Faced with frustrating red tape in their home country, Polish national Magdalena Kujawi\u0144ska and her Colombian fianc\u00e9 Heinner Valenzuela took a different path to say \u201cI do\u201d heading to Copenhagen, Denmark, where liberal marriage laws have turned the capital into a wedding haven for international couples.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe realized that it\u2019s not that easy to get married in Poland,\u201d said 30-year-old Kujawi\u0144ska, who lives in Krakow with her now-husband. \u201cYou need a certificate that you are not married. We tried to get it from Colombia, but it couldn\u2019t reach Poland in time. It was just impossible for us.\u201d<\/p>\n
After hearing about Denmark\u2019s streamlined process from a colleague, the couple contacted an online wedding planner and, within four days, received approval to wed. Their ceremony at Copenhagen\u2019s historic 19th-century City Hall lasted just ten minutes a moment marking the end of a three-year engagement.<\/p>\n
Kujawi\u0144ska and Valenzuela are part of a growing trend. The Danish capital has become a top destination for couples especially non-residents seeking hassle-free nuptials. Of the 8,000 weddings held in Copenhagen last year, more than 5,400 were for foreign couples, according to City Hall\u2019s marriage office.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s almost double what we saw five years ago,\u201d said Anita Okkels Birk Thomsen, head of the marriage office. \u201cThey come from all over the world.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dubbed the \u201cLas Vegas of Europe,\u201d Copenhagen\u2019s appeal lies in Denmark\u2019s liberal marriage laws. The country does not require birth certificates or proof of single status for a marriage certificate, as long as divorce papers are clear. Once approved, couples can marry within four months.<\/p>\n
For just 2,100 kroner (about $326), non-residents can apply through Denmark\u2019s family law agency and receive a certificate within five working days, provided they meet the requirements. A valid passport and, where applicable, a tourist visa are the only essentials.<\/p>\n
But this booming popularity has triggered a policy response from local officials. Starting at the end of October, 40% of City Hall\u2019s wedding slots will be reserved for Copenhagen residents, amid concerns that locals are being squeezed out.<\/p>\n
\u201cDemand from foreign couples poses challenges for Copenhagen-based couples wishing to get married,\u201d said Mia Nyegaard, head of the city\u2019s culture and leisure department. Officials are expected to consider further adjustments after the summer break.<\/p>\n
Still, couples seeking alternative arrangements can turn to private registrars a route that remains unaffected by the new restrictions.<\/p>\n
Online platforms like Getting Married in Denmark<\/em> have flourished, offering packages to assist couples in document collection and ceremony scheduling. The company, founded in 2014 by Dane Rasmus Clarck S\u00f8rensen and his British wife, helped over 2,600 couples in 2024 alone.<\/p>\n \u201cIn the last 20, 30 years, people just meet more across borders,\u201d S\u00f8rensen explained. \u201cMarriage rules are often made for two people of the same country getting married. A lot of people get trapped in outdated legal systems.\u201d<\/p>\n His company\u2019s \u201cComplete Service\u201d package costs \u20ac875 ($1,014) and handles everything from paperwork to wedding coordination.<\/p>\n For Kujawi\u0144ska and Valenzuela, Copenhagen was the ideal solution. Now legally wed, they\u2019re planning a celebration in Poland with family and friends.<\/p>\n \u201cIt means a lot for us because we\u2019ve been waiting a lot for this,\u201d Kujawi\u0144ska said, beaming. \u201cWe\u2019re really happy.\u201d<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Faced with frustrating red tape in their home country, Polish national Magdalena Kujawi\u0144ska and her Colombian fianc\u00e9 Heinner Valenzuela took a different path to say \u201cI do\u201d heading to Copenhagen, Denmark, where liberal marriage laws have turned the capital into a wedding haven for international couples. \u201cWe realized that it\u2019s not that easy to get<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":13504,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":{"twitter_1160854738579181570_1160854738579181570":"","facebook_3558452337540614_100649324928663":""},"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[27,31],"tags":[285,917,923,919,922,918,921,920,916,266],"class_list":{"0":"post-13502","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-europe","8":"category-lifestyle","9":"tag-amnewsworld","10":"tag-colombia","11":"tag-copenhagen","12":"tag-destination-weddings","13":"tag-heinner-valenzuela","14":"tag-international-marriages","15":"tag-magdalena-kujawinska","16":"tag-marriage-laws","17":"tag-poland","18":"tag-reporters"},"yoast_head":"\nCelebration Back Home<\/h3>\n