“In less than 90 minutes, I have to marry nine couples. It’s really quick,” jokes Anders Johnson, a wedding officiant at Copenhagen City Hall. “For regular weddings, we organise about 68 ceremonies per day. On average, there are 7,000 unions per year, maybe 8,000 in 2024.”
A valid passport, an online form… and that’s it. Getting married in Denmark doesn’t require much patience. The standard procedure can be wrapped up in just one week: five working days to validate the paperwork and book a slot, one or two travel days to reach the Danish capital, and finally… a ten-minute ceremony.
“It was super fast. We were crying, and I couldn’t really take in what was happening. But it was still very emotional,” says Britney, a young Kazakh woman living in Italy, who came to Copenhagen to marry her Turkish fiancé, Mart, who lives in Berlin.
A smooth process with a touch of folklore
The Danish union comes at a small cost: filing a marriage application with the Family Law Agency (Familieretshuset) costs €250. On top of that, there are travel and accommodation expenses in Denmark, one of Europe’s most expensive destinations. As a result, many agencies now specialise in arranging these express trips, offering services in “packages” ranging from administrative management to hotel and flight bookings.
For European couples, however, the bill is still less steep than a round trip to Las Vegas. The Danish quick marriage system has little in common with its American counterpart, except for its speed. At Copenhagen City Hall, each ceremony is held in an intimate wedding room tucked inside the building. The lighting is soft, the walls are decorated with traditional murals, and the windows overlook a grand hall adorned with fluttering Danish flags. No neon casino lights or Elvis impersonators in sight.
A European standout
Beyond the Scandinavian charm, couples are also drawn to Copenhagen for its efficient administrative system, which sets it apart from other European countries. The majority are Germans seeking to avoid the long paperwork and delays back home, as well as an increasing number of Romanians and Polish nationals seeking to get married in Denmark.
“Here, everything is digitalised. It’s super simple and fast to get married, divorced, or even get a new passport,” explains Anders. “Nowadays, weddings are also smaller and more intimate, with far fewer guests. Before, people always wanted bigger celebrations, but that’s no longer the case.”
A solution for same-sex couples
For some couples, Denmark is one of the only places where they can legally marry. This is particularly true for nationals of countries that do not recognise same-sex marriage, like Angel and Dev, one Czech and the other American.
“We first thought about the U.S., but it’s tricky there, especially for getting all the visas. We spoke with a lawyer, and they told us it would be easier and faster in Europe,” explains Angel, whose home country, the Czech Republic, does not allow same-sex couples to marry. “And when we researched online, everyone recommended Denmark.”
This Scandinavian country is one of Europe’s most inclusive in terms of LGBTQIA rights and was the first in the world to recognize same-sex civil unions in 1989.
Being married in Denmark may not be enough
There’s still the question of whether a Danish marriage will be recognised in other countries. On paper, it seems straightforward, but EU member states are not obligated to validate marriages performed in other countries. Recognition depends on each nation’s laws.
Out of caution, Angel and Dev are still unsure where they’ll settle as a newly married couple. “Although we’ve definitely considered moving to Denmark!” admits Dev with a laugh.
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