Copenhagen is the capital with the Nyhavn backdrop, Tønder the pragmatic choice at the border and usually the cheapest if you come by car, Ærø the romantic island with a lighthouse. Which one fits you comes down to three questions: travel, photos and whether the ceremony should be part of a holiday.
The direct comparison at a glance
Since August 2025 there has been no fee for the ceremony at the town hall: Copenhagen's own legal review found no legal basis for charging one. What is the same everywhere is the fee charged by Familieretshuset (the Danish Agency of Family Law): DKK 2,100 (about €281). The differences lie in dates, travel and overnight stays; you'll find the details on waiting times and costs in the guides on each topic.
| Copenhagen | Tønder | Ærø | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ceremony days for couples from abroad | Mon–Fri 9:10–15:50, Sat 10:00–12:40 | Tue + Thu | no fixed times published |
| Date (as of October 2026) | up to 4 months' wait, according to the city | released exactly 60 days ahead, at around 23:45 | within 10 weeks of the approval, according to the municipality's Danish page |
| Witnesses | always provided by the city | provided by the municipality in the morning | not stated, ask when requesting a date |
| Travel | usually by plane | by car, about 200 km from Hamburg | by car, then ferry |
| Overnight stay | needed without a CPR number: show originals at City Hall 1–5 working days before | not needed | arriving the day before is recommended |
Copenhagen, when big-city flair matters
The registry office in the Rådhus sits directly on the central square. After the ceremony you stroll along Strøget to Nyhavn, the iconic harbour backdrop with the colourful houses that turns every wedding photo into a postcard. Restaurants at every price level, good flight connections, and after the wedding you have the capital ready for a few days of honeymoon.
Copenhagen suits you if you are flying anyway, want Nyhavn in your photos and plan to stay a few days in the city. It suits you less on a tight budget or with little time: everything costs more, according to the city you wait up to four months for a date, and Nyhavn is packed in summer. For undisturbed photos, pick a weekday early in the morning.
Important for your travel plans: if one of you has no Danish or Nordic personal identification number (CPR), that person must show their original documents in person at City Hall, no earlier than five and no later than one working day before the wedding, not on the wedding day itself. For a wedding on a Monday or Saturday, this means the Friday before at the latest. So plan at least one overnight stay.
Tønder, the pragmatic choice
According to the municipality, Tønder lies about five kilometres past the German border, about 200 km from Hamburg and 50 km from Flensburg. Ceremonies take place at the registry office opposite the town hall (Jomfrustien 8, first floor, no lift): small, personal, the process relaxed. No registration is needed the day before. If you don't want a big show but simply want to get married in peace and have the celebration at home afterwards, this is the place. Our page Getting married in Tønder gives an overview; ceremony times, witnesses and booking are explained in our guide to the Tønder registry office.
Tønder suits you if you come by car, can marry on a Tuesday or Thursday and are holding the celebration at home anyway. Allow enough lead time: each date is only released 60 days ahead, and the days are in demand; our page current free wedding dates shows whether one is free right now. The registry office is closed in calendar weeks 30–31 and from 24 December 2026 to 3 January 2027. If you are after a holiday feeling and lots of photo spots, you will be less happy here.
Ærø, romance with a ferry
Ærø is a small island south of Fyn. Getting there: by car to the ferry ports of Svendborg, Faaborg or Fynshav on Als, then by ferry; if you fly, you will most likely land in Billund or Hamburg and continue by rental car. The island itself is a picture book: beach, lighthouse, old captains' villages with half-timbered houses. Most couples marry at the town hall in Ærøskøbing; ceremonies at scenic places outside the town hall are possible too. Our page Getting married on Ærø sets out all of the municipality's rules.
Ærø suits you if the wedding should be a small holiday. The ferry crossing takes planning, hotels book up early in summer, and the weather has a say in your photos.
The decision in three questions
Are you travelling by car or plane?
By car: Tønder or another registry office near the border, or Ærø if you have a little more time. By plane: Copenhagen.
How important are the photos?
Very important: Nyhavn (city) or Ærø (nature). Not so important: Tønder.
Should the ceremony be part of a holiday?
Yes: Copenhagen or Ærø. No: Tønder.
Book the ceremony first, then hotel and photographer: free dates are the scarcest thing, and everything else can be planned around them. The free eligibility check shows which documents you need; with the Complete package we take care of the application and booking your date.
Sources and date checked
- Copenhagen: City Hall Wedding (English) and booking page with the rule for couples without a CPR number (Danish)
- Tønder: wedding page (German; dates released 60 days ahead, closures; updated 9 October 2026)
- Ærø: Ægteskab – Vielse (Danish, updated 12 October 2026: a date within 10 weeks) and wedding page (German)
- Familieretshuset: processing times (Danish)
As of: October 2026. Dates and rules change all the time. Check the municipality's current page before you apply.
