X Factor’s Saara Aalto MARRIES her longtime fiancée Meri Sopanen in a private ceremony after being forced to alter their wedding plans amid coronavirus pandemic
X Factor star Saara Aalto has announced she’s married her longtime fiancée Meri Sopanen.
The Finnish singer, 32, revealed they tied the knot in a private ceremony in Helsinki after being forced to cancel their lavish celebration due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Saara and Meri first announced their engagement in 2016, but pushed back their nuptials so she could pursue her music career.
Surprise! X Factor star Saara Aalto (right) has announced she’s married her longtime fiancée Meri Sopanen in a private ceremony in Helsinki
Speaking about their low-key nuptials Saara said: ‘With all of us feeling so much anxiety and uncertainty right now, Meri & I wanted to celebrate love and put something positive out into the world.
‘When we had to postpone the wedding we were heartbroken, but then we realised we could still hold a private registration and celebrate our love together. It was the perfect moment.’
To celebrate her wedding, Saara also revealed she’ll be hosting an online concert with her followers on Facebook on Friday.
We’re married! The Finnish singer announced the news after being forced to cancel their lavish family wedding due to the coronavirus pandemic (pictured in 2016)
The couple added that they are hoping to mark the occasion with a full ceremony in the near future.
Finland has joined much of Europe in battling coronavirus with the country so far seeing 199 deaths and 4,740 cases, and the country has introduced strict new measures including the closure of all restaurants and bars.
Saara has been engaged to Meri for more than three years, when she popped the question during a night in together after two years of dating.
She told OK! magazine at the time: ‘I washed off my make-up, put on my pyjamas and sat on the sofa. She just said: “Oh, we had a lovely day…” Then: “Will you marry me?”‘
Sweet: Saara announced her engagement to Meri in 2016 while she was on The X Factor, after she popped the question on their two-year anniversary
Speaking further about the shock of the surprisingly low-key moment, she joked: ‘I was like: “You can’t do it when I look like this!” So for me, it was a surprise!’
However, Meri didn’t hesitate in explaining herself, confessing: ‘We did have candles! I wanted to do it when she wasn’t wearing make-up – I love her soul.’
Her love for Meri comes after a nine-year relationship with Finnish pop star Teemu Roivainen.
Saara finished runner-up on The X Factor in 2016, and went onto appear on Dancing On Ice in 2019, finishing in third place.
She also represented her country in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2018, and is a judge on the Finnish X Factor.
Delighted: The couple also revealed they are planning to host a lavish ceremony with their friends and family in attendance when restrictions are lifted