Get married in Tønder
Tønder is the pragmatic choice for couples from the DACH region: about 5 km past the German border, ceremonies in German or English, free of charge. In 2024 Tønder ranked fourth among Denmark's most popular wedding municipalities, after Copenhagen, Ærø and Aabenraa (applications to Familieretshuset).
At a glance
€281
AFL fee
60 days
ahead, each date opens for booking
~5 km
past the German border
Tue + Thu
Ceremony days for couples from abroad
Tønder: an honest assessment.
Pros
- Ceremony is free, Tønder Kommune charges no fee
- Clear booking rule: every date opens online exactly 60 days ahead
- Ceremony in German or English, with municipal witnesses in the morning
- Drive in, no registration the day before: doable in one day
- Hotels and B&Bs from €80/night
- About 5 km past the German border, short distances
Cons
- Couples from abroad: Tuesdays and Thursdays only, no Saturdays
- Dates are in demand: released dates are usually taken quickly
- Small town, no large dining or entertainment scene
- No nearby airport (Hamburg ~2.5h)
- Less spectacular photo backdrops than Copenhagen
- Hardly any premium hotel options
How your Tønder wedding unfolds.
- 1
Eligibility check (60 seconds)
We check your situation and tell you what you need, free.
- 2
Gather documents (2–4 weeks)
You scan your papers. We review every scan before submission.
- 3
AFL application and slot
We submit the application to Familieretshuset; complete applications are usually decided within 5 working days. The approval comes with the municipality's booking link, and we use it to book your date, on a Tuesday or Thursday, as soon as it opens 60 days ahead.
- 4
Off to Tønder: the wedding
You can arrive by car, and no registration is needed the day before. In the morning the municipality provides the witnesses; from northern Germany it all fits into one day.
- 5
Marriage certificate: done
Right after the ceremony you receive two international certificates. They are valid in Germany and Austria without an apostille, and in Switzerland once reported via the Swiss representation.
The ceremony itself: the official rules.
For couples without Danish residence, as Tønder Kommune describes it on its website.
On the day
Ceremony days and times
For couples without Danish residence the municipality only holds ceremonies on Tuesdays and Thursdays:
Tue + Thu, 9:30–12:00
with the municipality's witnesses, free of charge
Tue 13:00–14:00 · Thu 13:00–15:00
with your own witnesses
The municipality's Danish page lists further days and Saturdays; it only applies to couples living in Denmark.
Witnesses
Two are required. In the morning the municipality provides them free of charge; in the afternoon you bring your own, for example family or friends. Your own witnesses must understand some German or English. Their full names and addresses go on the reservation form, or you send them at least one week before the wedding.
Language
The municipality holds ceremonies in German or English.
Venue and access
Registry office (Den Gamle Amtsrådssal), Jomfrustien 8, 1st floor, 6270 Tønder, opposite the town hall.
There is no lift in the building; the municipality offers couples with disabilities a different room. Let us know in advance and we will arrange it.
Getting there
About 5 km past the German border: Flensburg 50 km, Hamburg 200 km, by train via Niebüll. The municipality does not require registration the day before, so you can arrive and leave on the wedding day.
Before and after
Booking the date
Only after approval by Familieretshuset: the approval letter includes a link to the municipality's online booking system. Dates cannot be booked by email or phone. The date must fall within the four months the approval is valid.
With the Complete package we book the date for you as soon as it opens.
Lead time (as of October 2026)
The municipality releases every date exactly 60 days ahead, at about 23:45; count back 60 days from your preferred day. Dates are in demand: released dates are usually taken quickly. Familieretshuset usually decides complete applications within 5 working days. If it has to request more documents, it takes longer: in mid-October 2026 it was processing such applications from August, a delay of about 2 months.
Closing days
In 2026 the registry office was closed on 2 Jan, 2–6 Apr, 1 May, 14–15 May, 25 May and 5 Jun, and for the summer break in weeks 30–31 (20 Jul–2 Aug). Over Christmas it is closed from 24 Dec 2026 to 3 Jan 2027. For 2027 we expect a summer break around weeks 30/31 again.
After you say “I do”
Right after the ceremony you receive two international marriage certificates in five languages (Danish, German, English, French, Spanish). An apostille for them is issued only by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Copenhagen. Register your marriage with your authorities at home afterwards.
Change of name: under Danish name law this is not possible at the wedding if you are not registered in Denmark. The certificate shows your names as in your passports; you apply for the change afterwards where you are registered.
As of October 2026 · Sources: Tønder Kommune: Marriage · Familieretshuset: processing times
What it looks like there.
Real costs: getting married in Tønder.
An affordable combination if you drive, without surprises. In the Complete package only the ✓ incl. marked AFL government fee is included. Apostille is not in the package. If your Danish marriage certificate needs an apostille, add our Apostille Service (€199.99): the Danish foreign ministry's apostille, courier and UPS shipping to you.
Danish Wedding Service (Complete)
Everything coordinated, reviewed, submitted
€649.99
AFL government fee (Familieretshuset)✓ incl.
Mandatory, included in Complete, we transfer 1:1
€281
Certified translations of your documents (case-dependent)
Only if required · your cost
€80–300
Apostilles on your documents (only certain countries)
Only if required · obtained in the issuing country, your cost
€50–150
Tønder ceremony fee
Free of charge according to Tønder Kommune
€0
Hotel (1–2 nights, Tønder or nearby)
Small, family-run hotels · your cost
€80–180
Travel (car from Munich, fuel approx.)
~10h drive · your cost
€80–120
Typical total with Complete:
€940–1,400
Particularly affordable if you drive
Questions about the ceremony in Tønder.
On which days does Tønder hold ceremonies for couples without Danish residence?
Does the municipality provide the witnesses?
Can the ceremony be held in German?
Where exactly does the ceremony take place?
How is the date booked?
Do we get the marriage certificate right after the ceremony?
Compare other locations.
More municipalities on request.
Copenhagen City Hall
Ceremony in the historic Rådhus, photos afterwards among the colourful houses at Nyhavn. The most popular choice for international couples.
Getting married in Copenhagen
Island wedding on Ærø
Arrival by ferry, ceremony in the island's historic main town, beach photos at sunset. A three-day short break and wedding in one.
Getting married on ÆrøMore registry offices near the border.
These municipalities also hold ceremonies for couples without Danish residence, each with its own rules. As of October 2026, from the municipalities' websites.
Aabenraa
Monday to Friday; the municipality lists no Saturdays for couples from abroad. Municipal witnesses Monday to Thursday. Dates are always released only 60 days in advance.
Getting married in AabenraaSønderborg
Fridays only, 8:30–14:00, in Gråsten or Nordborg, with registration in person on the Thursday before. Next free date according to the municipality (as of 18 October 2026): 22 January 2027.
Getting married in SønderborgHaderslev
Fridays 10:00–12:00, in Danish, German or English. Registration the day before the ceremony, so plan an overnight stay.
Getting married in Haderslev