrations of all varieties.

Whether you’re planning a large, glamorous celebration or a more understated small wedding, in Stockholm you’re guaranteed to find an awesome spot that meets all your needs.

Here are a few of my favourite Stockholm wedding venues:

1. Artipelag

This sprawling arts and cultural centre offers tons of options for a super stylish Stockholm wedding.

If your wedding is on the smaller side, you can hold your reception in Artipelag’s excellent restaurant, a super chic and modern space with world-class food to match.

For larger celebrations, you can dine and dance all night in the grand foyer.

Finally, if you want a truly unique wedding, you can choose to hold your ceremony on Artipelag’s rooftop terrace, which offers stunning views of the surrounding forests and waterfront!

2. K-Markt

K-Markt is based on a radical concept: a restaurant with no menu! While this might sound crazy at first, it’s the perfect fit for couples with an adventurous spirit who don’t mind embracing the unknown.

The menu changes every day (and sometimes every hour!) depending on what ingredients are available at any given moment. The only thing you can count on for sure is that the food will be delicious.

K-Markt is also deeply committed to sustainability and they’re very deliberate about the ways their ingredients affect the delicate ecosystems in Stockholm and throughout Sweden.

If you have your wedding here, you’ll know that you’re not only eating well, but you’re also doing something great for the Earth!

3. Matthias Dahlgren’s Rutabaga

This ultramodern restaurant offers a meat-free menu full of cutting-edge dishes that will blow your mind. The menu is composed of seasonal vegetables and seafood, so if you have your wedding here you’ll know you’re getting the freshest ingredients used in completely innovative ways.

The dining room at Rutabaga can accommodate up to 12 guests, so it’s a great spot for a small wedding party. Planning something larger? That’s no problem at all! Rutabaga offers catering for wedding celebrations of all sizes.

Their committed and attentive staff will help you plan the best way to incorporate their mind-blowing cuisine into your Stockholm wedding.

Operakällaren, another great option with high quality service and food. The dining space has a great view of the Royal Palace.

4. Aira

You don’t even need to walk through the doors of Aira to see why this restaurant was awarded a coveted Michelin star.

The stylish architecture makes the building itself a work of art, and its location on the water provides a gorgeous natural backdrop for your wedding celebration. Inside, Aira is the height of tasteful elegance.

While the restaurant itself looks amazing, the main attraction is, of course, the food. Aira provides a tasting menu or prix fixe menu that changes seasonally. Everything tastes amazing, and food is presented with the kind of stunning artistry that’s perfect for posting on social media.

Between the amazing look of the venue, the stunning natural surroundings, and the world-class food, Aira is one of the best spots for wedding photography Stockholm has to offer. It’s a truly special place worthy of a truly special occasion.

5. Lumafabriken

Lumafabriken began its life in 1930 as a light bulb factory, and today it still maintains many of its historic charms. These days you’ll have to look elsewhere for authentic Swedish light bulbs (sorry to disappoint!), but it’s become an amazing spot for a wedding.

Lumafabriken has event spaces that can accommodate anywhere between 20 and 200 guests, depending on the size of your party. Every reception space offers an amazing view of the Hammarby Canal, so you can take in the surrounding natural beauty while you dance the night away.

And if views are really your thing, you can choose to hold your wedding inside Lumafabriken’s rooftop glass cube, which offers a one-of-a-kind panoramic view of Stockholm’s skyline.

The courtyard of Van Der Nootska palatset in Södermalm.

6. Spritmuseum

Spritmuseum (“Sprit” meaning spirits/alcohol in Swedish) is a museum dedicated to exploring the history of Sweden’s long, complex relationship with alcohol.

It offers tons of beautiful, interesting, and fun exhibits that showcase both the technical and cultural aspects of Sweden’s alcohol industry, with plenty of opportunities to taste the goods for yourself along the way!

For weddings, the Spritmuseum has its own restaurant perfect for hosting a small, intimate wedding party. The restaurant’s focus is offering a wide variety of Sweden’s best beer, wine, and liquor in keeping with the spirit (pun intended, sorry) of the museum. However, they’ll pair your awesome drinks with some truly delicious food as well.

The Spritmuseum is a great wedding venue for couples who like to cut loose and have as much fun as possible!

7. Bockholmen

This charming restaurant is housed in a historic 19th-century villa, and the historic building is complemented by a menu filled with delicious traditional Scandinavian food. While the food is certainly a highlight, the real highlight that makes Bockholmen one of the best wedding venues in Stockholm is its incredible location.

The restaurant is located on its own island at the start of the Stockholm archipelago. You’ll feel like you’ve escaped into the heart of the wilderness, even though Bockholmen is just 10 minutes from Stockholm’s city centre!

The surrounding natural beauty is unlike any other spot in Stockholm, and the restaurant even has an outdoor bar right by the water so you can sip delicious cocktails while taking in the stunning views.

Take In The City On An Archipelago Boat Tour

One of the things that makes Stockholm truly unique is that the city is located on an archipelago of connected islands. Many couples getting married in Stockholm choose to take in the full beauty of Stockholm on an archipelago boat tour.

The boat tour is extremely popular, and for good reason! It offers a panoramic perspective of the city that you can’t find anywhere else and allows you to take in both the mind-blowing architecture of the city and the stunning natural beauty that surrounds it.

The archipelago boat tour can be as decked out or low-key as you want it to be. You can just relax on the boat and keep it casual with some snacks and drinks while you take in the sites.

The boat tour is also an excellent way to travel in style to all sorts of wedding venues. Stockholm Archipelago is home to many of the excellent restaurants and museums mentioned in this guide, a popular move is for couples to get married at Stockholm City Hall and then travel to their venue by boat (this is especially convenient if your venue is on the archipelago or close to the water).

The boat tour is such an amazing experience that some couples even choose to get married or have a second ceremony right on the boat!

Don’t Forget The Flowers!

No Stockholm wedding would be complete without expert floral arrangements. Fortunately, the city is home to some truly top-notch flower experts. Here are a few of my favourites:

Nika Wahren (@Skilladflorals)
Christoffers Blommor (@Christoffersblommor) // www.christoffersblommor.se
Mirja Bozarth Fornell (@boz_art)

Let’s Chat!

If you’re getting married in Stockholm, I’m here to talk! I’d love to hear what you have planned and help you plan the wedding of your dreams.

Please feel free to reach out any time and we can start talking about how to create the Stockholm wedding that’s perfect for you. I can’t wait to speak with you soon!

The Ultimate Guide To Getting Married In Stockholm