Swedish and American Wedding Traditions

There are a mix of Swedish and American wedding traditions. Some strange and old, others part of a new world. We’ve chosen to observe a few traditions from our heritage. Read more here to know what to expect!

American:

• The ceremony will be a religious ceremony officiated by the Unitarian Minister who presided over Rian’s high school youth group.
• Tossing the bridal bouquet to the unmarried ladies in attendance traditionally means that whoever catches the bouquet will be the next one to tie the knot!
• First dance: The bride and groom will start the dance party with a first dance. Make sure to join them once the beat picks up!

Swedish:

• The Bride and Groom will walk down the aisle together, arm in arm, as equals. How Swedish.
• Groomsman Jonas Hjertberg will take on the roll of Swedish toastmaster. In Sweden, the toasts are the highlight of the evening, and often planned in advance. They entertain with humor and sweetness and are given in the order determined by the toastmaster, who introduces each person. If you would like to give a toast, please contact jonas.hjertberg@nike.com or approach him during cocktail hour at the beginning of the reception.
• The Bridal Crown: Swedish brides traditionally wore a crown of Myrtle leaves, which today may be replaced by a flower crown or veil.
• Minimalism: Swedish weddings often have a much smaller wedding party than the typical American wedding. Swedes generally have one groomsman and one bridesmaid (Rian will have 2!) and the average size of a Swedish wedding is 50 people. We’ve kept our wedding much smaller than the average American wedding to respect the Swedish tradition and include our closest friends and family.
• If you’re interested in reading more about Swedish traditions, check the link here.
  

Our Own:

• In the spirit of keeping things simple, we are hosting a dessert reception (with a few hors d’oeuvres) and plenty to drink with a kick-ass DJ who is sure to get the party moving!
• We’ve opted out of a wedding cake, preferring instead to have cupcakes and other delicious treats.