Marriage with Norwegian Brides – What Do Weddings with Scandinavian Ladies Look Like?

Marriage with Norwegian Brides – What Do Weddings with Scandinavian Ladies Look Like?

Viking-like spirit and old Scandinavian traditions are alluring to many people around the world. Although many modern Norwegians celebrate their weddings in a typical Western style, many also implement traditions when officially uniting with their loved ones. A delicious Bløtkake, hand-made bunad suit, and brudekjole dressing for bride and groom, and other spectacularly beautiful traditions make you immerse in Scandinavian culture when you attend a Norwegian wedding. 
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But traditions are definitely not the main reasons Western and American men choose to marry Norwegian brides. These women are mature, down-to-earth, and adventurous – qualities that attract Westerners. And if you are one of such men and plan to get a Norwegian wife, you need to learn about marriage and wedding customs and trends in this country. Your answers are below in the article. 

Best Sites to Meet Norwegian Brides

SofiaDate
5.0
  • Strong profile verification system
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30 free credits after registration & email confirmation, plus a 35‑credit pack for $2.99
Uabrides
4.6
  • Detailed filters for refined matches
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GoldenBride
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  • No mobile app for iOS
New users receive 3 free coins at signup, and can purchase a 20‑coin test pack for just $4.99
GoChatty
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One time offer: 20 credits - $2.99
UkraineBrides4You
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First 20 coins for $2.99 (instead of $4.66)

Wedding Customs to Know When Marrying Girls from Norway 

Wedding traditions in Scandinavian countries are quite similar. Yet, Norway can also boast about its special customs that many couples, including Norwegian & foreign-born, follow during their lovely ceremonies. 

  • What the groom and the bride wear. As we mentioned above, bunad, a hand-made woolen suit with short pants for grooms, and brudekjole, a silver wedding gown with traditional ornaments and crowns for brides, are typical dressings for couples in Norwegian weddings. Or, the bride can also wear a female bunad, too. Besides, bridesmaids often wear similar dressings as the bride – it’s not done out of envy, but to confuse evil spirits. 
  • Throwing grains at the newlyweds. Like in many other wedding traditions, in Norway, guests throw rye and barley grains at the couple, while the bride needs to catch them. The more the better because it’s a symbol of a bright future!
  • What is the light night snack? Each couple chooses their menus for the wedding celebration. But no one can omit nattmat – it’s a night food menu with some light snacks for guests so they don’t leave hungry when the celebration ends.
  • The wedding cake – Kransekake. All weddings have a wedding cake, but in Norway, it differs a bit. Kransekake or blotkake is an almond-shaped ring cake with fruits and icing on top. You can say it looks like a tasty tower!

One more thing about after-wedding life – fit trees. When the couple marries and moves to their new home, they plant trees on each side of the main door. This tradition is about the children the couple plans to have. 

What Do Norwegians Think About International Marriages? 

Do Norwegian women like American men, and is it possible to get such a wife? In Norway, the attitude to mixed marriages is generally positive. And it’s no surprise because Norwegians are used to the diversity – thus, immigrants make 17% of the country’s population. This data shows that being a foreigner married to a local in Norway is not a thing that happens once in a blue moon, but a matter of normality. 

When you marry a Norwegian bride, you can be sure that she will be open-minded and welcoming to the fact that you come from a different culture or country. 

As for international marriages, they are also quite popular in Norway. Statista says that in 2022, there were 19,684 marriages in which brides were residents of Norway, while grooms came from other countries. 

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Who Are Norwegian Mail Order Brides in International Marriages? 

Now, it’s time to talk about Norwegian mail order brides who marry internationally. 

The first thing to mention is their inner and outer features. The majority of Norwegian brides are of average height, have blonde hair and blue eyes, thus representing a typical Scandinavian beauty. 

As for the character, these ladies represent true Western qualities: they are feminists and are for equality in all matters; Norwegian mail order brides approach marriage wisely and marry when they are ready financially; they invest not only in their beauty but also in their health – hiking, jogging, playing different olympic games are common hobbies among Norwegian women. A lot of women there invest in their education and self-development, too. 

What about bare facts on marriage with Norwegian brides? Here is what we found, so you could picture a real marriage with a Norwegian wife: 

  • The average marriage age for women in Norway is 37.3 years, according to Statista. This number may seem high, but in Norway, it’s normal – a lot of couples cohabitate for a long time before getting married. People on Reddit admit that this form of living together – cohabiting – is quite popular in Norway. 
  • Thus, the marriage rate in Norway is also quite low, although it has increased in recent years: 3.6 marriages per 1,000 people.
  • Norwegian ladies also don’t hurry up to marry. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of St.Louis, the fertility rate in Norway is under the replacement level and is 1.4 births per woman. 

A marriage with someone from another country is always about a clash of cultures and traditions, and also preparing for the bureaucracy of getting a fiancée visa when you plan to settle down in the USA with your bride, even if she’s from such a strong-passport country like Norway. 

Below, we will discuss the most crucial legal nuances of getting married to a Norwegian mail order bride and also cover the insights of actual Norwegian-American marriages and possible clashes. 

Legal Nuances
Visa documents and requirements– being over 18 y.o
– having proofs that you are not in an official relationship with someone else
– providing evidence of relationships, such as photos, letters, tickets, etc
– passports and birth certificates 
– passport-like photos 
– medical exam results 
– police certificates with background checks 
– translation and copies of documents
Steps to get a visaYou fill the Form I-129F and send it to USCIS. USCIS then sends it to NVC, which forwards it to the U.S. Embassy in Norway. 
Your Norwegian bride will submit the Form DS-160, which is also necessary for the K-1 visa, and go through a medical examination. 
If everything is okay, you will be invited to the interview. The intention of this interview is to check whether you are a real couple or go for a fictive marriage. You can learn more about this visa here.
Processing timeIt can take up to one year to get the visa approval. 
Money to investConsidering all the government fees for the visa documents, you need to prepare around $2000. 
Practical Nuances
Family rolesRoles in a marriage are typically balanced. Both partners contribute equally to the relationship, home, and parenting. For example, fathers in Norway usually take part in child-rearing. It’s normal for men to take paternity leave and participate equally in raising children.

Financial responsibilities		It’s common in Norway for couples to split costs, even in marriage. Many Norwegian women prefer to maintain financial independence and may expect a 50/50 contribution to household expenses.
Cultural nuances to know aboutNorwegians are typically reserved and value personal space. Besides, simplicity is appreciated: flashy spending, bragging, or overly emotional behavior can be seen as immature or unnecessary to Norwegian women.Also, Norway is a largely secular country. If religion plays a large role in your life, this difference may require conversation and compromise when you marry a Norwegian mail order bride.

Potential Obstacles in a Marriage with a Norwegian Wife

A certain set of challenges may occur when you marry a Norwegian mail order bride. It’s because customs and lifestyle in this country differ even from the lifestyle in such a modern country as the USA. 

  • The first thing to talk about is communication. The language barrier may not be the problem, because a lot of Norwegians speak English. It’s more about the communication style: Norwegians tend to be pretty direct and not big on small talk. If you’re someone who enjoys long heart-to-hearts or lots of daily chatter, you might feel a little thrown off at first. Here, you need to learn and value distance and freedom – maybe you will like this communication style.
  • Also, as we said earlier, Norwegian women are for 50/50. It may seem appealing at first, but it also implies that you will share household and parenting responsibilities. If you are from a society where women take care of the household, you will need to think carefully about whether Norwegian brides are a good choice for you. Or, discuss how you can compromise and navigate duties in a relationship with your Norwegian wife.
  • Norwegian women are not fond of couch potatoes. These ladies like spending time outdoors and trying different activities. That’s why you need to learn this “activity” or encourage your Norwegian wife to have some indoor quality time, too.

Success Stories 

Independence Works with Closeness
SofiaDate

Lina, a Norwegian teacher, and Jake, an American engineer, clashed over different views on personal independence and emotional expression. For Jake, sharing and being close were crucial, but Lina subconsciously considered it a little “threat” to her independence. Since both wanted to save their marriage, the couple went to therapy and learned to balance Lina’s need for personal space with Jake’s desire for closeness. For example, they have hobbies alone time hobbies (for Lina, these are walks, for Jake – it’s playing video games) and quality time interests (both enjoy visiting museums and puzzles).

Nature Saves Relationships
GoldenBride

Ingrid, a Norwegian software developer, and Mark, an American entrepreneur, after moving together, faced conflict over work-life balance. Ingrid prioritized downtime and nature escapes, while Mark was used to long work hours. It became a problem for both: Ingrid didn’t feel Mark wanted to get interested in her worldview, while Mark was burning out but couldn’t communicate it since he couldn’t “lose face” as a strong, successful man. After they finally discussed their feelings, Mark decided to take fewer responsibilities at work and join Ingrid on her little hikes, and found it improved his mental health and relationship.

Best Places to Marry in Norway 

Norway is one of the most picturesque places to get married. Its nature can create perfect and fairy-tale-like landscapes for an international wedding. 

  • Lofoten Islands. If you’re dreaming of a wild backdrop for your wedding, the Lofoten Islands are hard to beat. With mountains rising from the sea and fishing villages that look straight out of a painting, it feels surreal to have a wedding there (yet, you will need to think of transport 🙂)
  • Bergen (Bryggen Wharf). Bergen’s colorful old wharf, Bryggen, is full of history and makes it a romantic setting for a wedding. The city is surrounded by mountains and fjords and offers endless photo spots and magical scenery. Plus, it’s easy to mix tradition and modern comfort here, with its quaint cobbled streets and stylish venues side by side.
  • Geirangerfjord. Geirangerfjord is one of Norway’s most iconic natural wonders and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Think about saying “I do” on a boat cruise or a mountain viewpoint, surrounded by waterfalls and deep-blue fjord waters!
  • Oslo (Ekeberg Park or a fjord-side venue). For a city wedding with a mix of urban style and natural beauty, Oslo is the best. You can get married in a modern venue by the Oslofjord or choose something unique like Ekeberg Sculpture Park. After the ceremony, there’s no shortage of restaurants and cozy hotels to keep the celebration going.
  • Tromsø (Winter wedding with Northern Lights). If you’re after something truly magical, Tromsø in winter offers the chance to get married under the northern lights. This Arctic town has a lot of wooden churches and snowy landscapes all around. It’s a dream for couples who want a fairytale-style adventurous wedding.

Conclusion 

Simplicity and inner freedom are the best things that a marriage with a Norwegian bride can bring you. While misunderstandings may arise, especially around communication styles or lifestyle habits, these can become pros in strengthening your international union. 

Hopefully, aspenweddingguide.com answered your questions concerning Norwegian wedding customs, legal aspects of marrying a Norwegian mail order bride, and statistics about Norwegian brides. 

Check other pieces on the website if you want to know more about international marriages and start a Scandinavian romance successfully with the best tips. 

Kelsey Stamps
Hey, I’m Kelsey! I studied Social Psychology at CU Boulder and now split my time between writing about dreamy Aspen wedding spots, clever planning hacks, and real talk on international marriages (yep, American guys and foreign girls). I also run a small psychology practice, helping couples navigate love, culture, and everything in between. Connection and honesty are my non-negotiables.
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