Question about Finland visitor visa and possible marriage to a Finnish citizen

Hi everyone, I’m planning to apply for a Finland/Schengen visitor visa next year and would appreciate hearing from anyone who has gone through a similar process.

My boyfriend is a Finnish citizen, but he currently lives and works in the Philippines. By the time of the trip, we will have been together for almost 3 years. We also live together and are both named on the lease agreement for the townhouse we rent.

We’re planning to travel together to Finland to attend his sister’s wedding and stay with his family (his father and sister) for around 15 days. We will both be contributing to the trip expenses, and I plan to return to the Philippines afterward as I am employed here.

I have a few questions:

What was the overall process like for your Finland/
Schengen visitor visa application?

What documents did you submit?

If you were visiting a partner or their family, what evidence of the relationship did you provide?

How much bank balance did you show, and how did you demonstrate ties to your home country?

Are there any common mistakes or things you wish you had known before applying?

We have also discussed the possibility of getting married (eloping) before the trip. If that happens, would I still apply for a regular visitor/Schengen visa for a short 15-day visit, or would there be a different process for spouses of Finnish citizens who are only visiting temporarily?

Any advice or personal experiences would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!