STOCKHOLM CITY HALLLisa & Olof

November 30, 2019

Lisa and Olof married at Stockholm City Hall at quarter past three on the last day of November. There were no guests. They had not told their families.

The ice rink at Kungsträdgården in Stockholm in late November Strandvägen and the boats on a November afternoon The Hotel Diplomat on Strandvägen, Stockholm
Flags on Strandvägen on the wedding dayThe bride in a doorway on StrandvägenLisa and Olof walking through Östermalm

In the weeks before they had bought a flat, sold a flat and been away travelling. On the day, Lisa’s cousin Cissi drove them from place to place so that nobody had to think about parking.

Walking into the low winter sun on Djurgården
The bride beneath a bare oak on Djurgården, black and whiteLisa and Olof on Djurgården before the ceremonyThe bride laughing in the last of the winter sun
The couple by the reeds on Djurgården, black and white Djurgården and open water, the archipelago feeling in the city Winter light across the water from Djurgården

They asked for two things. Somewhere with an archipelago feeling, because that is the part of Sweden they love, and Skinnarviksberget, because it is the one place in the middle of the city with a real view. Djurgården covered the first. It is a royal park ten minutes from the centre, and at the end of November it is reeds, bare trees and open water.

In the car between locations in Stockholm The sun going down behind the Stockholm City Hall tower A street on Södermalm on the way to Skinnarviksberget

Skinnarviksberget is a lump of bare rock above Söder, and it is where the sun went. Stockholm loses the light in the middle of the afternoon at that time of year.

Stockholm from Skinnarviksberget, City Hall across the water The bride on the rock at Skinnarviksberget as the sun sets Lisa and Olof at Skinnarviksberget with the Stockholm skyline The couple on the bare rock above Söder, black and white Winter sun through the trees at Skinnarviksberget

It was dark by the time we reached City Hall. The ceremony itself takes about five minutes.

Crossing Stockholm on foot between locations, black and white A bride crossing the road on the way to Stockholm City Hall
The arcade at Stockholm City Hall, black and whiteThe wedding ring
Waiting in the courtyard arcade at Stockholm City Hall The staircase inside Stadshuset, black and white Riddarfjärden at dusk from the Stockholm City Hall terrace The civil ceremony at Stockholm City Hall Exchanging rings at Stadshuset Lisa and Olof married at Stockholm City Hall
Walking out through Stadshuset after the ceremonyThe couple after the ceremony at Stockholm City Hall

Beforehand I had suggested they bring something to do rather than only somewhere to stand. They brought champagne and opened it on the terrace behind the building, with Riddarfjärden and the lit city in front of them. Lisa said afterwards that the only thing that had been uncomfortable all day was the cold.

Celebrating on the stairs inside StadshusetA toast on the terrace at Stockholm City Hall
The couple on the City Hall terrace with Stockholm behind them Stockholm city hall wedding, champagne on the terrace at dusk
The bride outside the lit arcade of StadshusetLisa and Olof with the lights of Stockholm across the waterThe tower of Stockholm City Hall after dark
Silhouettes against the last of the light over Riddarfjärden Stockholm after dark on the last day of November

The first people to see these photographs were their families, who still did not know. Lisa wrote a few days later to say that everyone knew now, that everyone was happy, and that there had not been anything to worry about after all.

Three hours, half twelve to half three, one city. If you have a Stadshuset slot booked and want the afternoon around it photographed, there is more on getting married in Sweden. Get in touch.

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