Latest news with #Copenhagen-based
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
Foreign couples flock to Denmark to get married. Copenhagen wants to save room for locals
COPENHAGEN, Denmark -- Facing complex bureaucracy at home in Poland, Magdalena Kujawińska and her Colombian fiancé Heinner Valenzuela traveled to Copenhagen to become husband and wife. 'We realized that it's not that easy to get married in Poland,' the 30-year-old Kujawińska 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 Kujawińska 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 Kujawińska 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 legalization 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 Sørensen, director of Getting Married in Denmark. Clarck Sørensen, 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 Kujawińska 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,' Kujawińska said. 'We're really happy.'
Daily Mirror
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Happy couples flock to ‘Las Vegas of Europe' to get married but locals aren't happy
One hotspot is seeing a rise in the number of non-resident couples getting married but locals aren't necessarily happy about the influx of newlyweds Confronted with tangled red tape back home in Poland, Magdalena Kujawińska and her Colombian partner Heinner Valenzuela made the journey to Copenhagen to tie the knot. "We realised that it's not that easy to get married in Poland," the 30 year old Kujawińska explained whilst the pair awaited their 10-minute ceremony at the Danish capital's 19th-century City Hall. "You need a certificate that you are not married. 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," she explained. The pair, who reside in Krakow, had been betrothed for over three years when Kujawińska learnt about Denmark's comparatively straightforward marriage regulations from a work colleague. Collaborating with an online wedding coordinator, the duo organised the required paperwork. They spoke of their big day after couples in the UK revealed their dream honeymoon destination. "And in four days, we had the decision that the marriage could be done here," a beaming Kujawińska revealed. Couples who aren't Danish residents, including both mixed- and same-sex partnerships, are flocking to the Scandinavian nation in growing numbers to wed - leading some to brand Copenhagen the "Las Vegas of Europe." Anita Okkels Birk Thomsen, who heads the marriage department at Copenhagen City Hall, revealed that approximately 8,000 wedding ceremonies took place there last year. Among these, roughly 5,400 involved couples where neither person was a Danish resident. "That's almost double what we saw five years ago," she noted. "They come from all over the world." But the city recognises a drawback to this popularity: demand for ceremonies at City Hall now vastly outstrips the number of available appointments. Mia Nyegaard, the Copenhagen official overseeing culture and leisure, told The Associated Press that the "significant rise" in foreign couples tying the knot in the capital "poses challenges for Copenhagen-based couples wishing to get married." Local officials are planning intervention measures. Nyegaard revealed that roughly 40% of wedding appointments at City Hall will be set aside for Copenhagen residents from late October onwards. Whilst securing an appointment there remains the most straightforward route to marriage in the city, couples can alternatively organise ceremonies through private registrars, which won't face restrictions. Copenhagen councillors will examine additional measures after the summer recess to ease the overall strain on the city's wedding capacity. Denmark's matrimonial legislation is progressive in numerous respects. In 1989, the nation pioneered global recognition of same-sex civil partnerships. Full same-sex marriage rights were established in 2012. For all types of unions, Denmark - unlike numerous other European nations - doesn't demand birth certificates or evidence of single status to secure documentation permitting marriage within Denmark over a four-month period. Authorities may occasionally request civil status certificates when divorce documentation fails to clearly demonstrate finalised proceedings. Tying the knot in Denmark has become a breeze for international lovebirds, with the country's family law agency processing applications at a snappy pace and a fee of 2,100 kroner ($326), delivering a marriage certificate within five working days, provided couples meet the criteria. For those not residing in Denmark, a simple passport and, if necessary, a tourist visa are all that's needed to get hitched in the Scandinavian haven. "We get that thing like, 'Are you sure we do not need a birth certificate?' And we go, 'Yes,'" shares Rasmus Clarck Sørensen, the brains behind Getting Married in Denmark. Clarck Sørensen, a native Dane, launched the matrimonial service with his British partner in 2014, recognising the growing trend of international romances. "In the last 20, 30 years, people just meet more across borders," he observes. "Marriage rules are often made for two people of the same country getting married." He points out how outdated regulations can ensnare couples: "They kind of piled on patches onto marriage law, and a lot of people get trapped in those patches." His firm offers a "Complete Service" package for 875 euros ($1,014), which covers document collection, application processing, and ceremony scheduling. Last year alone, the company assisted over 2,600 duos in saying 'I do'. Copenhagen, Denmark's largest city and transport hub, tops the list as the most sought-after wedding locale, currently the only city feeling the pinch from high demand. However, any potential tweaks to Copenhagen's policies won't affect the blissful Kujawińska and Valenzuela, who have turned their attention to party planning in Poland with their nearest and dearest. "It means a lot for us because we've been waiting a lot for this," Kujawińska said. "We're really happy."
Forbes
a day ago
- Business
- Forbes
Novo Nordisk Shares Plummet Toward Worst Day In 40 Years
Shares of Wegovy and Ozempic maker Novo Nordisk fell more than 21% Tuesday, pacing what would be the stock's largest plunge since the 1980s after the Danish pharmaceutical firm cut its full-year guidance for sales and profit, as growth for its obesity and weight loss treatments are expected to slow in the U.S. The Danish firm said weaker Wegovy and Ozempic sales are expected as competition ramps up and ... More compounded options become more available. Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. Novo Nordisk's shares plummeted about 21% to just above $54 as of around 10:50 a.m. EDT, marking what would be the company's largest loss since a 19% decline in April 2002 and nearing its next-largest decline of 23% in October 1984. The pharmaceutical firm said Tuesday expectations for its full-year sales growth in 2025 were lowered to between 8% to 14%, down from an earlier target of 13% to 21%, and profit growth lowered to between 10% to 16%, down from estimates of 16% to 24%. Novo Nordisk said it expects sales growth for Wegovy and Ozempic in the U.S. to decline amid 'slower-than-expected market expansion and competition' and 'persistent use' of compounded alternatives. The sale of 'unsafe and unlawful' compounded drugs—generic drugs altered to meet a patient's needs—has continued despite the Food and Drug Administration indicating it would take action against distributors by April 22, Novo Nordisk claims. Novo Nordisk is 'deeply concerned' that, without 'aggressive intervention' by federal and state regulators and law enforcement, patients will be exposed to the "significant risks by knockoff' drugs, the company said. Novo Nordisk will release its Q2 earnings report on Aug. 6. Tangent Maziar Mike Doustdar was announced Tuesday as Novo Nordisk's new president and CEO, after Lars Fruergaard Jorgensen was abruptly ousted in May. Doustdar's appointment will take effect Aug. 7. He previously served as the company's vice president of international operations, a unit Novo Nordisk said had sales more than double to about $17.3 billion in 2024 under Doustdar. Key Background Shares of Copenhagen-based Novo Nordisk have dropped 37% on the year, as the company has battled increased availability of compounded Ozempic and Wegovy. The FDA allowed pharmacies to compound and sell copies of both drugs amid shortages, and production of these drugs was granted a period during which the agency would not take action. The FDA has since declared shortages of Novo Nordisk's weight loss and obesity drugs as 'resolved' and removed the drugs from its shortage list, though the company has claimed compounded drugs—which are unapproved by the FDA—are still on the market. Novo Nordisk has asked the FDA to outright ban compounded Ozempic and Wegovy, as the agency has noted various 'concerns' about the drugs as they do not meet the agency's requirements for safety, effectiveness or quality. The FDA has warned of counterfeit Ozempic on the market in recent months, and said the products could cause adverse reactions like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain. Forbes Ozempic-Maker Novo Nordisk Sues Pharmacies And Weight Loss Clinics For Allegedly Selling Impure Drugs By Ty Roush
NDTV
a day ago
- Entertainment
- NDTV
"Las Vegas of Europe": Foreign Couples Flock To Denmark To Get Married
Facing complex bureaucracy at home in Poland, Magdalena Kujawinska and her Colombian fiance; Heinner Valenzuela travelled to Copenhagen to become husband and wife. "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."
Arab Times
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Arab Times
Foreign couples are flooding Denmark to say ‘I do' — and locals are not happy
COPENHAGEN, Denmark, July 29, (AP): Facing complex bureaucracy at home in Poland, Magdalena Kujawińska and her Colombian fiancé Heinner Valenzuela traveled to Copenhagen to become husband and wife. "We realized that it's not that easy to get married in Poland,' the 30-year-old Kujawińska 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 Kujawińska 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 Kujawińska said. Couples who don't live in Denmark 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 legalization 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 Sørensen, director of Getting Married in Denmark. Clarck Sørensen, 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 Kujawińska 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,' Kujawińska said. "We're really happy.'
