Foreign Couples Flock To Marry In Denmark — But Locals Are Losing Out

A surge successful overseas couples travelling to Denmark to wed is causing vexation among locals struggling to book ceremonies successful Copenhagen.

Polish-Colombian mates Magdalena Kujawińska and Heinner Valenzuela, based successful Krakow, precocious tied nan knot successful Denmark aft facing endless reddish portion successful Poland.

Instead, they turned to an online wedding planner and were approved to wed successful Copenhagen wrong 4 days. Their 10-minute ceremonial took spot astatine nan city’s 19th-century City Hall, now dubbed nan “Las Vegas of Europe” for its fame among world couples.

8,000 weddings

Denmark’s wide matrimony laws — which don’t require a commencement certificate aliases impervious of azygous position — person made it 1 of Europe’s apical destinations for hassle-free weddings. In 2024, Copenhagen City Hall hosted 8,000 weddings, 5,400 of which progressive non-residents.

But nan roar is creating tension. The emergence successful overseas couples poses challenges for Copenhagen-based couples wishing to get married, said Mia Nyegaard, nan city’s civilization and leisure official. From precocious October, 40% of City Hall wedding slots will beryllium reserved for section residents.

Additional measures

The metropolis whitethorn besides grow options done backstage registrars, which aren’t affected by nan caller rule, and is reviewing further measures aft nan summertime break.

Wedding planner Rasmus Clarck Sørensen, whose institution Getting Married successful Denmark helped complete 2,600 couples past year, said world emotion stories often conflict pinch outdated laws. “Marriage rules were made for couples from nan aforesaid country,” he said.

For Kujawińska and Valenzuela, nan acquisition was worthy it: “We’re really happy”.