Couple in a white pantsuit and navy suit holding hands under a stone arcade

Venues · Selected days · ceremonies

Open-air ceremonies

On selected days the Copenhagen wedding office holds civil ceremonies outdoors. It is the same legal marriage as inside City Hall, with open sky, trees and the city around you.

Selected days · ceremonies

About Open-air ceremonies

Open-air ceremonies follow exactly the same formalities as a City Hall wedding: a registrar, two witnesses and your marriage certificate on the day. Only the setting changes.

Outdoor dates are limited and mostly in the warmer months, so tell us early if you would love to marry outside. We check which locations and dates the wedding office offers for your travel plans, and we always have a City Hall plan B if the Danish weather has other ideas.

Ceremony
Civil, led by a registrar from the Copenhagen wedding office
Season
Selected days, mostly late spring to early autumn
Legal status
Exactly the same as a City Hall wedding
Weather
We keep an indoor plan B ready
Booking
Request early: outdoor dates fill first

Start planning See packages

Good to know

Open-air ceremonies, in detail

What an outdoor ceremony looks like

A registrar meets you at the agreed spot, often a garden, a park or a place by the water, and holds the same short civil ceremony as indoors. You stand together under the open sky with your witnesses and guests around you, then sign the register on a small table set up for the occasion.

Which places are possible

The Copenhagen wedding office decides which outdoor locations and dates it offers each season, and other municipalities have their own options. We send you the current choices for your travel dates, with photos and how each place feels on the day, so you can choose with confidence.

Planning around the Danish weather

Danish summers are mild and bright, but showers come and go quickly. We watch the forecast with you during the final week, bring umbrellas in neutral colours and keep a City Hall or indoor time available as plan B, so your wedding happens whatever the sky does.

Photos in the open air

Outdoor ceremonies give photographers soft natural light and plenty of space. Trees, lawns, water and old buildings make the background, and there is no need to move anywhere for the first portraits: they start right where you said “yes”.

What to wear

Choose shoes that work on grass and gravel, and bring a light jacket or wrap even in July, as the evenings can be cool by the sea. A veil that is pinned well and a bouquet with a little weight both behave better in a Scandinavian breeze.

A day like this

  1. 13:00

    We pick you up and bring you to the outdoor location in good time.

  2. 13:30

    Meet the registrar and your witnesses; your guests gather around you.

  3. 13:45

    Your ceremony in the open air, signing and congratulations.

  4. 14:15

    Portraits on the spot while the light and the mood are right.

  5. 15:00

    Picnic, garden café or canal tour to celebrate.

Groom embracing his laughing bride in a park
Boho ceremony set-up with dried flowers, dream catchers, rugs and candles
Newlyweds walking hand in hand across a cobbled courtyard

Open-air ceremonies · Q&A

Questions couples ask

01 /

Is an outdoor wedding in Denmark legally valid?

Yes. A registrar from the municipality leads the ceremony and you receive the same Danish marriage certificate as after an indoor wedding. The location makes no difference to the legal status.

02 /

When are outdoor ceremonies possible?

Mostly from late spring to early autumn, on days the wedding office sets aside for them. The number of dates is limited, so request an outdoor ceremony as soon as you know your travel window.

03 /

What happens if it rains on our wedding day?

We agree a plan B with you in advance, usually an indoor ceremony at the same time. You decide on the day, and we move guests, photographer and flowers so nothing is lost.

04 /

Where can we have an outdoor ceremony?

The wedding office decides which outdoor locations and dates it offers each season, often gardens, parks or places by the water. We send you the current options for your travel dates, with photos, so you can choose.

05 /

Can guests attend an outdoor ceremony?

Yes. Your guests gather around you at the location, and there is usually more room than in an indoor hall. Tell us your group size and we suggest a spot that suits it.

06 /

Do we need chairs, an arch or decorations?

Not for the ceremony itself: the registrar only needs the two of you, your witnesses and a place to sign. If you would like flowers, an arch or a few chairs, we arrange them where the location allows it.

07 /

How early should we book an outdoor ceremony?

As early as you can. Outdoor dates are fewer than indoor ones and fill first, especially in June, July and August. Several months ahead gives you the best choice, and the date is confirmed once your documents are approved.

08 /

What should we wear for an outdoor wedding in Denmark?

Shoes that work on grass and gravel, and a light jacket or wrap even in summer, because the breeze by the water can be cool. A well-pinned veil and a bouquet with some weight cope best with the wind.

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Say “I do” at Open-air ceremonies

One short message is all it takes. We reply within one business day with available dates and what to do next.