"Las Vegas of Europe": Foreign Couples Flock To Denmark To Get Married
"We realised that it's not that easy to get married in Poland," the 30-year-old Kujawinska said as the couple waited for their 10-minute ceremony at the Danish capital's 19th-century City Hall.
"You need a certificate that you are not married," she said. "We tried to get it from Colombia, but it's only valid for three months, and it couldn't get to Poland from Colombia in three months. It was just impossible for us."
The couple, who live in Krakow, had been engaged for more than three years when Kujawinska heard about Denmark's relatively relaxed marriage laws from a colleague. Working with an online wedding planner, the couple prepared the necessary documents.
"And in four days, we had the decision that the marriage could be done here," a smiling Kujawinska said.
Couples who don't live in Denmark, both mixed- and same-sex, are increasingly getting married in the Scandinavian country - prompting some to dub Copenhagen the "Las Vegas of Europe."
The head of the marriage office at Copenhagen City Hall, Anita Okkels Birk Thomsen, said that about 8,000 wedding ceremonies were performed there last year. Of those, some 5,400 of them were for couples in which neither partner was a Danish resident.
"That's almost double what we saw five years ago," she said. "They come from all over the world."
But the city sees a downside to that: demand for ceremonies at City Hall now far exceeds the number of slots available.
Mia Nyegaard, the Copenhagen official in charge of culture and leisure, said in a statement to The Associated Press that the "significant rise" in the number of foreign couples getting married in the capital "poses challenges for Copenhagen-based couples wishing to get married."
Local authorities plan to take action. Nyegaard said about 40% of wedding slots available at City Hall will be reserved for Copenhagen residents starting from the end of October. While booking a slot there is the most obvious way to get married in the city, arranging a ceremony with a private registrar is also an option, and that won't be affected.
Copenhagen lawmakers will look after the summer break at what else they can do to relieve overall pressure on wedding capacity in the city.
Denmark's marriage laws are liberal in several ways. In 1989, the country became the world's first to allow the registration of same-sex civil unions. The legalisation of same-sex marriage followed in 2012.
For unions of all kinds, Denmark - unlike many other European countries - doesn't require a birth certificate or proof of single status to obtain a certificate that grants the right to get married in Denmark within four months. Officials might, in cases where divorce papers don't show clearly that a divorce has been finalized, ask for a civil status certificate.
Applications to Denmark's agency of family law cost 2,100 kroner ($326), and couples are issued with a certificate within five working days if they satisfy the requirements.
Non-resident couples can travel to Denmark and get married with just a valid passport and, if required, a tourist visa.
"We get that thing like, 'Are you sure we do not need a birth certificate?' And we go, 'Yes,'" said Rasmus Clarck Sorensen, director of Getting Married in Denmark.
Clarck Sorensen, a Dane, began the wedding planning business with his British wife back in 2014.
"In the last 20, 30 years, people just meet more across borders," he said. "Marriage rules are often made for two people of the same country getting married."
"They kind of piled on patches onto marriage law, and a lot of people get trapped in those patches," he added.
His online company's "Complete Service" package, priced at 875 euros ($1,014), includes help gathering all the necessary documents, processing the certificate application and organizing the date of the ceremony.
The business says it helped over 2,600 couples last year.
Copenhagen, easily Denmark's biggest city with the country's best transport links, is the most popular location and so far appears to be the only one struggling with demand.
Any changes to the city's rules will come too late to bother newlyweds Kujawinska and Valenzuela, who are now busy planning a celebration in Poland with family and friends.
"It means a lot for us because we've been waiting a lot for this," Kujawinska said. "We're really happy."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
an hour ago
- Mint
From pet yoga to yogalele, the rise of feel-good wellness experiences
A few years ago, when Chennai-based friends Sinduja Krishnakumar, Subhashree Madhavan and Swathi Renugopal watched Game of Thrones actress Sophie Turner ditch her regular fitness routine for goat yoga, little did they know that it would spark an idea that was literally 'GOAT'. It sure wasn't winter that was coming, instead, it was the story of warmth, bonding and tail-wagging! 'We immediately thought why not combine yoga with dogs, especially the indie shelter ones that don't get a chance to bond with humans," recalls Krishnakumar who along with the other two went on to found Pawga, a pet yoga experience, in 2020. 'We tested the idea for a year before we launched and knew through our research that spending time with animals made humans release endorphins and reduce stress," she adds. The first session went on to become a resounding success and the rest, as they say, is history. 'The vibe was amazing and many people released their bottled-up emotions and relaxed. Even the puppies who were afraid of people were cuddling with the participants, by the end of it. That's when we knew we had done something great," says Krishnakumar whose team, since then, has organised their much-loved puppy yoga sessions across several venues in India to a full house. The trio, however, is not alone in this spirited pivot toward experiential wellness. Be it Van Gogh-themed yoga sessions that combine movement with immersive art; sound healing or water yoga, people are opening up to more forms of fitness nurturing the body, mind and soul in addition to creating joyful memories. Delhi-based entrepreneur and co-founder of Progcap, certified yoga teacher and mother to an infant, Pallavi Shrivastava found a seamless way to merge her love for mindful movement and music through 'yogalele' — a soulful blend of yoga and ukulele that she occasionally shares in intimate, heartfelt sessions. 'It happened quite organically. During the pandemic, I picked up the ukulele as a way to unwind. It brought rhythm and lightness during a heavy time," says Shrivastava. When her friend Christina Fernandes, who runs the Mahalo Ukulele Festival, invited her to lead a yoga session at the festival last year, everything just clicked. 'That's when I realised how beautifully the two practices complemented each other. Music lets us express freely while yoga teaches us to be present. Together, they create a space that's both grounding and joyful – a balance of breath and rhythm, intention and play." SPACES FOR JOYFUL WELLNESS As individuals find creative ways to personalise their wellness journeys, hospitality spaces too are evolving and embracing heart-led practices that are immersive, emotionally uplifting, and rooted in joy. Says Vinesh Gupta, General Manager, The Den Bengaluru, a luxury hotel which hosted a session of Pawga on International Yoga Day, 'Wellness is as much about emotional and mental well-being as it's about physical health. When we came across the concept of Pawga, which combines yoga with adorable and adoptable puppies, it immediately resonated with us. It went beyond the traditional notions of wellness and we partnered with them as part of our commitment to offering wellness experiences that are immersive, joyful, and impactful." For Anoopama Mukerjee Lohana,a spiritualist and wellness entrepreneur who has been practising yoga for over 30 years, any practice that gets one on the mat is a good start. 'Ultimately, what is yoga? Anything that brings balance to your body, breath, mind, emotions, and heart — that is yoga. For someone like Sachin Tendulkar, cricket is yoga," says the COO & experiential wellness director, Siddhayu Wellness Ayurveda, a wilderness wellness experience by Baidyanath in Tadoba and Gothangaon, Maharashtra. 'Everything is allowed in yoga as long as there's a balance. The practice, in its purity, reveals itself over time — how you show up, what you bring to it, shapes what it becomes for you," she adds. That said, she also believes that it's important to approach emerging trends with awareness and authenticity. 'Take trends like beer yoga, for instance — anything done in excess or deprivation is unsustainable. These are fads. What truly holds is something that nourishes your creative spirit, something that endures," she points out. Ultimately, in a wellness landscape buzzing with new ideas, it's clear that while the formats may evolve — from stretches with puppies to strumming a ukulele on the mat — what remains essential is intention. Whether you flow through asanas surrounded by art or find your stillness in silence, if the practice brings you joy, balance, and connection, that's what truly counts. Deepa Natarajan Lobo is an independent journalist based in Bengaluru.
News18
an hour ago
- News18
'Boys Call Me Fat, But At Night They...': Canadian Model's Bold Claim Goes Viral
Last Updated: Model Olivia Messina says boys who call her fat often message her flirtatiously at night. Her revelation has sparked debate over hidden attraction behind online trolling In this digital age, negative behaviours like trolling and body-shaming are rampant, especially against plus-size women. But is every troll driven purely by malice? Ontario-based plus-size model Olivia Messina has reignited conversation online by revealing that many of her body-shaming critics are also the same boys who message her flirtatiously at night. Provocative And Thought-Provoking Insights In a recent Instagram video, 24-year-old Olivia dissected this paradox. Wearing a bra top and leggings while eating a sandwich, she asked: 'Isn't it odd how the women you label as unattractive keep appearing on your feed?" She then turned the lens on her critics, noting that the most vicious comments often originated from straight men whose profile pictures featured their wives and children. Olivia believes: 'If my body repulses you, why do you continually watch it?" She suspects their shame drives their mockery. From Roast To Flirt Olivia illustrated her theory with personal experience: stating how when she responds nonchalantly to hateful remarks with, 'Thanks" and 'welcome", the tone abruptly shifts and the critic often becomes flirtatious. She suggests that confused exposure, possibly driven by algorithmic suggestions, leads many to her posts and triggers a defensive or shame-based reaction. Olivia also teased further content, stating she'll be uploading a 'What I Eat in a Week" video to her YouTube soon, offering a personal lens into her life beyond the screen. A Wave Of Support Thousands have rallied behind her. One follower commented: 'I find you very attractive! I'm glad you're in my feed; clearly the algorithm is doing its job!" Another applauded her representation of real body types, while others affirmed her message about confidence and visibility. A Broader Conversation This isn't Olivia's first brave stance: in October 2023, she asserted that 'people go crazy when they see confident fat women." Today, her platform, boasting over 429,000 Instagram followers, continues to inspire, provoke, and challenge societal norms. view comments Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
How Arefa Tehsin brings India's wildlife to children in The Great Indian Safari
Arefa Tehsin believes every creature tells a story. And in her latest book, The Great Indian Safari (published by India Puffin), the Sri Lanka-based author takes one on a virtual safari across India. 'I wanted to take readers on a pan-Indian safari from Himalayan snowfields to coral reefs, termite hills to arid salt pans,' says Arefa, who adds that the book's idea came about when she realised there were 'few books that introduce younger children to India's incredible wildlife in an engaging, accessible way'. And so she does with her trusted friend 'Charred the bard' leading readers through the book's many chapters dedicated to the elephant, tiger, peacock, and more. Charred, a jungle crow, shares fun, engaging anecdotes about each of these creatures. Each chapter is peppered with vibrant illustrations, poems, tiny lessons on pronunciation, scientific names, how to act on a safari, and ends with a guide on where to spot the animal. 'I didn't just want the 'celebrities' of the wild like tigers and elephants (though they strutted in, of course), but also the quiet stars and the unsung heroes, be it the termite queens or the awesome asses,' says Arefa, 45, known for books like Amra and the Witch, and Iora & the Quest of Five. Addressing the importance of introducing biodiversity and conservation themes to children, Arefa says that when children realise they are not separate from Nature, but part of its unruly orchestra, they begin to care. 'Wonder leads to empathy, and empathy might just save our species. A tree isn't just a tree. It's a squirrel's skyscraper, a caterpillar's café, a crow's conference room. I believe that we are not saving Nature, Nature is saving us. So far, at least.' Given the extensive years of research that culminated into the book, were there any facts or lesser-known animals that surprised Arefa even today? 'Absolutely,' she says. 'Like how, 'Lakshadweep' means a hundred thousand islands (though it's only 36). Or how a termite queen can live up to 50 years while her soldier sons last barely 1–2. Or that Himalayan brown bear cubs are born while their mum is still asleep in hibernation. Nature is the original trickster. She doesn't play even by her own rules.' Arefa's most fascinating chapter, however, is the one on wild asses. 'These sleek, stubborn creatures graze on plants other animals turn their noses up at, and they're among the fastest animals in India. Who knew the desert had such horsepower?' she says. After The Great Indian Safari, Arefa is now working on her upcoming titles that include a sequel to Wild in the Backyard, The Big Little Birthday Party, Divine DNA, a highly illustrated book for teens about the animals in Indian mythology, and her second novel for adults, The Tale of a Magpie Robin. Priced at ₹327, Indian Safari is available online
