Wedding Expressions
Bröllop in Sweden — förlovning, vigsel, brudparet and the four-hour dinner with speeches.
The Swedish wedding, start to last dance: walking in together, hindersprövning, brudstöld and nattamat — äntligen gifta.
- 1
förlova sig
to get engaged
Tip: lit. 'engage oneself' — both parties wear a ring in Sweden.
- 2
förlovningsringen
the engagement ring
Tip: lit. the same — plain bands, worn by both.
- 3
fria
to propose
Tip: lit. 'to woo' — the old verb, still current.
- 4
säga ja
to say yes
Tip: lit. the same.
- 5
bröllopet
the wedding
Tip: lit. the same.
- 6
vigseln
the ceremony
Tip: lit. 'the marrying'.
- 7
borgerlig vigsel
a civil ceremony
Tip: lit. 'bourgeois marrying' — the town hall option, very common.
- 8
kyrkbröllop
a church wedding
Tip: lit. the same.
- 9
brudparet
the bride and groom
Tip: lit. 'the bridal pair'.
- 10
gå in tillsammans
to walk down the aisle together
Tip: lit. 'walk in together' — the Swedish tradition, not father-and-bride.
- 11
marskalken
the best man
Tip: lit. 'the marshal'.
- 12
tärnan
the maid of honour
Tip: lit. 'the maiden'.
- 13
vigselringarna
the wedding rings
Tip: lit. the same — the second ring.
- 14
utbyta löften
to exchange vows
Tip: lit. the same.
- 15
ni får kyssas
you may kiss
Tip: lit. 'you may kiss'.
- 16
bröllopsfesten
the reception
Tip: lit. 'the wedding party'.
- 17
toastmastern
the toastmaster
Tip: lit. the same — runs the whole dinner.
- 18
talen
the speeches
Tip: lit. the same — there will be many.
- 19
ett roligt tal
a funny speech
Tip: lit. the same — usually with a song.
- 20
en bröllopsvisa
a wedding song
Tip: lit. the same — written to a familiar tune.
- 21
brudvalsen
the first dance
Tip: lit. 'the bridal waltz'.
- 22
brudstöld
to steal the bride
Tip: lit. 'bride theft' — a Swedish game where guests kiss the unattended bride.
- 23
bröllopstårtan
the wedding cake
Tip: lit. the same.
- 24
en önskelista
a gift list
Tip: lit. 'a wish list'.
- 25
ge pengar istället
to give money instead
Tip: lit. the same — increasingly normal.
- 26
dagen bara flög förbi
the day flew by
Tip: lit. 'the day just flew past'.
- 27
grattis till er båda
congratulations to you both
Tip: lit. the same.
- 28
ta ut hindersprövning
to publish the banns
Tip: lit. 'take out impediment examination' — the legal check at Skatteverket.
- 29
ett hindersprövningsintyg
a certificate of no impediment
Tip: lit. the same — valid four months.
- 30
en vigselförrättare
a registrar
Tip: lit. 'a marriage officiant'.
- 31
utsedd av länsstyrelsen
appointed by the county board
Tip: lit. the same.
- 32
en fem minuter lång vigsel
a five-minute ceremony
Tip: lit. the same — the town hall option.
- 33
två vittnen
two witnesses
Tip: lit. the same — legally required.
- 34
behålla sitt efternamn
to keep your own surname
Tip: lit. the same — very common in Sweden.
- 35
ta dubbelt efternamn
to take a double-barrelled name
Tip: lit. the same.
- 36
ett äktenskapsförord
a prenuptial agreement
Tip: lit. the same — unromantic and sensible.
- 37
registrerat hos Skatteverket
registered at the tax agency
Tip: lit. the same.
- 38
möhippan
the hen do
Tip: lit. the same — often a surprise kidnapping.
- 39
svensexan
the stag do
Tip: lit. 'the Swedish six'.
- 40
ordnad av marskalken
organised by the best man
Tip: lit. the same.
- 41
pinsamma uppdrag hela dagen
embarrassing tasks all day
Tip: lit. the same.
- 42
en bröllopskoordinator
a wedding coordinator
Tip: lit. the same.
- 43
placeringen tar veckor
the seating plan takes weeks
Tip: lit. the same.
- 44
vem sitter med vem
who sits with whom
Tip: lit. the same — the real diplomacy.
- 45
nattamat
a midnight snack
Tip: lit. 'night food' — hot dogs at one in the morning.
- 46
sista dansen
the last dance
Tip: lit. the same.
- 47
äntligen gifta
married at last
Tip: lit. the same.