Olof and Hanna's wedding!

When my now-husband Daniel was dating me, he invited me to come to Sweden to meet his family. 

I also got to meet a lot of his friends and try to find out if Daniel really was the great guy he seemed to be (yes, he IS). 

One of Daniel's first friends that I got to meet was a sun-browned blond haired guy wearing jeans shorts that were rolled up (let's just say that was not a typical American trend), who took us out flying over Varberg in a  3 person airplane! We had to pick him up because he didnt have his own car to get there....(and still doesnt). 

And that is the Olof that just got married last week...Congratulations, Olof and Hanna!

Both of their fathers, who are Lutheran priests,  shared in leading the service.  

A few memorable bits from the wedding...

Olof shouting his "I DO!", and Hanna sweetly tearfully answering with her vows. 

Several sweet harmonious songs, including a Keith Green song I have never heard in Swedish before. 

A very cold hip hip hurrah out on the church steps followed by some glogg (cider) to warm up with. 

I don't know if they forgot or chose not to do it, but there was no "you may kiss the bride" moment...

Notice here, Hanna's little crown that was pinned in her hair...very sweet and very Swedish?

It's cold but they are both so happy!

Ha, at least this couple has some common sense.  Last week at Gothenburg's amusement park  Liseberg, we saw a bride walking around with a strapless dress and no jacket in below freezing weather!  

Nice matching scarves...

My sweet husband being blocked by the apple cider bottle.  It was a luxury for us to be out without the kiddos, and we enjoyed it!

And then comes the food, skits, speeches, and even some dancing!

Everyone is busy reading the wedding booklets....something that America should start doing...it is a really cool habit!

Apparently Hanna's family are big board game kind of people, so the bride and groom got to play a life sized board game with each of the guests as the spaces to move around on...it was fun to see them both creatively cheat to try to get to the finish line first. 

And just in case the food was not enough, there was a huge table of cakes, which i think were made by various relatives.  That is also a cool tradition that America needs to consider!

Not just one little bride and groom statue, but four!

 Olof and Hanna, if you read this, thanks for letting us come to your wedding!  What a wonderful evening, and we wish you a lifetime of serving and loving God and each other!

In summary, some things that are cool/unique about Swedish weddings:
The wedding booklet
The family made cakes
cool flowers in the hair
lots of funny skits
(this wedding even had a little book in each toilet stall for guests to sign their "well wishes")
The fact that often the waitresses and waiters are volunteer friends who then usually get others to repay the favor when their own family members get married.
When the bride goes out of the room all the single girls are allowed to come and kiss the groom (usually on the cheek), and vice versa.