Bröllop comes from the Old Swedish word bruþlöp, made up of the words brud (bride) and löpa (run). The latter refers to the bridal couple’s journey through the village back to the groom’s farm after the ceremony, to show off their union and happiness to all their neighbours.

The formal act of getting married is called vigsel, and bröllop is the umbrella term for the ceremony and the party afterwards (bröllopsfesten).

• Don’t miss any of our Swedish words and expressions of the day by downloading our app (available on Apple and Android) and then selecting the Swedish Word of the Day in your Notification options via the User button

Swedish wedding traditions have changed over the years, but one thing that’s always remained the same is that they’re usually associated with a grand party for family and friends.

As early as the 14th century, Sweden’s first nationwide set of laws laid out by the King dictated that any couple getting married must send out two men and two women to go door to door inviting guests to the wedding party.

In the countryside, guests from the various farms often brought food along as a kind of potluck dinner, competing with each other over who could present the best meal. It was seen as an event for the entire village, who often celebrated for several days.

For a brief period in the 19th century, getting married at home rather than in the church was trendy among the bourgeoisie, but church weddings soon became all the rage again, according to SO-rummet, a website for social science and history teachers.

In the 1970s, weddings became simpler affairs, followed by another revival in the 1990s, after which they again appear to have reverted back to a more relaxed dinner with friends.

EXPLAINED:

• How to get married in Sweden

Church weddings are again falling out of fashion. At the turn of the millennium, more than half of all couples married in church, compared to around a third today.

Traditionally, Swedish couples walk in together, to demonstrate that they both enter into the marriage of their own free will, but it’s become more common in recent years for the father to walk the bride down the aisle, possibly inspired by Hollywood movies.

The key roles in a Swedish wedding party are:

Bride – brud

Groom – brudgum

Wedding officiant – vigselförättare

Maid of honour – brudtärna

Best man – marschalk (although more and more say “best man”)

Flower girl – brudnäbb

What about the hen night and stag do? They’re the möhippa and svensexa in Swedish.

Example sentences:

Jag vill helst ha ett litet bröllop

I’d like a small wedding best

Vem ska vi bjuda på vårt bröllop?

Who should we invite to our wedding?

Villa, Volvo, Vovve: The Local’s Word Guide to Swedish Life, written by The Local’s journalists, is available to order. Head to lysforlag.com/vvv to read more about it. It is also possible to buy your copy from Amazon US, Amazon UK, Bokus or Adlibris.