Marriage and the law in Denmark – before you stand there in your wedding dress

The papers, the witnesses and the rules, briefly explained. Always check the current rules at borger.dk.

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What are the requirements for getting married in Denmark before we book the venue and the wedding dress?

To get married in Denmark you must both be 18 or over, you must not be married to anyone else, and you must not be close relatives. You need to fill in a marriage declaration and obtain a certificate of marital capacity before the wedding can take place, and at least two witnesses must be present. If you do not live in Denmark, extra document requirements apply. Get the paperwork sorted before you fix the date and start looking at wedding dresses. See the current rules on borger.dk, and read on in our FAQ on international questions.

What is a certificate of marital capacity, and do we need it before buying the wedding dress?

A certificate of marital capacity is proof that you meet the requirements for getting married in Denmark. You fill in a marriage declaration and send or hand it in, and once the declaration is approved, you receive the certificate. Only then can you book a time for the ceremony. You can easily find the wedding dress in the meantime, but wait to agree alterations for a specific date until the time is confirmed. The certificate is only valid for a limited period, so do not apply too early, and check the current deadline on borger.dk. Plan the rest of your timeline with our FAQ on wedding planning.

How do we fill in the marriage declaration, and what do we need to state before we can think about the wedding dress?

The marriage declaration is completed digitally with MitID on borger.dk, and you both have to sign. You must state your names, addresses, marital status and whether you have children under 18. If one of you has been married before, the divorce or death must be registered. If you submit the declaration on paper, it must be sent to the municipality. The fields change, so check the current requirements on borger.dk. Set aside an evening for it before the wedding dress fittings begin, and the boring part is done. The next milestone is described in our planning FAQ.

How many witnesses do we need at the ceremony, and can a witness also help with the wedding dress?

There must be at least two witnesses at a wedding in Denmark, at both civil and church ceremonies. The witnesses must be present for the whole ceremony and sign afterwards. If you bring no one to a civil ceremony, the municipality provides witnesses. Choose two people who are not busy with anything else at that moment, because they need to be ready when the papers are signed. One of the witnesses can usefully be the person who straightens the train of the wedding dress before you walk in. We go through who suits the role in our etiquette FAQ.

Who can be a witness at our wedding, do they have to be over 18, and can it be the friend who helped with the wedding dress?

Yes, witnesses at a wedding must be of legal age, meaning over 18, and they must be able to understand what they are signing. The witnesses do not need to be related to you, and they do not need to be Danish citizens. Many choose the best man and maid of honour, and it can easily be the friend who helped you find the wedding dress. Tell them in good time that they are also witnesses, so they know to stand close by when the papers come out. You can read about their other duties in our FAQ on wedding etiquette.

Can we choose which church to get married in, and should the wedding dress suit the church?

Not entirely freely: you have the right to marry in the church where one of you is a member of the Church of Denmark and lives in the parish. If you want to marry in another church, you must ask the priest there, and it is the priest's decision. At least one of you must be a member of the Church of Denmark. Popular churches are booked far ahead, especially Saturdays in the summer months, so get in touch early. See the church before you choose your wedding dress, as a long aisle leaves room for a long train. Find more answers about church and faith in our FAQ on culture and faith.

Are we legally married after a church wedding in Denmark, or do we also have to go to the town hall in the wedding gown?

Yes, a wedding in the Church of Denmark and in a number of approved religious communities has the same legal validity as a civil ceremony at the town hall. So you do not also have to go to the town hall, and the wedding gown only has to see you through one ceremony. You still need a certificate of marital capacity first, and there must be two witnesses. If your religious community is not authorised to conduct weddings, you must marry in a civil ceremony and can then receive a blessing. We answer more questions about faith and ceremony in our FAQ on culture and faith.

What should we discuss with the priest before we get married, and can we ask about the wedding dress?

At the meeting with the priest you talk about the two of you and how you want the ceremony: hymns, readings, music, who walks whom in, and what the priest may say about you in the address. Ask about the practical side at the same time, for example whether the photographer may take pictures, whether anything may be thrown outside, and how long you have the church. If the wedding dress has a long train, also ask where there is room for it at the altar. Write your questions down before you go. We collect questions about photos in church in our photographer FAQ.

How many times do we say yes during the ceremony, and will the photographer catch the moment in the wedding dress?

In a Danish ceremony you each say yes once. The priest or officiant puts the question to each of you in turn, and you answer yes. Then you exchange rings and sign. The yes itself takes a few seconds, and most people remember it as the shortest moment of the day. Tell the photographer to be ready, because it comes sooner than you think, and ask her to stand where both your faces and the wedding dress are in the shot. Read about rings in our wedding ring FAQ.

Does my father have to walk me down the aisle in my wedding dress, or can we do it differently?

No, it is a tradition, not a rule, that the bride's father walks her down the aisle. Today many brides walk in with their future husband or wife, alone, with both parents or with the person who has meant the most. Choose what feels right for you, and tell the priest in good time, so the priest knows how you will come in and where people should stand. Practise the walk in the shoes you will wear with your wedding dress, so the pace feels right. We go through more customs in our etiquette FAQ.

Where should the couple and the family sit in church, and where is there room for the train of the wedding dress?

In church the couple sits or stands at the front by the altar, and the closest families sit in the front rows, traditionally the bride's family on the left and the groom's on the right. The best man and maid of honour sit close by. It is a good idea to ask a guest to show people to their seats before you come in, so there is no muddle in the front rows. If the wedding dress has a train, ask the guests at the front to keep their feet out of the aisle. We answer guests' own questions in our FAQ for wedding guests.

We married at the town hall, so can we still have a church blessing afterwards and wear the wedding dress there?

Yes, if you had a civil ceremony, you can afterwards have a church blessing of your marriage. The blessing resembles a wedding, but it is not the legal act. Many choose it when they need to marry quickly for practical reasons and would like the church later. Some save the wedding gown for the blessing and wear a simpler dress to the town hall. Contact the priest and ask how the blessing usually works in that particular church. You can read about the traditions around a blessing in our FAQ on culture and faith.

How do I change my surname when we get married, so it does not get lost between the wedding dress and everything else?

A change of name in connection with the wedding is applied for digitally, and it is free of charge when the application is made in connection with the wedding. Apply before the day if you can, so the name is in place afterwards. Put it on the same list as your wedding dress fittings, so it is not forgotten. Then remember a new passport and driving licence, and let your bank and employer know. If you are travelling straight after the wedding, travel on the name in your passport, otherwise it causes problems. The rest of the list is in our FAQ on life after the wedding.

Can we get married in Denmark even though neither of us lives here, and what do I do about the wedding dress?

Yes, couples who do not live in Denmark can marry here, and that is one of the reasons Denmark is popular with international couples. You need a certificate of marital capacity, and the papers are processed centrally before the wedding can take place. The document requirements depend on which country you come from and on your residence status. The rules have been tightened, so check the current requirements. Decide in good time, too, whether the wedding dress travels with you or whether you would rather find it in Denmark. There is more in our FAQ on international questions.

Which documents do we need to bring as a foreign couple to get married in Denmark, and how do I bring the wedding dress?

Foreign couples typically need passports, proof of marital status and, for some countries, a certificate stating that they are not already married. If one of you is divorced or widowed, this must be documented. Papers in other languages often need translating. The requirements depend on nationality and residence status and change regularly, so check the list before you book your trip. Pack the papers in your hand luggage together with the wedding dress if it is coming on the plane, so the most important things do not disappear with the suitcase. You will find questions about visas and residence in our FAQ for international couples.

How quickly can we get married in Denmark if we are in a hurry, and will I have time to find a wedding dress?

How quickly you can marry in Denmark depends on how long it takes to process the marriage declaration and on the municipality's available slots. In Copenhagen the wait for a slot is typically four to six weeks, and in smaller municipalities it can be quicker. International couples used to be able to marry shortly after arriving, but the papers are now processed centrally, so allow more time. When time is short, a wedding dress you can take home the same day is a good choice. Short notice calls for good planning, see our planning FAQ.

Does it cost anything to get married at the town hall, so there is more money for the wedding dress?

No, a wedding at the town hall is free. If you would like to be married somewhere else of your own choosing, the municipality may charge a fee for the actual extra costs, and in practice it is often around DKK 1,000. Practice varies from municipality to municipality, so ask your own. The witnesses cost nothing. What you save can go towards the wedding dress or the party. Save on the rest too with our FAQ on price and budget.

What does it cost to get married in Denmark when neither of us lives here, and what about travelling with the wedding gown?

When neither of you is resident or holds a residence permit in Denmark, a fee is charged for processing the marriage case, and the amount is set centrally and adjusted regularly. In addition, the ceremony itself may carry a municipal fee if it is to take place outside the town hall. Check the current amount before you book travel and accommodation. Also allow for what it costs to bring the wedding gown, for example as extra luggage. You can plan the budget for the rest of the day with our FAQ on budget and choices.

What is the difference between a civil and a church wedding, and which wedding dress suits each?

Legally there is no difference between a civil and a church wedding, because both make you lawfully married. The difference is the setting: a civil ceremony is conducted by the municipality and typically takes a quarter of an hour, while a church wedding is a service with hymns and an address and lasts around half an hour. At least one of you must be a member of the Danish National Church to marry there. See the simple dresses that suit the town hall among our simple wedding dresses.

Can we get married in Denmark as a same-sex couple, and can we try on wedding dresses together?

Yes, same-sex couples can marry in Denmark on exactly the same terms as everyone else, both in a civil ceremony and in the Church of Denmark. The rules, the papers and the witnesses are the same. An individual priest may decline to conduct the ceremony, and then the bishop must find another priest who will. If you are two brides, you are very welcome with us, and we can arrange a wedding dress fitting for you both. See how to find your dress with us.

Should we have separate property and make a prenuptial agreement before we marry, and how early should it be sorted in relation to the wedding gown?

It depends on your situation: without a prenuptial agreement you have community of property, where what each of you owns is divided on divorce or death. If you want separate property, a prenuptial agreement must be drawn up, and it must be registered to be valid. Separate property is especially relevant if one of you brings a business, an inheritance or a home into the marriage. Talk to a lawyer; it is quickly done. Get it done in good time, ideally before the final fittings of the wedding gown, so it is not hanging over you in the last weeks. We gather other practical questions in our FAQ on life after the wedding.

When do we receive our marriage certificate after the wedding, once the wedding dress has been packed away?

With a civil ceremony you usually receive the marriage certificate straight away or shortly afterwards, and with a church wedding the marriage is registered by the parish registrar. If you need the certificate for a change of name, a passport, the bank or abroad, ask for an extra copy, and for an international version if it is to be used outside Denmark. Keep the certificate somewhere you can find it again, for example in a folder together with the receipt for the wedding dress. What else needs sorting is in our FAQ on life after the wedding.