All you need to know about getting married in Denmark
When getting married, you first and foremost need to contact a pastor from your parish, click this link to find out what parish you live in. Book and appointment with one of the priests.
Following requirements must be met by both individuals entering the marriage
- You are both minimum 18 years of age. Valid identification is needed e.g. a valid passport.
- Apply for a Certificate of Martial Status (prøvelsesattest). Read more below
- At least one of you is or becomes a member of Folkekirken. Read more below
- You need two witnesses. Read more below
Marital Status Certificate (Prøvelsesattest)
To prove your single status, you need a socalled Martial Status Certificate, in Danish known as ‘prøvelsesattest’. If you have a Danish residence permit and a CPR-number go to borger.dk and fill out the form ‘ægteskabserklæring’, in order to get your ‘prøvelsesattest’. You will then receive your ‘prøvelsesattest' in your e-boks.
If you do not have a Danish residence permit, you need to apply for the ‘prøvelsesattest' via Familieretshuset.
Remember that you need to submit a valid “prøvelsesattest” to the church before getting married.
One of you needs to be a member of Folkekirken
If you are not already a member of Folkekirken but wish to become a member, you need to speak to your pastor, (the pastor who will preform the ceremony). To become a member, you need to be baptized, whether you are baptized catholic, protestant, orthodox etc. is irrelevant. If you are already baptized, then bring your baptism certificate. If you are baptized but do not have any documentation thereof, speak to your pastor.
You need at least two witnesses
A wedding is a legally binding arrangement. You therefore need to have at least two witnesses attending the wedding ceremony, in order for the marriage to be valid. This could be family or friends however, if you are not able to provide witnesses yourselves, speak to your pastor.
Other useful information
A wedding ceremony in Folkekirken is cost-free. If you however wish to celebrate after the ceremony, you most likely need to rent a place for the festivities, since the church does not automatically provide this service. The church might nevertheless have space for rental, ask your pastor.
Some churches offer 'Drop In Weddings', where couples literally drop-in and get married on the spot. However, you need to bring all the necessary documents as mentioned above.
Folkekirken weds all couples who wish to marry, regardless of ethnicity, political affiliation and sexual or religious orientation. The pastors are nevertheless allowed to refuse wedding a couple, if both or one of you have previously been married, or if you are a couple of the same sex. This rarely happens, yet if it does, you can easily find another pastor who will marry you.
Folkekirken For Internationals offers wedding services in English
Eliaskirken on Vesterbros Torv in Copenhagen offers wedding services and more in English. You can contact us or our pastor Maria Fihl if you have any questions.
