Wedding venue – choose a place that suits your wedding dress

What is worth asking before you sign a room.

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We dream of a barn wedding with a light wedding dress – where in Denmark can we hold it?

Barn weddings can be held on farms and estates all over Denmark, with the most on Zealand, Funen and in East Jutland. Search for barn wedding together with the name of your region. Always ask whether the barn has electricity, heating and proper toilets, because those decide whether the party works. Book early, as the popular barns are let a year and a half ahead. Also check whether there is firm ground from the car to the barn, so your wedding dress does not drag through mud and straw. You will find more questions about the venue in our wedding planning FAQ.

What does a barn wedding cost per guest with food and drink, so we know what is left for the wedding dress?

A barn wedding typically costs DKK 400-3,000 per guest for food and drink, and the venue hire itself in Denmark ranges from about DKK 5,000 to 100,000 depending on the place. A barn is often cheaper to hire but more expensive in everything that has to be hired in: marquee, tables, chairs, tableware, toilet trailer and heating. Put those items into the budget from the start. Set aside an amount for the wedding dress early, too, so it does not become the item that gets cut at the end. See the full calculation in our FAQ on price and budget.

How long before the wedding should we book the venue, and should it come before the wedding dress?

The venue should be booked first of all, ideally 12-18 months ahead if you want a Saturday in the summer half of the year. The venue sets the date, and the date sets everything else: vicar, photographer, dress and guest list. If you are short on time, ask for a Friday, a Sunday or a date outside the high season, when there is far more to choose from. Once the venue is booked, you also know which season and which setting your wedding dress needs to suit. You will find the rest of the timeline in our planning FAQ.

Should we book the venue before I start looking at wedding dresses?

Yes, book the venue before the dress. Date and place decide what is practical: an outdoor wedding in September calls for sleeves, a barn with grass outside calls for a shorter length, and a castle can carry a big train. Knowing in advance whether the venue has stone floors or lots of stairs also makes it easier to choose the length of the wedding dress. With us the dresses are ready on the rails, so you can come late in the process, but a good venue is rarely available late. Once the date is set, you can find your dress with us.

How many guests does the venue hold, and is there room to dance in a wedding dress with a train?

Ask the venue for two numbers: how many can be seated for dinner, and how many can fit once the tables are pushed aside for dancing. The two numbers are rarely the same. Also ask how the tables should be arranged, because one long table for 80 guests needs a different room from eight round tables. Try to see the place with the tables set up. If your wedding dress has a train, it is nice to have plenty of room between the tables so nobody steps on it. You will find more questions for the viewing in our planning FAQ.

Do venues often require a minimum spend or a minimum number of guests that can squeeze the budget for the wedding dress?

Yes, a minimum spend is very common, especially at restaurants and hotels in high season, and it is often what makes a small wedding expensive per guest. Ask whether the requirement covers food, drink or both. If you are fewer guests than required, ask for a weekday or a date outside the season, when the requirement often disappears. An overlooked minimum spend can quickly eat the money you had set aside for the wedding dress, so get the requirement in writing from the start. You will find more money-saving tips in our FAQ on price and budget.

What is actually included in the price of a venue, and is there somewhere to hang the wedding dress?

What is included in the price varies so much that you should have it in writing point by point: tables, chairs, tablecloths, tableware, glasses, table setting, staff, cleaning, cloakroom and how long you have the place. Two quotes that look equally expensive can be thousands of kroner apart once tableware and clearing up are counted. Also ask when you have to be out at night. At the same time, ask whether a room is included where the wedding dress can hang and you can change in peace. Add up the figures with help from our FAQ on price and budget.

Which hidden fees should we watch out for when hiring a venue, so we can still afford the wedding dress?

The typical hidden fees are corkage on wine you bring, payment for extra hours after midnight, cleaning, a fee for serving a cake you bring, hire of tableware and glasses, a fee for an external caterer and a surcharge for setting up the day before. Ask for one total price including everything, and ask whether anything is only invoiced afterwards. Every overlooked fee is money that could otherwise have gone towards the wedding dress or the flowers. Read more about keeping track of costs in our FAQ on price and budget.

May we choose our own caterer or must we use the venue's kitchen, and how do we avoid dishes that could stain the bridal gown?

It depends on the venue: some let you choose your own caterer, while others have fixed suppliers or their own kitchen, and then it is not up for negotiation. Ask early, because the answer can shift the whole budget. If you may use another caterer, ask about fees and whether the kitchen can be used. If you are tied to the venue's kitchen, ask to taste the food before you sign. Choose dishes that are easy to eat neatly, so the bridal gown stays clean through dinner. See also our planning FAQ.

May we bring our own wine, and what about corkage, when we also need to afford the wedding dress?

Many places let you bring wine, but almost all charge corkage per bottle, and the amount varies a lot from place to place. Work it out both ways: the venue's wine at their price against your own wine plus corkage. Also ask whether corkage is charged on water and soft drinks, because that is where the bill often mounts up with many guests. White wine or a pale rosé for the welcome drink is, by the way, a safer choice when the bride is in a white wedding dress. You will find more budget tips in our FAQ on price and budget.

How do I know whether the venue has a full production kitchen or only a serving kitchen, and should the bridal gown hang far from the kitchen?

Ask the venue directly, because the difference decides what a caterer can make. A serving kitchen can keep food warm and plate it, but not cook for a hundred guests. A production kitchen has ovens, cold storage, dishwashing and enough water. Pass the answer on to your caterer before the menu is agreed, otherwise you end up with a menu that cannot be made on site. A production kitchen also gives off fumes and heat, so let the bridal gown hang somewhere other than right next to the kitchen. More practical questions are in our planning FAQ.

Can we rely on the weather if we hold an outdoor wedding in Denmark, and what do we do with the wedding dress if it rains?

No, you cannot rely on the weather in Denmark, but that is not a problem once the plan is made. Book a place with an indoor alternative for the same number of guests, or hire a marquee. Decide by the morning before at the latest which plan applies, so the guests are told. Have umbrellas ready and somewhere to go inside. Rainy weddings are often the ones people remember best. A large, light-coloured umbrella keeps the wedding dress dry and looks lovely in the photos. Read more in our FAQ on season and weather.

Should we hire a marquee for the wedding, what does it actually cost, and do we need a floor for the sake of the wedding dress?

A marquee is the solution when the party has to be outdoors and there is no indoor alternative. The price depends on everything that comes with it: floor, heating, lighting, tables, chairs and toilet trailer are often hired on top, and putting it up and taking it down also costs money. Ask for one total price including everything, and ask when the marquee can go up and when it must be gone again. A proper floor in the marquee is worth budgeting for, because on wet grass the hem of the wedding dress quickly turns green and dirty. See more budget tips in our FAQ on price and budget.

We are getting married in winter – will the venue even be warm enough for a thin wedding dress?

You need to ask specifically, because many barns, warehouses and orangeries are built for summer use and are not heated in winter. Ask to see the place on a cold day. If the venue cannot be heated, you will need to hire patio heaters, and then there must also be enough power. Guests in thin dresses and shirts get cold faster than you expect. For a winter wedding, have a look at our wedding dresses with long sleeves.

How do we make sure there is enough power in the barn for lights, music and the steamer for the wedding dress?

Ask the venue how many amps there are and where the sockets are, and pass the figure on to the DJ, band and caterer. Power is one of the questions that gets forgotten and can ruin a party: a coffee machine, a heater and a sound system on the same circuit will trip the power. Also ask whether there is a generator. If the wedding dress needs steaming and your hair is being done on site, count the steamer and the curling iron as well. You will find more practical checks before the party in our planning FAQ.

How many toilets do we need for the wedding, is there running water, and can I use the toilet in my wedding dress?

Count on one toilet per 25-30 guests, otherwise there will be a queue all evening. In barns and marquees you often have to hire a toilet trailer, and it needs both water and power. Ask where the toilet trailer can stand and how far the guests have to walk in the dark. Put up lights along the way, it is a small thing that matters a lot. Also ask whether there is a larger toilet, because a narrow toilet trailer is hard to use in a wedding dress with a full skirt and a train. You will find more checklists in our planning FAQ.

What should we ask about parking when we view the wedding venue, and can the car drive right up with the wedding dress?

Ask how many cars can park and whether the surface is grass, because grass and rain mean cars that get stuck. Put the parking in the invitation together with the address, and put up a sign at the entrance. If spaces are few, suggest the guests share cars, or book a bus from the nearest station. Also ask whether the bride's car can drive right up to the door, so the wedding dress does not have to cross a muddy car park. More about guest transport is in our transport FAQ.

How do the guests get home from the party when there is no public transport, and how do we get home ourselves with the bridal gown?

Sort out the journey home for the guests, otherwise half of them leave early. A bus from the nearest station and back at night is cheaper per guest than most people think when many share it. Otherwise you can put the numbers of two taxi companies in the programme, make a list of accommodation nearby and agree who drives whom. Remember yourselves too: a car with room for the bridal gown on the back seat is nicer than a full bus in the middle of the night. Put it all in the invitation. You will find more ideas in our transport FAQ.

How do we find accommodation for the guests at the venue or nearby, and a room where the wedding dress can hang?

Ask the venue whether there are rooms, and ask for a number to be set aside for your guests, preferably with a deadline. Many places give a better price when several rooms are booked together. Put names, prices and distance in the invitation or on your wedding website, so the guests can book themselves. Remember a room for yourselves close to the party. Then the wedding dress can hang ready there the evening before, and you can get ready in peace. Read about what the invitation should include in our FAQ on invitations.

When does the wedding party typically have to end at the venue, so there is time to dance in the wedding dress?

At many places the music has to be turned down around one o'clock, because of an agreement with the neighbours or a requirement from the council. Ask for two times: when the music must be switched off, and when you have to be out of the venue. If extra hours cost money, get the price in writing. Schedule the first dance and the cake well before the limit. If you want to change from the wedding dress into something lighter for the night, plan the change after the first dance. See the whole day's programme in our planning FAQ.

May we use real candles for the party in a barn or a marquee, and are they a risk to the wedding dress?

Not always, because in barns, marquees and older buildings the fire authority often says no to real candles. Ask the venue before you buy a hundred tea-light holders, and also ask whether candles may stand on the floor. If the answer is no, there are battery candles that look surprisingly real in photos, and string lights give more atmosphere than single flames. Battery candles are also the safest choice near a wedding dress in tulle or lace, which easily catches a flame. You will find more decorating ideas in our FAQ on flowers and decoration.

May the guests throw rice, confetti or petals after the ceremony without harming the wedding dress?

You need to ask the venue, because many say no to rice and paper confetti, as it has to be swept up and birds eat the rice. Dried petals, lavender or soap bubbles are almost always fine and look better in the photos. Agree where it may happen and who clears up before you buy anything. Choose light-coloured petals if you can, because wet, coloured petals and confetti can stain the wedding dress. Find more ideas in our FAQ on flowers and decoration.

May we have sparklers or fireworks at our wedding, and what about sparks on the bridal gown?

Sparklers are often allowed outdoors with a bucket of water beside them, but ask first, because some places say no because of fire risk and dry grass. Fireworks require permission and may normally only be used around New Year in Denmark. If photos are to be taken with sparklers, agree with the photographer where the guests should stand. Hold the sparkler away from your body, because sparks can burn small holes in a bridal gown of tulle or chiffon. Read more about the photos in our FAQ on wedding photographers.

May we decorate the venue ourselves, when can we get in, and can the wedding dress hang there overnight?

It depends on the venue, so ask about two things: when you have access, and what may be put up on the walls. If you can get in the day before, it is worth its weight in gold, because setting the tables takes longer than anyone thinks. If drilling or taping is not allowed, plan with table decorations, string lights on your own stands and things that stand on the floor. Only let the wedding dress hang in the venue overnight if the room can be locked, because many people come and go while the tables are set. Find inspiration in our FAQ on flowers and decoration.

Who has to clear up after the wedding – us or the venue, and who takes the wedding dress home?

It is in the agreement with the venue, and this is often where the surprise lies: at some places cleaning is included in the price, others expect the room to be handed back empty and swept at ten the next morning. Get it written down. If clearing up is your job, ask three guests for help in advance instead of standing there alone the day after your own wedding. Also agree who takes the wedding dress home that night, so it is not left behind at the venue. Read about the day after in our FAQ on the time after the wedding.

Can we hold the ceremony and the party in the same place, so neither the guests nor the wedding dress need transporting?

Yes, the ceremony and the party can often be held in the same place, and it makes the day much easier: no transport, no gaps in the programme and no guests getting lost. You also avoid squeezing the wedding dress in and out of a car between the ceremony and the party. A civil ceremony can take place somewhere other than the town hall if the municipality approves it, and a priest can in certain cases marry you outside the church. Ask both the municipality and the venue early. The rules are in our FAQ on marriage and law in Denmark.

Can we get married outdoors in Denmark, does it cost extra, and which wedding dress suits it?

Yes, you can get married outdoors in Denmark if the municipality approves the place, for example a forest, a park or a garden. A civil ceremony at the town hall is free, while some municipalities charge a fee, often around DKK 1,000, for the actual extra costs of coming out. The rules vary, so ask your own municipality. For an outdoor ceremony, a wedding dress without a long train is often the easiest to walk in on grass and gravel. Read more in our FAQ on marriage and law.

I dream of a beach wedding in a light wedding dress – is it allowed in Denmark?

Yes, a beach wedding is possible in Denmark if the municipality approves the place for the ceremony and you follow the rules for the beach: no tents or fixed installations, and access must stay free for others. A party on the beach is something different from a ceremony, so check it separately. Expect wind, have a plan B close by, and bring flat shoes. Choose a wedding dress in a light fabric that does not collect sand and can cope with a bit of wind. Find shoes for sand and grass in our FAQ on bridal shoes.

Can you have a civil wedding in a forest or a park, and how do I keep my wedding dress clean?

Yes, a civil ceremony can be held in a forest or a park when the municipality approves the place. If it is a state forest and many guests are coming, you also need permission to gather there. Think about the practical side: where the guests park, how far they have to walk and whether there are mosquitoes. Bring a small table for the papers. Have a small brush or a damp cloth with you, so you can remove soil and leaves from the hem of the wedding dress before the photos. The rules for the ceremony are in our FAQ on marriage and law.

What does it cost to hold a wedding at a castle or a manor house in Denmark, and which wedding dress suits the setting?

A castle or manor house sits at the top end of venue hire in Denmark, which ranges from about DKK 5,000 to 100,000. Food and drink come on top, typically DKK 400-3,000 per guest. Ask about a minimum spend, because that, rather than the hire, often decides the price. A weekday or an off-season date can shift the amount noticeably. Our wedding dresses with a train suit grand settings like these.

Is a country inn a good place to hold our wedding party, and is there room for a big bridal gown?

For many couples a country inn is the easiest solution for the wedding party: its own kitchen, staff, tableware, tables and often rooms for the guests in the same building. You avoid hiring a marquee, a toilet trailer and dishwashing. On the other hand, you are tied to the inn's menu and wine. Ask about a minimum spend, whether there are other parties the same evening, and whether you have the room to yourselves. Older inns often have low doors and narrow corridors, so check that there is room for a bridal gown with a full skirt. Compare the prices with our FAQ on price and budget.

Are there Danish vineyards where you can hold a wedding, and which wedding dress works between the vines?

Yes, more Danish vineyards have appeared in recent years, and some of them host weddings with a ceremony between the vines and a party in a barn or an orangery. Ask whether there is heating and power, because many are built for summer use. Search for Danish vineyard together with your region, and book early, because places are few and the season is short. Between the vines the ground is often uneven, so a wedding dress in ankle length or with a short train is easiest to walk in. Find more inspiration in our inspiration FAQ.

Where can we find an industrial loft or warehouse for a wedding in Copenhagen, and does a simple wedding dress suit the raw spaces?

Industrial lofts and warehouses for weddings are found especially in Copenhagen's harbour areas, where old shipyard and warehouse buildings have become party venues: Refshaleøen, Nordhavn, Sydhavnen and around Islands Brygge. Look for high ceilings, large windows and raw walls. Check heating, sound and how long the party may go on, because many are close to homes. Find a wedding dress that suits the raw spaces in our FAQ on style and silhouette.

Is it possible to hold our wedding on a boat in Copenhagen harbour, even in a big wedding dress?

Yes, there are boats for parties in Copenhagen harbour, both sailing and permanently moored, and they give photos with the city in the background. Ask about the number of places, whether there is room to dance, where the toilets are and what happens in bad weather. Also think about guests who get seasick, and whether a big wedding dress can get safely on board. Choose your silhouette with help from our FAQ on style and silhouette.

Can we hold the wedding in our garden at home, what does it take, and where do I get ready in my wedding dress?

Yes, a garden wedding at home can be the most beautiful, but it is not the easiest. Expect to hire a marquee, floor, tables, chairs, tableware and a toilet trailer, and think about the neighbours, the power and where the guests park. Make a plan for rain and for clearing up the day after. If you have the space and the helpers, it can be cheaper than a venue. Keep one room in the house free of guests and suppliers, so you can put on your wedding dress in peace. Add up the figures with our FAQ on price and budget.

Where can we hold a small wedding with fewer than 20 guests, and does a simple wedding dress suit it?

A small wedding with fewer than 20 guests works well at a restaurant with a private room, in a summer house, at a country inn, in an orangery or at home. Watch out for minimum spend, because it makes a small wedding expensive per guest at the larger venues. Ask for lunch instead of dinner, and for a weekday. A small wedding also leaves room for a simple dress, so take a look at our cheap wedding dresses on sale.

Why do so many foreign couples go to Ærø to get married, and how does the wedding dress travel safely?

Foreign couples get married on Ærø because Denmark requires fewer papers than most countries in Europe, and because a couple can be married shortly after arriving. Ærø has welcomed thousands of foreign couples a year and is, together with Langeland, Tønder and Copenhagen, among the places that marry the most. The rules have been tightened, and the papers are now processed centrally, so check the current requirements. If you are travelling to an island to get married yourselves, take the wedding dress in your hand luggage, so it does not go missing on the way. Read more in our FAQ for international couples.

How does it work if we want to get married at Copenhagen City Hall, and which wedding dress suits it?

To marry at Copenhagen City Hall, you first fill in a marriage declaration, and once it is approved you receive a certificate of no impediment and can book a time. The waiting time is typically four to six weeks. The ceremony at the town hall itself is free, and you must bring at least two witnesses. If you cannot provide witnesses yourselves, the council arranges them. You will find a simple dress for the town hall among our cheap wedding dresses.

How do we find a wedding venue that does not break the budget, so we can also afford the wedding dress?

Choose a Friday or Sunday rather than a Saturday, and March, April, October or November rather than June. Ask village halls, scout huts, sports clubs and cultural centres, which often hire out for a few thousand kroner. Always work out the total with hire, tableware, staff and cleaning, because the cheapest hire can end up as the most expensive party. Save on the dress too with our cheap wedding dresses on sale.

Is it cheaper to hold a wedding on a weekday than on a Saturday, and can we then spend more on the bridal gown?

Yes, a wedding on a weekday is almost always cheaper, and the difference can often pay for the photographer. Saturdays in high season are the ones everybody wants, and the price follows. A Thursday or a Friday afternoon gives both a cheaper venue and a better choice of suppliers. The downside is that some guests need time off, so announce the date in good time. The money you save can also go towards the bridal gown, the shoes or an extra hour with the photographer. More money-saving tips are in our FAQ on price and budget.

Do we save money by holding the wedding out of season, and which wedding dress suits a cold time of year?

Yes, an off-season wedding is cheaper. January to April and October to December are low season in Denmark, and venues and suppliers are both cheaper and easier to book. On the other hand, you need to think about the light, which goes early in autumn, and about heating and outerwear. For the dress it often means sleeves and a heavier fabric, and we have plenty of those. See our wedding dresses with long sleeves.

What should we look for when we visit a possible wedding venue, also with the bridal gown in mind?

Bring a list when you view the venue: where do the tables go, where is the dancing, where are the toilets and the kitchen, where do the guests come in, where is there shade, and where can photos be taken. Also look for the ugly things: a skip, a fluorescent tube, a wall full of cables. Take photos with your phone, and see the place at the time the party will be held. Think about the bridal gown too: are there stairs, gravel or high thresholds you will have to cross in a long skirt? What the photographer needs is in our FAQ on wedding photographers.

How do we find good spots for wedding photos at the venue itself, where the wedding dress really shows?

Look for three things: a wall or hedge with no clutter behind it, a shady spot for the midday sun and a place with a view for the end of the day. Five metres is enough, it does not have to be a park. Take photos of the options with your phone and send them to the photographer, so she does not have to search while you wait. A dark hedge or a plain wall behind you makes the wedding dress stand out clearly. You will find more advice on the photos in our FAQ on wedding photographers.

What is the light like in the venue in the evening, and does it matter for the photos of the wedding dress?

Yes, the light in the venue in the evening matters a lot for the photos, so see the room in the dark if you can. Harsh white ceiling light ruins both the atmosphere and the photos, and fluorescent tubes make everything look greenish. It shows especially on a white wedding dress, which takes on the colour of the light around it. If the light can be dimmed, you are lucky. Otherwise string lights, table decorations with candles and a lamp in the corners help. Tell the photographer what the light is like, so she brings the right equipment. Read more in our photographer FAQ.

Is there a room at the venue where I can get ready as a bride and put on my bridal gown?

Ask for a bridal room, because it is often forgotten. You need a room with a mirror, a window, space for the bridal gown on a hanger and a door that can be closed. The room is also worth its weight in gold when you want to withdraw for five minutes in the middle of the party. If the venue has nothing, find a room nearby. Plan the morning itself with our FAQ on beauty and styling.

Is there enough room at the venue for a wedding dress with a long train?

It depends on the aisle, the doorways, the stairs and the space between the tables, so check them. A ball gown or a cathedral train takes up more room than you expect, and in a narrow room with tables close together you will catch on everything. If you have chosen a full dress, walk the route when you view the venue, and have the train bustled for dinner. See our wedding dresses with a train.

Are there stairs at the venue that I will have to climb in my wedding dress?

Ask about stairs, and walk them yourself while you can still choose the venue. A spiral staircase in a full wedding dress needs two helpers, and stone steps outside are slippery in the rain with thin soles. If there are stairs, choose shoes with an ankle strap, and ask a bridesmaid to walk ahead with the train. Photos on the stairs often turn out beautifully. Find the right shoes in our bridal shoes FAQ.

Will my wedding dress get dirty on the dance floor, and what can I do about it?

Yes, expect the hem of the wedding dress to turn grey however nice the venue is, and an old wooden floor or a dusty barn gives the most. Bustle the train before the dancing and do not worry, because cleaning takes care of most of it. If the dress is to be sold or stored afterwards, send it for cleaning within a couple of weeks, not in a year. Read more in our wedding dress cleaning FAQ.

How do we check whether the venue suits elderly guests and wheelchair users – and a long wedding dress?

Ask specifically about stairs, door widths, lifts and the distance from the car park to the door. A beautiful place with twenty steps can exclude the guests you most want to have there. If there are challenges, find the solution in advance: a ramp, an arrangement to be driven right up to the door or seats close to the entrance. The stairs are worth knowing about for the bride too, because a long train on the wedding dress makes every step a little harder. You will find more about making the day accessible in our accessibility FAQ.

How do we know whether the wedding venue is child-friendly, and how do we keep little fingers away from the wedding dress?

Ask whether there is a room where the children can retreat and sleep, and whether the garden is enclosed if there is water or a road nearby. A table with paper and crayons and a couple of adults who take turns keeping an eye out saves the evening for the parents. Make it clear in the invitation whether children are invited. Serve cake and chocolate to the children at their own table, so sticky fingers stay away from the wedding dress. See more advice on the guest list in our FAQ on invitations.

We would like to bring our dog to the wedding – is it allowed, and what about dog hair on the bridal gown?

It depends on both the venue and the vicar, and a church will often say no to dogs. If the answer is yes, find a guest who is responsible for the dog all day, so it does not end up being you. Let the dog take part in the ceremony and the photos, and have it driven home before dinner. Try out the collar or bow in advance, so it does not become a battle on the day. Keep a lint roller in your bag, because dog hair and paw prints show clearly on a light bridal gown. More ideas are in our FAQ on special requests.

How do we make sure the venue has the necessary permits and insurance, also if the wedding dress hangs there the night before?

Ask the venue directly, especially if it does not normally host parties, such as a barn, a hall or a private house. Fire routes, escape routes, how many people may be in the room and an alcohol licence, if drinks are sold, must all be in order. A venue that cannot answer is a risk. Also ask whether your suppliers need insurance. Ask, too, whether the venue's insurance covers your own things, for example the wedding dress, if it hangs there the night before. See more checks in our FAQ on safety and trust.

What should we know about the venue's cancellation policy before we pay a deposit and buy the wedding dress?

Read the venue's cancellation policy before you pay the deposit. Ask how close to the date you can cancel, what you lose, whether the date can be moved, and what happens if the venue itself has to close. Get the answers in writing. It takes twenty boring minutes to read, but they are the most expensive twenty minutes of the whole planning to skip. Also read the terms when you buy the wedding dress, so you know what applies if the date moves. See also our FAQ on emergencies.

What should we watch out for in the contract with the venue if the wedding dress and our things are to be there the day before?

The contract with the venue should cover date and times, number of guests and the deadline for the final number, what is included, minimum spend, payment plan, cancellation terms, when you have access, when the party ends and who clears up. If something has been agreed by email, get it into the contract, otherwise it does not count when the staff change. If you may come the day before, also write in whether the wedding dress and your other things can be kept in a locked room. You will find more checklists in our planning FAQ.

Does the venue come with a wedding coordinator, and can she help me with my bridal gown?

Some venues have a coordinator who manages staff and the timetable on the day, and that is worth its weight in gold. Others call the receptionist a coordinator, and then you have to manage the suppliers yourselves. So ask what the coordinator actually does. If there is none, appoint a toastmaster or a friend who has the programme and the phone numbers, so you are not left holding the phone yourselves. Also ask whether the coordinator can take care of small things like straightening the train of the bridal gown before you walk in. Read about the toastmaster's role in our FAQ on etiquette.

Are we forced to use the venue's regular suppliers for food and music, and may my own stylist come when I put on my wedding dress?

At some places yes, and it often applies to food, drink and sometimes music. Ask early, because it can mean that your own caterer or DJ cannot be used. If you may use others, ask about fees and insurance requirements. Regular suppliers are not always a drawback: they know the place, and things rarely go wrong. If you are getting ready in your wedding dress at the venue, also ask whether your own hairdresser and make-up artist may come in. Read more about managing costs in our FAQ on price and budget.

How do we plan a wedding abroad so that it is also valid in Denmark, and how do I bring my wedding dress?

Start with the legal side: find out whether the marriage is valid in Denmark, or whether you need a civil wedding at home first and then hold the party abroad. Use a local planner, it is worth the money when you cannot drop by the place yourselves. Think about how the wedding dress gets onto the plane: take it as hand luggage, and ask the airline in advance. Read more in our FAQ on marriage and law.

Why do so many couples from abroad choose to get married in Denmark, and what do they do with the bridal gown on the journey?

Foreign couples choose Denmark because the country requires fewer papers than most other countries in Europe, and because a couple can often be married shortly after arriving. That makes it both quicker and cheaper than, for example, in Germany. Ærø, Langeland, Tønder and Copenhagen marry the most. The rules have been tightened, and the papers are now processed centrally, so check the current requirements. If you are coming at short notice, also plan where the bridal gown will hang and be smoothed out when you land. See our FAQ for international couples.