Bornholm is one of Denmark’s most popular holiday destinations, both for Danish and international visitors. Many people visit the island during the summer, but Bornholm is also a beautiful place to experience during the rest of the year.
For couples who want a simple and intimate wedding in Denmark, Bornholm is a great choice. You can have a civil ceremony at the town hall and combine your wedding with a short holiday on the island.
Whether you are planning a small elopement, a quick wedding, or a few days away together, Bornholm offers a relaxed and scenic setting for your wedding day.
Bornholm is perfect for couples who want to get married in an intimate and simple way while also enjoying one of the most beautiful islands in Denmark. Instead of planning a large wedding with many guests and months of preparation, an elopement on Bornholm allows you to focus on what truly matters: the two of you and your commitment to each other.
The island is known for its natural beauty, charming small towns, cliffs, beaches, local food, and historic attractions. This makes it especially appealing if you want to combine your wedding with a short holiday. You can arrive a few days before the ceremony, explore the island, get married at the town hall, and then celebrate with dinner, a walk by the sea, or a quiet honeymoon-style stay.
Bornholm is also a great choice for international couples who want a wedding in Denmark but prefer a location that feels more peaceful and scenic than a larger city. While Copenhagen is a popular wedding destination, Bornholm offers a slower pace and a more intimate atmosphere.
Civil weddings on Bornholm usually take place at the Town Hall in Rønne. According to Bornholms Regionskommune, weddings at the town hall are performed on:
Saturday weddings are only available on selected dates, and couples must bring their own witnesses if they get married on a Saturday.
In general, couples should expect to bring two witnesses themselves. In some special cases, the municipality may be able to provide two witnesses during normal working hours, but this is not something couples should rely on without confirming it in advance.
As Bornholm is a popular wedding and holiday destination, it is always a good idea to plan early. Popular dates, especially during the summer season, may be booked well in advance.
Like most civil weddings in Denmark, a town hall wedding on Bornholm is simple, elegant, and relatively short. The municipality normally sets aside around 30 minutes for each couple, but the actual ceremony is usually much shorter.
During the ceremony, the wedding officiant will typically say a few words, ask both of you to confirm that you wish to marry each other, and then you will sign the marriage documents. After the ceremony, you receive your Danish marriage certificate.
For many couples, this simplicity is part of the beauty of getting married in Denmark. The ceremony is formal enough to feel meaningful, but relaxed enough to make the day feel calm and personal. If you are planning an elopement, you can always make the experience more special by adding your own vows, exchanging rings, booking a photographer, or arranging a romantic dinner afterwards.
For international couples who wish to marry on Bornholm, the process depends on your citizenship and residence status. If both of you are not Danish or Nordic citizens, and you do not have permanent residence in Denmark or a right to permanent residence, you will normally need to apply through the Danish Agency of Family Law, also known as Familieretshuset.
Familieretshuset reviews your documents and decides whether you meet the legal requirements to marry on Bornholm and in Denmark in general. Once your application is approved, you receive a certificate of marital status, also known as a prøvelsesattest. This certificate is required before you can book or confirm your wedding with the municipality.
Once you have received your certificate, you can apply to get married on Bornholm. The can expect around a three week processing time from the day you contact the municipality.
This is why it is important to prepare your documents carefully. Missing, incorrect, or unclear documents can delay the process, especially if translations, legalisation, or additional paperwork are required. At Wedding Planner Denmark, we have been through this process countless times before. We’ll help you get the application right, so you’ll receive your approval as fast as possible.
Getting to Bornholm is fairly easy. The fastest option is to fly from Copenhagen to Bornholm, which takes around 35 minutes. This is a convenient choice for international couples arriving through Copenhagen Airport.
Another popular option is to travel from Copenhagen through Sweden to Ystad, where you can take the ferry to Rønne. The ferry from Ystad to Bornholm takes around 1 hour and 20 minutes.
If you are arriving from Germany, you can also take the ferry from Sassnitz to Rønne. This route makes Bornholm a practical option for couples travelling from Germany or other parts of Europe by car.
Planning an elopement wedding on Bornholm can be exciting, but arranging a wedding in another country can also feel overwhelming. International couples often need guidance with documents, application requirements, translations, legalisation, timelines, and communication with Danish authorities.
At Wedding Planner Denmark, we help make the process simple. We guide you through the required documents, help prepare your application to Familieretshuset, and assist you with contacting the town hall to book your ceremony.
If Bornholm is the right wedding destination for you, we can help you understand the process, avoid unnecessary delays, and make sure everything is prepared correctly. See all our prices and how we can help you here
If you have already received an approval letter from Danish Agency of Family Law (Familieretshuset) but cannot find an available wedding date at a Danish town hall, we can help.
Wedding Planner Denmark assists couples in finding an available ceremony date and reserving a time slot at a town hall in Denmark.
Feel free to contact us for more information.
