Wedding at Eric Ericsonhallen

A wedding at Eric Ericsonhallen takes place in the former Skeppsholmen Church, inaugurated in 1842 and designed by Fredrik Blom with the Pantheon in Rome as its model. The hall sits on Skeppsholmen, about 200 metres from Grand Hôtel, and has 600 square metres of open floor under the dome. The hall is named after the choral conductor Eric Ericson.

The hall is used regularly for concerts and recordings. The acoustic chandelier and drapes let the reverberation be set between 2.5 and 5 seconds, and the hall has a Steinway D grand piano and an organ. That makes it well suited to a string quartet, a choir or a soloist during the ceremony.

The concert hall on Skeppsholmen

Eric Ericsonhallen sits on Skeppsholmen, which is also home to Moderna Museet and ArkDes. The building stands on a rise with a view of the Royal Palace and Gamla Stan, and the dome dominates the room from inside.

Guests can walk from Grand Hôtel, about 200 metres away, across the Skeppsholmen bridge. If you marry at Stadshuset and celebrate in the evening, it is a short taxi ride between the two.

This guide is written by me, Karin Lundin, a wedding photographer based in Stockholm. Further down the page I share what it is like to photograph here. Planning a wedding and want to talk? Get in touch and we will talk.

Capacity

The main hall has 600 square metres of open floor under the dome and seats 400 for dinner and 430 for a ceremony. According to Skeppsholmsgruppen, 400 chairs, sound and lighting staff and cleaning are included for ceremonies, and officiants and extra technical equipment can be arranged through their partners.

Food and drink through Skeppsholmsgruppen

Bookings, food and drink go through Skeppsholmsgruppen, who tailor the wedding party with food, drink, furniture and staff. External catering is not permitted. Once the menu and wines are set, one team handles service and pacing through the evening.

Pricing

Skeppsholmsgruppen does not publish prices. Ask for a written quote including VAT, staff and any overtime before you book.

Accommodation near Eric Ericsonhallen

Eric Ericsonhallen has no accommodation on site. Grand Hôtel is about 200 metres away, Hotel Skeppsholmen is on the same island, and the hotels around Gamla Stan are across the bridge.

History: from naval church to concert hall

Construction began in the 1820s with Fredrik Blom as architect, after the earlier Holmkyrkan church burned down in 1822. King Karl XIV Johan inaugurated the church on 24 July 1842, the year the lantern was added to the top of the dome. The model was the Pantheon in Rome, and the lantern lets daylight into the room.

The parish was discontinued in 1969, and the church was deconsecrated on 5 December 2001. Since May 2009 it has been a concert hall named after the choral conductor Eric Ericson, who founded the Eric Ericson Chamber Choir. Today it hosts concerts, weddings, corporate events and recordings.

A photographer’s perspective on Eric Ericsonhallen

My name is Karin Lundin and I am a wedding photographer based in Stockholm. Eric Ericsonhallen is one of the most distinctive rooms I photograph in the city. The dome and the natural light falling from the lantern at the top of the dome give every wedding held here a graphic quality that is rare at Stockholm venues. Black-and-white images in particular take on a strong character because of the geometry of the space.

For practical notes: I photograph in natural light wherever possible, and Eric Ericsonhallen gives me plenty. The lantern lets light move across the floor through the afternoon. Portraits work well at the back of the hall where the dome rises above and the couple reads as small against the architecture. Ceremony photographs work best from a position slightly above eye level, which gives the dome space in the frame.

A wedding at Eric Ericsonhallen often runs as a formal ceremony followed by a seated dinner in the same room. Between ceremony and dinner the staff reset the chairs and tables, so plan a break for drinks. That break works for couple portraits on Skeppsholmen itself, along the quay facing the Royal Palace, with the water and the Old Town behind.

For moving pictures of the day, I often work alongside Nordvér Films. We plan the day together so both cameras keep out of the way of the couple and the guests. If you want to see how I work, there is a separate page about fine art wedding photography in Sweden.

If you are comparing Eric Ericsonhallen with other Stockholm venues, my Stockholm wedding venue guide covers more venues in the city and around it. For couples who also want a civil ceremony, my Stadshuset wedding guide is the natural companion.

Typical wedding day at Eric Ericsonhallen

This timeline applies when you hold both the ceremony and the party in the hall. If you book the ceremony only, Saturday slots are available until 2pm.

Skeppsholmen: the island setting

Eric Ericsonhallen is one of several cultural institutions on Skeppsholmen. The island is reached from Blasieholmen across the Skeppsholmen bridge, and Hotel Skeppsholmen is also on the island. From the island you look out over Strömmen towards Gamla Stan and the Royal Palace.

For couples planning a multi-day wedding weekend, Skeppsholmen itself works as a backdrop. The rehearsal dinner at Hotel Skeppsholmen and the Saturday ceremony at Eric Ericsonhallen are within walking distance of each other, and the quay works for a welcome drink.

Planning a destination wedding at Eric Ericsonhallen

The central location makes the logistics simple for international couples, since the hotels in central Stockholm are within walking distance.

For international guests: the Arlanda Express takes about 20 minutes from Arlanda to Stockholm Central. Book hotel blocks at Grand Hôtel or Hotel Skeppsholmen so guests can walk to the ceremony, and include a printed guide in the welcome bag with addresses and walking directions in English.

For Swedish ceremonies: every wedding in Sweden, civil or religious, requires hindersprövning, the impediment check carried out by the Swedish Tax Agency (Skatteverket), and the certificate is valid for four months. Start the paperwork 3 to 4 months before the wedding. Officiants can be arranged through Skeppsholmsgruppen’s partners.

I have photographed here and am happy to share what works in the room. Get in touch, and we will take it from there.

Key takeaways

• The former Skeppsholmen Church, inaugurated in 1842 and designed by Fredrik Blom with the Pantheon as its model. A concert hall since 2009.
• 600 square metres under the dome: 400 for dinner, 430 seated for a ceremony, 500 standing.
• The reverberation can be set between 2.5 and 5 seconds, and the hall has a grand piano and an organ.
• Skeppsholmsgruppen handles food and drink. External catering is not permitted.
• Ceremony-only bookings have Saturday slots until 2pm. If you hold the party here too, agree the ceremony time with Skeppsholmsgruppen.
• About 200 metres to Grand Hôtel. No accommodation on site, so book a nearby hotel.
• The dome and the Skeppsholmen quay give many settings for photographs within walking distance.

If you are open to venues beyond Sweden, see my European wedding venues guide.

Frequently asked questions about weddings at Eric Ericsonhallen

How many guests can Eric Ericsonhallen hold?

The main hall has 600 square metres and seats 400 for dinner, 430 for a ceremony and 500 for a standing reception.

Can we get married at Eric Ericsonhallen?

Yes, both civil and religious ceremonies are held here, and the hall has no religious ties. Ceremony-only bookings have Saturday slots until 2pm, and if you hold the party here too you agree the ceremony time with Skeppsholmsgruppen. For ceremonies, 400 chairs, sound and lighting staff and cleaning are included, and officiants can be arranged through Skeppsholmsgruppen’s partners.

Can we bring our own food or drink?

No, external catering is not permitted. Skeppsholmsgruppen tailors the party with food, drink, furniture and staff.

Can we have live music during the ceremony?

Yes. The hall has a Steinway D grand piano and an organ, and the reverberation can be set between 2.5 and 5 seconds with the acoustic chandelier and drapes.

How do guests get to Eric Ericsonhallen?

The hall is on Skeppsholmen, about 200 metres from Grand Hôtel. Guests walk from Kungsträdgården or Nybroplan, or take a taxi to the door.

Why is it called Eric Ericsonhallen?

The hall is named after the choral conductor Eric Ericson (1918 to 2013). Erik Eriksson hallen, as many people spell it, is the same venue: the former Skeppsholmen Church, inaugurated in 1842.

More wedding venues

See also: Top wedding venues in Stockholm, Nationalmuseum wedding, Stockholm City Hall wedding, Högberga Gård.

Planning a wedding? I am happy to talk about how your day could look in pictures. Get in touch and we will talk.