Humanist weddings in Europe

Back to home page

How to get a humanist wedding in:

Norway

Who offers a humanist wedding in Norway?
Humanist weddings in Norway are offered by the Norwegian Humanist Association (Norwegian name: Human-Etisk Forbund)

Languages offered:
Human-Etisk Forbund offers ceremonies in English, Norwegian and any other language the ceremonial leader might happen to know. They have translated their legal wedding text into North Sami, English, German, French, Spanish and Dutch. 

Do we get to choose the humanist wedding celebrant ourselves?
No. Human-Etisk Forbund will find a ceremonial leader based on what part of Norway you choose for your wedding ceremony.  

How to book a humanist wedding in Norway:
This, and more, is explained on this webpage. 

The procedure is as follows:

First you send a request by email with the following information as early as possible, preferably no later than six months before the date:

  • Full name and date of birth for both people getting married.
  • Email address and phone number for one of you (our main contact).
  • Date for the ceremony, or time period if specific date is not important.
  • The location or area you wish to hold the ceremony.
  • What language you prefer for the ceremony. ou need to send a request by email with the following information as early as possible, preferably no later than six months before the date:

The Norwegian Humanist Association has its legal declaration text in English, German, French, Spanish and Dutch, but stress that they do not necessarily have a fluent ceremonial leader in all those languages.

The Norwegian Humanist Association will thereafter find a ceremonial leader available at your requested time and place.

You will receive an email confirmation with the name of the ceremonial leader, along with an invoice with a due date 30 days prior to the wedding.

The ceremonial leader will contact you shortly after, to arrange your first meeting of ceremony planning. This can be done either in-person or digitally. 

Price:
For non-members of the The Norwegian Humanist Association, the price for a wedding is 5000 Norwegian kroner (NOK), around €430. Members pay 4000 kroner. 

How to get in touch:
Use the email-address human@human.no. See more information on the webpage Getting married in Norway?

Human-Etisk Forbund is acknowledged by the state to perform legally binding weddings. Norwegian wedding legislation is gender neutral. Same sex and opposite sex couples, as well as non-binary people, are treated equally. 

You can also have a Norwegian humanist ceremonial leader perform a symbolic, non-legally binding humanist wedding, for example if you are already legally married or if you want a symbolic celebration of your relationship. You need to inform Human-Etisk Forbund about this when you book. The default position in Norway is that a wedding ceremony is formally binding according to the law.

Norway is one of the few European countries where humanist weddings are recognized as legally binding by the state. Read more here about how you may bring a Norwegian marriage certificate back to your home country and get it legalized there.