Wedding in Gothenburg: the city, the archipelago and the venue
Updated 26 October 2026 · Written by Lysela
A wedding in Gothenburg can be a ceremony in a church on an island in the southern archipelago, a dinner at a castle in Mölndal or a party at a venue in the middle of the city. Start with three choices: which area you want to marry in, which venue has your date and how guests get there and home again. The archipelago is reached by Västtrafik's boats, and in the city the municipality's rules on alcohol apply at the venue. Here are the areas, what to ask a venue about your own drinks, your own food and the price, how guests get there and what belongs on your wedding website.
Try it yourself, no account neededGetting married in Gothenburg: the city, the archipelago or the surroundings
A wedding in the Gothenburg archipelago is ruled by the boat times. Settle the first and last boat before you set a time for the ceremony, and read further down how guests get there.
In the city
A church, the City Hall (Rådhuset) or a venue in the centre. Many guests can get between hotel, ceremony and party without a car, but look at the route between the places before you decide.
In the southern archipelago
The Church of Sweden has churches on six islands: Styrsö, Donsö, Brännö, Vrångö, Asperö and Köpstadsö. The parish writes that you can also marry outdoors, and bookings go through the Västra Frölunda parish office.
Gothenburg and the surroundings
The municipalities around the city, Mölndal for example, have their own castles, farms and venues. There a car, a bus and the last journey home count for more than in the city.
Wedding venue in Gothenburg: your own drinks, your own food and the price
Your own drinks: the City of Gothenburg's guidelines say that, when it inspects, the city checks that guests do not bring their own alcohol into a licensed venue. A venue with a serving licence will therefore normally not let you bring your own drinks, and you buy them from the venue. If you hire a venue without a licence, there is a temporary serving licence for a closed party, which the guidelines mention. Ask the venue which applies and get the answer in writing.
Your own food and catering: some venues have their own kitchen, others let you hire a caterer. The guidelines list a separate kind of licence, a serving licence for catering to a closed party, so ask the caterer whether it may serve alcohol at your wedding. Book wedding catering in Gothenburg at the same time as the venue if you can.
Price: what a wedding venue in Gothenburg costs depends on the date, the number of guests, whether food and drink are included, how long you hire it and whether cleaning and staff are included. Compare the cost of the whole evening and not only the hire. More questions to ask are in the wedding venue guide, and you add the figures to your budget.
Hello, we are planning a wedding on [date] with about [number] guests in Gothenburg. Does the venue have a serving licence, can we bring our own drinks or our own food, and what is included in the hire? We would also like to know when the music has to stop and when we can come to decorate. [name and telephone number]
Wedding in Gothenburg at a manor, a barn or by the sea: which venue suits you
One example of a type is Gunnebo House and Gardens (Gunnebo slott och trädgårdar) in Mölndal, which has a page about ceremonies in the castle salon and the gardens. The castle writes that dates for 2027 are released in January. It is an example and not a recommendation, so ask them about times and what is included.
| Type | Suits you if | Ask in particular |
|---|---|---|
| Castle or manor | You want the ceremony, dinner and party in one setting. | What is included, which times apply and whether you may bring your own drinks. |
| Barn or farm | You want to decide more yourselves. | Toilets, heating, a rain plan and who arranges food and drink. |
| By the sea or in the archipelago | The water should be in the photos and at the party. | Boat times home, accommodation on the island and what happens in bad weather. |
| Hotel or restaurant in the city | Guests travelling far should sleep nearby. | Whether the room is yours alone and how late you may dance. |
A wedding in Gothenburg: how guests get there
To the archipelago
Several boat lines leave from Saltholmens brygga for the southern archipelago. Line 281 stops at Styrsö, Donsö and Vrångö, among others, the islands Västtrafik calls bilfria (without cars).
The timetable
Västtrafik changes its timetable during the year, so check vasttrafik.se in good time and put the departures on your wedding website.
Home at night
Ask how late the boat and public transport run. If nothing runs after the party you need a solution of your own, and how to book a coach is in the wedding transport guide.
Accommodation
Guests who travel far want to sleep near the party. Put accommodation nearby on the website, so you do not have to answer it in every text message.
The boat from Saltholmen to [island] leaves at [time]. The last boat back leaves at [time], so we are arranging [a coach or a taxi] from [place].
A church or civil ceremony in Gothenburg
A civil ceremony has its own guide, in Swedish: civil wedding in Gothenburg. You book a church wedding with the parish. The Göteborgs Domkyrkopastorat writes that booking for spring and summer ceremonies opens on 1 October the year before, and for autumn and winter on 1 March the same year.
If one of you is a member of the Church of Sweden, the ceremony costs nothing. If neither of you is, a fee applies and not every church can be chosen. You order the Hindersprövning and Intyg vigsel forms from Skatteverket, and they are valid for four months, see the marriage licence guide. A rehearsal on site a few days before the ceremony is often included.
Hello, we would like to marry in [church] on [date] with about [number] guests. [One of us is / Neither of us is] a member of the Church of Sweden. Is the date available, and when can we rehearse? [name and telephone number]
Guests who travel far: places, times and accommodation on your wedding website
Guests from Gothenburg know the way, but relatives from the other end of the country and friends from abroad do not. On your wedding website you add each place with its address, a line about how to get there and a map link, the programme for the day, the transport with times and accommodation nearby. Guests reply to the RSVP on their phones with allergies, and you see the list for the kitchen and who wants a seat on the bus. That is in every tier. English headings, buttons and RSVP for international guests are in Plus.
On the example sites you can see Stella + Max's wedding in Gothenburg, with the ceremony and party at two places and buses home after midnight.
Rooms are available at [hotel] in [area], [number] minutes from the party. Book by [date] and say you are coming to our wedding.
The places and boat times on your wedding website
With Lysela you gather what guests ask about on one page: the places with an address and a map link, the programme, the transport with departures, accommodation nearby and what is good to know. That is in every tier, and guests reply to the RSVP with allergies, with no app and no account. From Plus, international guests get the headings and buttons in English. You can try it with your names, no account needed.
You start without an account and pay once, SEK 795, SEK 1,795 or SEK 4,900 including VAT, and the site stays up for 12 months.
What usually goes on a wedding website, and what one costs, is in the checklist.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a wedding in Gothenburg cost?
There is no single price. It depends on the venue hire, food and drink per guest, the date, the number of guests, boat or coach and accommodation. Work out the whole evening in your [budget](budget) and ask several venues for a quote.
Can you bring your own drinks to a wedding venue in Gothenburg?
That is up to the venue. The city checks that guests do not bring alcohol into a licensed venue, so a venue with a serving licence will normally not let you bring your own. Ask the venue and get the answer in writing.
Can you get married in the Gothenburg archipelago?
Yes. The Church of Sweden has churches on Styrsö, Donsö, Brännö, Vrångö, Asperö and Köpstadsö, and the parish writes that you can also marry outdoors. Bookings go through the Västra Frölunda parish office.
When should you book a wedding in Gothenburg?
Ideally a year ahead, earlier for a Saturday in June or August. The churches of the Domkyrkopastorat open booking for spring and summer on 1 October the year before.