A wedding in Denmark costs roughly €610 to €2,000 depending on the route; documents from third countries and a visa come on top depending on the case. The only mandatory item is Familieretshuset's fee of DKK 2,100 (about €281); the ceremony at the town hall costs nothing.
Mandatory costs: Familieretshuset's fee
The Familieretshuset charges a one-off application fee. It is the same for all couples, regardless of nationality, residence or package size, and is adjusted annually; in 2026 it is DKK 2,100 (about €281). You pay it when you apply, and it is not refunded even if the application is rejected, so plan it as a fixed base cost.
| Fee | Amount 2026 |
|---|---|
| AFL application fee | DKK 2,100 (about €281), at application |
| Ceremony at the town hall | €0 (since August 2025) |
| International marriage certificates (usually 2) | Included, right after the ceremony |
| Additional certificates | Depends on the municipality, e.g. Haderslev €25 each |
Good to know: a new fee for weddings of foreign couples was debated politically in Denmark in 2026, but nothing has been decided (as of October 2026). Today the ceremony at the town hall costs nothing: in August 2025, Copenhagen's own legal review found no legal basis for a fee. Costs only arise for a place outside the town hall, in Copenhagen for example DKK 2,732 for the registrar at the place of your choice (as of October 2026); more examples are in our guide getting married at special places.
Document costs: apostille and translations
Here the biggest variance. Certificates are mandatory only in certain cases: the divorce decree for divorcees, the death certificate for widowed partners and the birth certificates of joint children. Your own birth certificates and a single-status certificate are needed only if Familieretshuset requests them in an individual case. What certificates cost depending on the country of origin:
| Document (if needed) | Cost and apostille |
|---|---|
| Birth certificate DE/AT | €0–15, no apostille (EU) |
| Birth certificate Switzerland | Fee depends on the canton, no apostille; translation only for French or Italian documents |
| Birth certificate Turkey | Certificate fee and translation, no apostille |
| Birth certificate Brazil, India and others | Apostille €25–150 per document, plus translation |
| Certified translation per document | €60–120 |
| Single-status certificate (only on request) | DE €10–15, AT €10–20, CH CHF 30; apostille if needed |
| Divorce decree with legal force (if divorced) | €30–80; apostille depending on the country |
When you really need the single-status certificate and how to get it is explained in its own guide; who may produce certified translations is covered in our translation guide. Divorced? What Denmark additionally requires is covered in our guide to a second wedding.
Travel and accommodation
| Item | Tønder | Copenhagen | Ærø |
|---|---|---|---|
| Travel (for 2 people) | €100–200 (car) | €200–500 (flight) | €250–450 (flight + ferry) |
| Hotel 2 nights | €150–250 | €300–600 | €200–400 |
| Food 2 days | €80–150 | €120–250 | €100–200 |
What the wedding costs at each of the three places, item by item, is worked out on our pages Getting married in Tønder, Getting married in Copenhagen and Getting married on Ærø.
Two realistic total scenarios
DIY minimal
€611–881
- Government fee €281
- Certificates for a single EU couple: none, only on request by Familieretshuset €20–70
- Tønder by car €100–200
- Hotel (2 nights) and food €230–400
- Risk: mistakes cost extra
Guided
€861–1,250
- All DIY items
- Service €249.99–649.99 (Complete incl. the AFL fee, so it is not paid twice)
- Complete: we review every scan before submission. Essential: personal document list, guide and three weeks of WhatsApp support
All amounts come from the tables above. Certificates are not included, because a single couple needs them only if Familieretshuset requests them in an individual case; then a birth certificate and a single-status certificate per person add €20–70 in total. With a flight to Copenhagen and the Complete package, the same tables add up to about €1,270–2,000. If you need documents from third countries or a visa, apostilles (€25–150 per document), translations (€60–120 per document) and the visa fee (€90) come on top.
Hidden costs many forget
- Express fees for an apostille under time pressure
- Surcharges for express translations on short-notice orders
- Cancellation costs for hotel or ferry when the date moves because of missing documents
- Additional certificates for the German registry office, the embassy etc.
- Visa fee for third-country partners: Schengen visa (valid for Denmark) €90; apply for it before the AFL application, because the visa belongs in the application
- Change of municipality if the municipality named in your application has no date left: only Familieretshuset can forward the approval; our change of municipality service costs €99.99, one change is included in Complete
- Apostille on the Danish marriage certificate if your authorities require it (the Swiss representation's leaflet lists none): our apostille service costs €199.99 including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs fee, courier and UPS shipping
So plan a flat 10 % buffer for express orders, follow-up translations and additional certificates; exactly these items are often underestimated in the budget.
Which items apply to you is shown by our free eligibility check. You can book the Complete package (€649.99 including the AFL fee) directly, with a deposit from €450 if you like; whether it is worth it for you is compared in our guide with or without an agency.
