Ærø is the small island south of Fyn: weddings on more than 200 days a year, old captains' villages with half-timbered houses, a lighthouse and a long sandy beach. The municipality offers a date within 10 weeks of the approval (according to its Danish page, October 2026).
Getting there: how to reach Ærø
There is no bridge. Ærøfærgerne's ferries sail from three ports, and depending on the route the crossing takes 55 to 75 minutes. You book and pay for tickets in advance.
| Route | Good to know |
|---|---|
| Fynshav (Als) → Søby | from Hamburg usually the shorter drive; from Søby on to Ærøskøbing |
| Svendborg → Ærøskøbing | docks right by the old town; you drive there via Fyn |
| Faaborg → Søby | no departures on Saturdays and Sundays from 24 October to 13 December 2026, nor on 24 and 31 December and 1 January |
| By plane | most likely to Billund or Hamburg, then by rental car to the ferry |
Timetables change with the season; check them with Ærøfærgerne before you book (see sources).
Where can you get married?
Most couples marry at the town hall in Ærøskøbing, in the old town. Ceremonies at scenic places outside the town hall are possible too; the municipality publishes no addresses or prices for them. The municipality publishes no fixed ceremony times; its wedding team can be reached Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 15:00, and it lists no Saturday dates. If you have your heart set on a Saturday or a beach, our overview of Saturday and beach weddings shows the alternatives. Our page Getting married on Ærø shows all of the municipality's rules at a glance.
There is no online booking system. Once you have decided on Ærø, write to info@weddinginfo.dk with your names, contact details and, if you have one, your preferred date; you can do this even before you apply. After the approval, Familieretshuset (Agency of Family Law) sends the certificate to the municipality, and the wedding team confirms your date by email; it offers one within 10 weeks of the approval (according to the municipality's Danish page, October 2026).
Since August 2025 there has been no fee for the ceremony at the town hall. For a ceremony at a place of your choice outside, municipalities may only charge the actual extra costs; Ærø publishes no prices for this. What is officially known about the Skjoldnæs lighthouse and other outdoor places is covered in our guide getting married at special places. Ærø's official pages say nothing about the ceremony language or witnesses, so ask about both when you request your date. If one of you doesn't understand the ceremony language, you need an interpreter; the general rules for witnesses are in our guide to witnesses.
Hotels and accommodation
Most places to stay are in Ærøskøbing and Marstal. In Ærøskøbing's old town, a few minutes' walk from the town hall, you'll find, for example, Hotel Ærøhus and Pension Vestergade 44, and in Marstal, among others, Hotel Marstal. Prices and availability vary a lot with the season; you'll find current offers at VisitÆrø. In high summer, book as early as possible, ideally together with the ferry.
Best photo locations
Four places are especially worth it for photos:
- the row of pastel-coloured bathhouses on the sandy beach at Vesterstrand, an iconic motif;
- the granite Skjoldnæs lighthouse on the north-western tip;
- the old town of Ærøskøbing with cobblestones and leaning houses, made for classic wedding photos;
- Marstal harbour with its sailing ships and a touch of industrial charm.
Weather: when to get married?
| Month | Weather and recommendation |
|---|---|
| May–June | long, light days; a good time for outdoor photos |
| July–August | high season: beautiful, but accommodation and ferries book up early |
| September | quieter, often soft light for photos |
| October–April | cool and windy; ferries may be cancelled in storms |
Plan three days if you can: arrive and explore the island, marry and take photos on the second day, relax and travel home on the third. That turns the wedding into a small honeymoon. The car ferry is often booked up early in summer and at weekends; book it as soon as your date is confirmed.
Our free eligibility check shows which documents you need. With the Complete package, we submit the application and arrange the date with the wedding team. How Ærø measures up against Copenhagen and Tønder is shown in our comparison of the three places.
Sources and status
- Ærø Municipality: Ægteskab – Vielse (Danish, updated 12 October 2026: a date within 10 weeks) and wedding page (German)
- Ærøfærgerne: timetables (German)
- VisitDenmark: Ærøfærgerne, routes and crossing (English)
- Familieretshuset: processing times (Danish)
- Number of couples in 2025 and 2024 ranking: Dansk Erhverv, 14 February 2026 (Danish)
- Skjoldnæs lighthouse: Den Store Danske (Danish)
As of October 2026. Dates, timetables and prices change. Check the current pages before you book.
