Wedding witnesses in Denmark: when the municipality provides them

Wedding witnesses in Denmark are mandatory: without two witnesses there is no ceremony. If you bring none, the municipality must provide them, according to the citizens' portal borger.dk. In practice, though, many municipalities do so only at certain times.

The rule: two witnesses, provided by the municipality if necessary

Every ceremony in Denmark needs at least two witnesses, in Danish “vidner”. On borger.dk there is a second sentence that matters for couples from abroad: if you do not bring witnesses, the municipality must provide them.

That does not mean you can book any slot without your own witnesses. The municipalities decide at which times they provide witnesses. Other slots, such as afternoons, Saturdays or beach ceremonies, are meant for couples who bring their own. If you arrive without witnesses, book a slot in which the municipality provides them.

Without your own witnesses: municipalities compared

This is what the official pages of eight municipalities where couples without Danish residence get married say:

So without your own witnesses you are limited to the morning in Tønder and to Monday to Thursday in Aabenraa. In Sønderborg and Haderslev the municipality provides witnesses on exactly the Fridays on which it marries couples from abroad.

You need your own witnesses in Tønder in the afternoon (Tuesdays 13:00⁠–⁠14:00, Thursdays 13:00⁠–⁠15:00), in Aabenraa on Fridays and for beach ceremonies, in Kolding on Saturdays at City Hall (9:00⁠–⁠12:00), on Fanø for ceremonies outside the town hall and in Sønderborg at weekends or at other venues. Haderslev lists Saturdays with your own witnesses only on its Danish page for residents. In Copenhagen your own witnesses are possible, but not needed.

Your own witnesses: names, deadline and language

If you bring your own witnesses, the registry office wants their details in advance. Tønder publishes the most precise rule:

• Witnesses can be relatives or friends; the municipality names both explicitly.
• Their full names and addresses go on the reservation form or must be in at least one week before the ceremony.
• The witnesses should understand German or English.

For the other municipalities in the table we found neither a deadline nor a language rule for witnesses on the official pages. Report the names as early as possible anyway; it saves questions shortly before the date.

For you as a couple, on the other hand, there are clear language rules. Aabenraa requires that you can both communicate in English, German or Danish. Kolding marries in Danish, English or German, and both of you must understand the language. Otherwise, bring an interpreter; more in our interpreter guide.

What is not officially regulated: age and ID

You often read that witnesses must be at least 18 and show a passport. On borger.dk and on the pages of the municipalities in our table we found neither a minimum age nor an ID requirement for witnesses. Tønder only asks for names, addresses and language skills.

That does not mean nobody will ask for ID on the day. It only means that nothing on this is published, and we do not write anything here that we cannot back up.

Practical tips for your witnesses

• Settle the witness question first, then the date: in Tønder it decides between morning and afternoon, in Aabenraa whether Friday is an option.
• A beach, a Saturday or a venue of your choice only works with your own witnesses: for beach ceremonies in Aabenraa, on Saturdays at Kolding City Hall and for ceremonies outside the town hall on Fanø. Which Saturday and beach options exist is shown in our guide Getting married on a Saturday or on the beach.
• In Aabenraa, the municipality's witnesses will take photos or film with your camera or phone if you ask.
• If one of your own witnesses drops out at short notice, contact the registry office straight away. In Tønder, names and addresses must be in a week before; ask there whether you can report a replacement.
• Your own witnesses have to be there on the day. In Sønderborg and Haderslev you as a couple also register in person the day before, so you stay at least one night there. Our comparison of registry offices near the border has the overview.

In the Complete package we book the date in your municipality as soon as the approval arrives. Tell us whether you are bringing your own witnesses, and we will choose a slot that fits.

Sources and date checked

We checked every detail on these official pages:

• borger.dk: Når I vil giftes (Danish)
• Tønder Municipality: Marriage
• Aabenraa Municipality: Marriage registry office
• Sønderborg Municipality: Wedding
• Haderslev Municipality: Marriage
• Haderslev Municipality: Vielse og ægteskab (Danish)
• Kolding Municipality: International marriages
• Fanø Municipality: Marriage
• City of Copenhagen: City Hall wedding
• Ærø Municipality: Marriage

As of: September 2026. Ceremony times and witness rules can change. Check your municipality's current page before you book.