There are many myths about getting married in Denmark. Because the process is significantly easier than in many other countries, some couples assume they can simply arrive, show their passports, and get married almost immediately.
Let us be clear from the beginning: that is not how it works.
You cannot realistically get married in Denmark within 24 hours, and it is not a case of simply showing up and getting married on the spot. Even though Denmark is known for a simpler and faster process, there is still planning involved, documents to prepare, an application to submit, and a city hall appointment to secure.
So how quickly can you realistically get married in Denmark?
The honest answer is that it depends. In the very best-case scenario, the process can move relatively fast. But in many cases, delays happen because of mistakes in the application, missing documents, translation issues, or limited availability at city halls.
If everything is prepared correctly from the start, the absolute best-case scenario is that the Agency of Family Law, also known as Familieretshuset, processes the application in around 5 working days.
That is the ideal situation. It requires that all documents are correct, easy to read, properly translated where necessary, and submitted exactly as required. It also requires that there are no follow-up questions from the authorities.
After that, you still need to secure a wedding date at a Danish city hall. Some city halls may have available appointments within a couple of weeks after you receive your approval certificate. In those cases, a relatively fast wedding is possible.
But it is important to note that this is the absolute best-case scenario and far from the standard rule.
Some couples have heard about Denmark as an easy country to get married in and expect to get married almost immediately. That is, unfortunately, not the case. While the good reputation is deserved, it is often misunderstood.
Even in a smooth case, the authorities still need time to review your application. Then you need to wait for approval, receive your certificate, and find a city hall with availability. That alone makes a 24-hour wedding unrealistic.
There is also a practical side to the process. The required documents must be gathered, checked, scanned properly, and sometimes translated. If anything is unclear for The Agency of Family (AFL), the timeline can change dramatically.
In other words, getting married in Denmark can be fast, but it is not instant and takes quite a lot of planning.
The single most important factor in how quickly you can get married in Denmark is the quality of your application.
If your application is completed correctly and submitted with the right documents, the process can move much faster. But if there are mistakes, even very small ones, the consequences can be serious.
Some of the most common problems include poor-quality scans, photos where corners of the documents are cut off, blurred text, missing pages, unclear details, or documents that are not in Danish, English, or German. In some cases, couples provide translations that are incomplete or not properly prepared. Another common issue is divorce documentation that does not clearly prove that a previous marriage was fully and finally dissolved.
These may sound like minor details, but they can create major delays.
If the authorities need to ask follow-up questions or request additional documents, the waiting time can increase significantly. In more complicated cases, it can take several months, and in some situations up to 6 months.
That is why it is absolutely essential to avoid mistakes from the beginning. One way to avoid these mistakes is to get help from an experienced wedding agency. At Wedding Planner Denmark, we have helped thousands of couples fill out their applications and get married in Denmark.
Even after you receive approval, you are not automatically guaranteed a quick wedding date.
City halls across Denmark have different response times and very different levels of availability. Some will answer within a few days, while others may take a couple of weeks. Once they respond, the next challenge is finding an actual appointment.
This is where the timeline can vary enormously.
Some city halls may have free dates available only a few weeks after you receive your approval certificate. Others can be booked months in advance. Copenhagen City Hall is one of the most obvious examples. It is highly popular among international couples, which also means it often has long waiting times.
This is why we often recommend considering one of the smaller towns in Denmark instead. Smaller city halls can sometimes offer much faster appointments, and they also have their own charm. For many couples, choosing a less famous location makes the entire process easier and quicker.
While it can be hard to find an available wedding date, it is not impossible. In another post, we have answered why it’s difficult to find a wedding date – and what you can do.
Realistically, if everything is prepared correctly and you are flexible about where you marry, the process can move quite fast.
But a realistic answer is not in 24 hours, but rather a few weeks at best, and most likely in months.
A realistic answer is that in a very smooth case, approval may come in around 5 working days, and after that, a ceremony may be possible within the following weeks, depending on city hall availability.
If there are problems in the application or if you are aiming for a busy city hall with limited appointments, the process can take much longer.
That is why there is such a wide difference in timeframes from couple to couple.
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.
