van7315

I'm getting married in the US through the the justice of the peace but I want to do a simple commitment/religious ceremony in Norway a year later when we can save up enough money for the flights and such. I wanted to just have a friend of ours do the exchange and keep it very informal and simple and then have a small picnic. Do I need to get all of the paper work as I would to do a civil ceremony?

Alec

No, as you are already married. Any further ceremony you perform has no legal significance. Some church authorities will ask for confirmation of your civil marriage, so taking your marriage certificate will be useful. Otherwise just go ahead.

sandralist

Alec is essentially right, especially concerning the point of view of the Norwegian state, but since you also mention you want a religious ceremony, you will need to abide by whatever church authorities request of you if you want a church venue. I am more familiar with Italy, but it is not possible (for instance) for couples who are not Catholic to have a ceremony inside a Catholic church, no matter who presides. That sort of thing. However, other religions may take a different attitude. I think you just need to check if you aren't planning the exchange at a totally secular setting. Hope that's clear.

Alec

Renewal of vows or blessing ceremony is pretty unknown in catholic churches outside Anglophone countries. The exception is in churches where Mass is celebrated in English, where they may offer it as a separate service or as part of Mass. One of the party must be Catholic.
In Norway, the best place to ask is in non-RC English chaplaincies in Oslo or other major cities, such as http://www.osloanglicans.no/

quokka

If I understand right this is not a "renewal of vows" but THE, one and first, church wedding. It is not uncommon to have this some time after the civil wedding, so no one will find your wish unusual. You will probably be asked to provide proof of your previous civil wedding. The rest depends on your confession. At least one of you should be member of the confession in question. Norway is, as far as I know, predominantly Lutheran protestant. Then you need to get an appointment with a church and priest which should be done well in advance. You can't just ring the door bell of a parsonage and ask whoever opens to do a ceremony on the spot.

Alec

In European countries where church weddings are recognised by the state as official and legally valid, separate church service following civil ceremony is rare. This includes such Catholic countries as Italy and Spain, and Protestant countries like Norway and other Scandinavian countries. So what you are asking in Norway is a blessing ceremony with or without renewal of vows. Of course it has to be arranged in advance, and while all Norwegian Lutheran pastors are fluent in English, you may prefer English-speaking churches because they will be familiar with and are used to OP's type of request. Don't forget offerings for the church and clergy, as they are doing a favour for you as visitor and not regular church member.

sandralist

Since it is unclear from the OP how "informal" the ceremony being envisioned will be, and since it will be conducted by a friend, not a local cleric, might be worth mentioning here that it wouldn't surprise me if many couples visiting Italy informally exchange vows inside beautiful churches/chapels or abbeys without asking permission. Most of these places are empty most of the time, with doors open. Even showing up in wedding attire would be viewed as charming and respectful, not sinful. But never having been to Norway, I am clueless as to what goes on there, and not giving advice. You might not want to run any risk of getting stopped or chased out!

Christina

A separate ceremony may not be unusual, but this is a year later! I can't believe anyone wouldn't find that unusual. It's not meant to pretend to be the wedding, just one of those vow renewals. It is further very curious that the couple isn't even religious to begin with and is just having a justice of the peace do the real one, but then wants some religious thing a year later. I don't understand that.

However, for this type of request, I think you need to go to specialists, there are various websites that specialize in destination weddings or weddings abroad and they usually also have symbolic ceremonies, etc. Here is one specific to Norway, if you go into the wedding section, it also talks about how they can arrange the symbolic ones
http://www.weddingnorway.com/

janisj

>>It is further very curious that the couple isn't even religious to begin with . . .<<

Where did you read that?

quokka

I know several couples in my surroundings in and around Germany who had a very small civil wedding first, and then did the big church wedding and celebrations a year or more later after they saved up for the big party. But here a religious wedding has no legal significance.

sandralist

I don't find it odd at all. Lots of people want to get married legally sooner rather than later, but might want an important public or romantic occasion to celebrate in some other venue, for family or sentimental or romantic reasons. OP explained money was at least one reason for not immediately having the celebration in Norway.

My impression is that since about 1963 at least, weddings began to escape from the straitjacket of being what other people think the lovers ought to be doing -- and most people are quite glad of that and happy for the happy couple.

sandralist

And to the OP:

I certainly don't think you need a destination wedding professional if you are having a friend preside at an informal ceremony followed by a picnic! Have a great day!

dyoll

If you are travelling to Oslo, then just outside the city in beautiful Maridalen (valley) there is a church ruin with a great view over a lake and farmland. There is free access (and many footpaths in the area) and you would not need any permission to do your private ceremony there.
Easily accessible by public transport - Metro to Nydalen then bus 51 to Kirkeby - note that the bus does a loop through the valley so to return you catch the bus in the same direction.
http://www.visitnorway.com/uk/product/?pid=28930