There's not much about Oulu to put you in mind of Las Vegas but next month the Dean of Oulu Cathedral, the Very Rev'd Dr Matti Pikkarainen, will be doing something radical which have put critics in mind of the glitzy Nevada city.
On 6th and 27th November (between 4pm and 8pm) loving couples will be able to walk in, without any notice at all, and get married within about 20 minutes. The only requirement is that one of them is a member of the Lutheran church and the other is either Lutheran or part of a recognised Christian denomination.
Dr Pikkarainen is very ethusiastic about the ceremonies. 'We want to show that getting married does not have to be a big occasion that will cost you a lot of money,' the cleric told 65DN. 'We want to show people that you can come and get married for no money. It's for people who want to get married in church without it being a big, expensive occasion.'
'When they come to the church,' he continued, 'the only condition is that they must be legally able to get married. One of them has to be a member of the Lutheran church.'
In the past, a proposed wedding had to be publicly announced weeks beforehand and read out at church services so that people could register any objections, such as the groom already being married to somebody else. 'That was the case earlier but it's not anymore now,' assured Dr Pikkarainen.
'A few people can come to wedding with them and we will even offer a reception afterwards with coffee and cake,' he told 65DN. 'But we want to show that the important thing is getting married before God and praying for the marriage.'
Traditionally, the priest discusses the wedding with the couple and asks them why they wish to get married and this will be part of the walkin services as well. 'There will be a discussion, for about ten to fifteen minutes, where we will speak about such things,' he clarified.
And Pikkarainen was unhappy about accusations in Kaleva that he was offering 'Las Vegas style weddings.' 'It is false what Kaleva have said that it is like Las Vegas,' he insisted.
'We are not making the wedding less important. A wedding is a wedding and these weddings will be front of God and his congregation. They are to help people that want to get married in church but do not want a big occasion.'
