Denmark is known for being wedding friendly to non-EU as well as EU citizens. Which means as international couples planning an elopement, Denmark is a very easy country to get married in, especially in comparison with other countries. One of the reasons is simply, that the bureaucracy is just not as heavy. As a client said to me: “When you come to Denmark, things just work!” I’m sure some Danes would disagree, but that’s a discussion for another time.
What is the process of applying for marriage in Denmark?
- Register for a marriage license at the Agency of Family Law.
- Wait for a week, or sometimes up to 4 weeks for approval.
- Once approved, you can book time for the ceremony at the Town Hall of your choice. Often you can even get the officiant to come to a special location.
- On the day (sometimes can be done the day before) you present your passports at the town hall to officiate.
- You receive two copies of the marriage certificate in five languages.
That is pretty much the structure of it. When you apply for a marriage license, you will need to present some document.
Documents for applying for marriage in Denmark.
- Everyone must show passport or ID-card
Following documents will depend on the couple and are not a must for everyone. - A valid visa or a Schengen area entry stamp
- A residence permit (If you don’t live where you are a citizen)
- A divorce or death certificate (If married before)
- A birth certificate
The Agency of Family Law will make sure to ask for the right documents.
How long does it take to get married in Denmark?
It varies a bit, but typically I would say about a month and a half. I’ve had couples where it dragged out and took a couple of months and I’ve had couples who did it in two weeks. When you are planning an elopement in Denmark, you must take one thing in account especially. Sometimes you do not get the exact time and date from the town hall until a week before. You might get options to choose from, but it can make it a bit challenging, if you want to have friends or family attend the wedding and they need to arrange travel and accommodation.
An alternative option, is to have the legal ceremony as it is, but have a Commitment Ceremony, for your friends and family. A Commitment Ceremony you control 100% and therefore you do not need to wait for the exact date from the town hall. Learn about Commitment Ceremonies here.
You can arrange it all yourself. Or you can have someone take care of the paperwork for you. I work exclusively with Danish Island Weddings (Specialised in Aeroe Island) and Getting Married in Denmark (Specialised in Denmark as a whole), because they are the best at what they do and they deliver an extraordinary service.
What else do you need to think of, when planning an elopement in Denmark?
Where to go?
Well, obviously, you need to know where you want to get married. So, what are you into, what do you dream of, how do you envision your elopement day? Is it in one of the great cities of Europe, Copenhagen, with all it’s diversity, history, culture, architecture and experiences? Is it the tranquillity of a small island or the rough nature and wast beaches of the west coast?
Find a photographer
Let me state the obvious first. Photographers are different. I say this, because I do occasionally get request, where I can say for certain, that they are looking for something else. Luckily I can guide them in the right direction. And it is just important for me to emphasize this, so you don’t end up with a photographer that doesn’t match your vision.
The best advice I can give, is go with the gut feeling. You can suddenly get caught up in comparing packages and then it’s a numbers game. Which it should not be. It should not be about how many images you get. It should be this: if you were to get only one photo, how does this photo make you feel. And did you have fun and feel comfortable taking it?
So take your time, go through their website. Of course see photos, but even more so, pay attention to how they communicate to you. How does it make you feel? Do you resonate with what they write, do they make you laugh, fell comfortable? Book a phone call, talk with them. Did you hit it off? Awesome!! That is true value! You can’t see that on a price tag.
What other wedding vendors do you need?
Most likely you will have taken care of rings, dress, suit and shoes from home. That leaves, in most cases, hair & makeup and flowers. You need a hotel for your stay and of course a great restaurant to have a romantic dinner. If you’re working with an agency, they probably have some good recommendations. Otherwise google is a good friend. And if you have already hired a photographer, then they very often have good recommendations, so ask your photographer.
See my guide on planning an elopement in Copenhagen. (Other guides are coming)
