A Windy Winter Wedding in Helsinki: Alisa & Aarne at Uspenski Cathedral and Tenalji von Fersen

Getting Ready — Hotel St. George

The day started in the historic surroundings of Hotel St. George, right by Old Church Park — a hotel as known for its art collection as for its history dating back to the 1840s. The mood for the morning’s final preparations was every bit as beautiful, and just a little theatrical, as the setting suggested.

The Ceremony at Uspenski Cathedral

The ceremony was held at Uspenski Cathedral in Katajanokka — the largest Orthodox cathedral in Northern and Western Europe, and one of Helsinki’s most recognizable landmarks with its golden domes.

Right before the doors opened, something happened that’s hard to believe: the bride had lost her phone in the taxi from the hotel to the church. As I was arranging her train moments before she walked in, the phone dropped straight into my hands — it had somehow ended up caught in the train during the ride. You never quite know what a wedding day will bring.

An Orthodox ceremony with its crowning rite is a different kind of ritual than a Lutheran one: solemn, rich in symbolism, and genuinely moving to witness from behind the camera.

Portraits in the Wind

After the ceremony, we’d planned outdoor portraits, but winter showed its teeth: the wind was biting and there was no snow in sight yet. The couple and the entire crew — photographer and videographer included — froze together, but we still came away with a handful of beautiful frames before moving on to warmer things.

By Ferry to Suomenlinna

The reception venue, Suomenlinna, was reached by ferry — and we managed to grab a few more portraits on deck and at the pier before arriving.

The Reception at Tenalji von Fersen

Tenalji von Fersen, located in Suomenlinna’s inner bastion ring, is a former 18th-century fortress bakery and grain store — and it gave the celebration a stunning setting: high brick vaults and a warm, historic atmosphere. It’s no surprise it was voted the most popular wedding venue in the 2024 Venuu Awards.

The evening opened in style: the couple walked in and kicked off the party by spraying champagne from two bottles. Next came a classic champagne tower, filled to the top in celebration.

The program kept going well into the night: speeches, wedding cake, and a moment when one of the guests sat down at the grand piano — the rest of the room enjoyed it. The couple also had their own photo wall, decorated with hearts and colored glasses, where guests posed throughout the evening. One of the night’s most touching moments came when the bride stood up to sing a song she’d chosen especially for the groom.

When the heels started to hurt, guests could swap into slippers the couple had provided — a small but much-loved detail. Later in the evening came a late-night snack, including hot dogs, and the dance floor filled up starting with the couple’s first dance.

While we were outside grabbing more portraits, a magician’s show had already started back at the party, entertaining the guests. At the end of the night, the bride threw the bouquet and the groom threw the garter.

And then, during the last dances, the bride’s ring went missing. At the morning the venue staff found it, and it was back on her finger.

Wedding Night at Waldorf Astoria

At the end of the night, the ferry carried everyone back into the city, and the couple spent their wedding night at Waldorf Astoria. The bride was set on a photo in the elevator. Outside, the wind was still strong enough to have knocked over the tree in front of the hotel: a small reminder of what kind of day it had been.

When the Snow Finally Fell

The portraits taken in December’s wind never quite felt like they did the day justice, so we promised the couple we’d come back. In 2026, once snow finally covered the forests on the edge of Helsinki, we met Alisa and Aarne again — this time without any rush, and without any wind, in a quiet, white landscape. What came out of it were exactly the kind of dreamy winter wedding photos that a Finnish December doesn’t always allow for.

Winter Weddings and Orthodox Ceremonies in Helsinki — Studio Happy Moment

Planning a winter wedding or an Orthodox ceremony in Helsinki? If you want a genuine, documentary approach to your day — whatever the weather brings — let’s talk.

We shoot weddings in Helsinki and across Finland, as well as destination weddings in Western Europe.

Services: wedding photography, lovestory sessions, maternity & newborn photography, family photography — see our pricing

Locations: Helsinki, Suomenlinna, all of Finland and Western Europe

Experience: 15 years of wedding photography

Languages: Finnish, English

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