Denmark has become a hotspot for international weddings, attracting couples from all over the world with its famously relaxed marriage laws – earning Copenhagen the nickname “the Las Vegas of Europe.”
According to the Associated Press, Copenhagen City Hall performed around 8,000 wedding ceremonies last year, and in 5,400 of those, neither partner lived in Denmark. The AP feature did not offer a breakdown on how many of these 5,400 weddings included South East Asian nationals marrying Nordic nationals.
For many couples, Denmark is simply much easier. Polish bride Magdalena Kujawińska and her Colombian fiancé Heinner Valenzuela told AP they chose Copenhagen after struggling with bureaucracy at home.
From October, however, Copenhagen will reserve 40% of City Hall’s wedding times for residents, as demand now far exceeds available slots.
Denmark’s liberal rules – no birth certificate required and only a valid passport or visa needed – have made it a favorite for international couples, including many mixed-nationality and same-sex pairs.
For Asian-European couples who face complicated procedures in their own countries, Denmark might just be the fastest route to saying “I do” in the “Vegas of Europe.”
[…] We previously reported that Copenhagen City Hall had become known as “the Las Vegas of Europe” for international couples. But now the city is tightening rules after years of soaring demand. […]