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Getting married in Denmark as a foreigner: Everything you need to know
Looking to get married in Denmark? Learn all you need to know about the legal requirements, types of weddings, and wedding costs.
Denmark’s charming towns, rich culture, and stunning landscapes make it one of the top wedding destinations in Europe. If you, too, dream of getting married in Denmark, follow along to learn everything you need to know about it, including legal requirements, types of weddings, and possible wedding costs.
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Types of marriages in Denmark
There are several types of weddings that take place in Denmark, each with its own requirements and levels of commitment.
Civil marriage
Civil marriages are the most common among foreigners looking to get married in Denmark. It’s a legally binding marriage that typically takes place in a town hall or another building designated by the city.
The ceremony usually takes around 30 minutes and can be held in Danish, English, or German. You’ll be presented with a marriage certificate after the ceremony, making you officially married. You will need two witnesses present at the ceremony.
Civil marriages in Denmark can be held for partners of any sex. Same-sex marriage has been legal here since late 2012.
Religious marriage
Denmark is a primarily Christian country, and religious marriages are fairly common. It’s a legally and religiously binding form of marriage, but you need to include the civil part of the wedding in the ceremony or have a civil marriage before the religious one and provide your marriage certificate to the church.
Registered partnership
Before same-sex marriages became legal in Denmark, same-sex unions were the only way for same-sex couples to legalize their partnership. They’ve been available in Denmark since 1989, making it the first country in the world to legalize same-sex unions.
They’re very similar to civil marriages both in terms of legal matters and the procedures needed for the partnership to be registered.
Symbolic ceremonies
Symbolic ceremonies are celebrations of love that are not legally or religiously binding in any way. Holding a symbolic ceremony won’t change your marital status, but is a great way to commemorate your partnership exactly how you want to do it, as you’re not tied to any pre-determined place or customs.
Legal requirements for getting married in Denmark
The documents and requirements can differ slightly depending on the type of marriage you’re planning and where you’re coming from. That said, the list of required documents isn’t very lengthy:
- Both partners need to be over 18 years old.
- A valid passport or EU ID.
- Two witnesses.
- A signed Declaration of Truth.
- A VISA if you need one to visit Denmark.
- If one or both of the partners were previously married, you may need to provide a divorce decree from your previous marriage or the death certificate of the previous partner.
- A residence permit to live in Denmark or another EU/Schengen country if one or both partners live outside of the EU/Schengen.
Additional requirements for a religious wedding include:
- Baptism, first communion, and confirmation certificates.
- A certificate for a pre-marriage course.
- A letter of permission from your Priest or Pastor.
- If the civil part of the marriage doesn’t take place together with the religious marriage, you’ll need to provide proof of civil marriage.
Notably, you don’t need to be a Danish citizen to get married in Denmark, though you need to be a citizen of an EU/Schengen country or have a residence permit to live in a country within the region.
How much does it cost to get married in Denmark?
As with all weddings, the total price depends on how you want to celebrate it. If all you want to do is go through the application process, have your civil ceremony, and get the marriage certificate — it won’t cost much at all. However, most newlyweds tend to have more of a celebration. Here’s what you can expect to pay for yours:
- Paperwork for civil marriage — ~€300
- Trip to Denmark — €100-1,000+ depending on where you’re coming from
- Wedding venue — ~€1,000
- Food and drinks — ~€100-200 per person, depending on what you choose
- Photographer/videographer — €500-1,000 each
- Accommodation — around €100 per person
- Wedding planner — up to around €1500
- Celebrant — up to €1,000
- Entertainment — €500-2,000+
These are just rough estimates. Some weddings don’t require entertainers and celebrants. Others don’t need overnight accommodation or a planner. That said, most modest weddings in Denmark can fit within a budget of around €10,000, while extravagant celebrations can easily cost €50,000 or more.
How to plan your Danish wedding
There are some things you can’t avoid when planning your Danish wedding, no matter if you get yourself a wedding planner or do everything on your own. Here’s what you should consider:
- Set a fixed budget — as we already established, wedding costs can get pretty out of hand. To avoid paying more than you want to, set a fixed budget and work within it instead of booking everything you want and making the calculations after your wedding day.
- Pick a wedding date — Denmark has four distinct seasons, each with their own weather patterns, so pick a time carefully to make sure you get the best wedding experience. Winters can be pretty cold but are considered to be off-season for weddings, so you may get better deals. That said, late spring to early autumn usually offers the best weather.
- Book everything early — the best wedding venues, photographers, entertainers, and even good days for civil weddings usually get picked up quickly. If you don’t want to miss out, start booking everything for your wedding at least a year in advance.
Looking for more European wedding destinations?
If you haven’t decided on Denmark as your wedding destination, you might be interested in other popular European countries for foreigners to get married:
Make planning a breeze with Holafly
Planning your wedding abroad can be tough, especially if you don’t have a reliable internet connection. The Holafly eSIM for Denmark offers a simple and convenient way to stay connected, allowing you to stay in touch with your wedding planner, make international calls, translate any marriage documents, or simply find your way around the country – all without the need for a physical Denmark SIM card.
If you plan to stay in Denmark or travel the world for a while after the wedding, you can get a monthly eSIM subscription with Holafly Connect. Pick a plan that suits your needs, stay connected anywhere in the world, and simply cancel it when you no longer need it at no extra cost.
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A senior SEO writer from Lithuania, combining my passion for writing and travel at Holafly. With years of experience in technical fields, I'm here to answer all of your questions about staying connected. I specialize in turning even the most complicated topics into something everyone can understand.
