Marriage
Marriage is both a gift from God and a legal agreement between two people. In a church wedding, a couple promises to love and care for each other, and the Church asks God to bless their life together.
Who can have a church wedding?
A church wedding in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland is possible when:
- Both people are confirmed members of the Church, or
- One person is a confirmed Lutheran, and the other belongs to another Christian church, such as:
- Orthodox Church of Finland
- Catholic Church in Finland
- Pentecostal Church
- Seventh-day Adventist Church
- Evangelical Free Church
- Baptist Church
- A complete list of Christian denominations approved by the Bishops’ Conference is available at the Finnish Ecumenical Council’s website
(you will be redirected to another website) .
If neither person belongs to the Lutheran Church, a church wedding is not allowed.
Already married legally?
If you already had a civil (legal) marriage, the Church can offer a blessing ceremony, even if only one of you is a Church member. Same-sex couples may also have a private prayer service with a pastor. These ceremonies are planned together with the parish.
Before the wedding – legal check
Before any wedding, the couple must complete an investigation of impediments to marriage. This ensures there are no legal reasons for stopping marriage (for example: being under 18, already married, or closely related).
How to request it:
- Online
(you will be redirected to another website, opens in a new window) (requires Finnish online banking access) - At your parish office
- By post
To start the investigation, the couple must ask for it together at least one week before the wedding. If one of them is not a Finnish citizen, the process might take a few weeks.
The certificate is valid for 4 months, and the couple must get married during that time.
Meeting the pastor and planning the ceremony
You will meet with the pastor before the wedding to talk about marriage and love and to go over the ceremony.
You also must decide on your surname(s) and decide if you want an announcement of the marriage in church.
You can choose music with the help of the cantor and visit the church with the verger to talk about decorations and local traditions.
Wedding ceremony – what happens?
Wedding service
The wedding service can be very simple. All you need are:
- The couple
- A pastor
- Two witnesses
Location
The service can happen:
- In a church
- At home
- In a reception hall or other suitable place
Ceremony
During the ceremony:
- The couple kneels at the altar
- They say “yes” to each other
- Rings are exchanged
- The pastor blesses the marriage
- Guests pray for the couple
- The couple leaves the church, followed by their family
More information on the ceremony can be found in the wedding ceremony booklet (pdf).
Getting married abroad
If you want to marry outside Finland:
- You need a Certificate of No Impediment, valid for 4 months
- This document is available in six languages from your local parish or registry office
Check the laws of the country where you plan to marry. In many places, the legal marriage comes first, and the church ceremony follows.
Same-sex couples and prayer services
The bishops have given instructions that pastors and other church workers should meet all couples openly and respectfully if they ask for a wedding or a blessing.
Many congregations allow same-sex couples to use church spaces for their wedding celebration. Some pastors wish to marry all couples equally. Weddings for same-sex couples follow the same practices as weddings for opposite-sex couples.
If a wedding ceremony is not possible, a prayer service can be arranged for the couple. This prayer service can be planned together with a pastor or another church worker. It may take place in a church or in another meaningful place.
Please tell the church worker your wishes in advance.
