Why Copenhagen? The city has welcomed couples from abroad for years, and many still choose it today. You do not need to live in Denmark, and a complete application is normally approved within five working days. The city adds historic town halls, good food and people who are used to welcoming guests in English.
1. Copenhagen has welcomed couples from abroad for years
Copenhagen City Hall has been part of wedding history for decades. In 1989, Denmark became the first country to allow same-sex couples to register a partnership, and the first couple did so at Copenhagen City Hall. Since 2012, same-sex couples have married on equal terms.
Today, couples come from all over the world. About 5,000 international couples married in Copenhagen in 2024. Because demand is high, the city says the wait for a City Hall date can be up to four months, so plan backwards from the season you want.
2. The process for couples from abroad is short and clear
If one of you is not a Danish or Nordic citizen, you apply to the Danish Agency of Family Law (Familieretshuset). You can apply from home. You do not need to be in Denmark until the wedding, but you must be able to enter and stay legally.
If nothing is missing, approval normally takes about five working days. Both of you must finish your part within 14 days. The approval is valid for four months, or less if a passport runs out sooner. Before you start, photograph every page of both passports, including the covers and blank pages.
3. You can choose between two town halls
Once you are approved, Copenhagen sends you a link to choose your date and time at City Hall. The city describes the building as elegant, with a historic atmosphere and a garden. Weddings also take place there on Saturdays.
In neighbouring Frederiksberg, the City Hall holds ceremonies in Danish, English and German on Thursdays at 11:00 in 2026. Two witnesses must be present at every wedding. Copenhagen provides them if you bring none, and Frederiksberg provides two on weekdays. If Copenhagen dates are full, contact Frederiksberg Municipality once you are approved and ask how to book a Thursday ceremony there.
4. The city gives you water, gardens and good light
Copenhagen is easy to get around, and very different places sit close together. Within a small area you can stand by Nyhavn’s colourful townhouses and wooden ships, walk along the canals of Christianshavn, or stroll under the rose arches of the King’s Garden beside Rosenborg Castle.
The season changes everything. In June the sun sets around 10 pm, in December before 4 pm. Pick two photo spots near each other. In summer, save them for the evening light. In winter, plan them for late morning.
5. It is easy for guests to come and feel at home
Getting there is simple. The metro leaves from Terminal 3 at Copenhagen Airport and reaches Nørreport in the centre in about 15 minutes. Book your rooms near the airport line, and guests can travel without a taxi.
English is widely spoken. Denmark ranks seventh in the world in the 2025 EF English Proficiency Index. Restaurants serve everything from smørrebrød, the Danish open sandwich, to seasonal New Nordic cooking. Reserve a long lunch or dinner as soon as your date is confirmed, because popular tables go quickly.
Start with the paperwork, then the date, then the people and places. We will cover the process in more detail in a separate guide. For now, choose your season, check both passports and decide who you want beside you.