Key takeaways
- Rings are optional under Danish law: the marriage is made by your answers to the registrar and your signatures, not by the rings.
- Order rings early, because engraving and resizing can take longer than the Danish approval process itself.
- Fingers swell in heat and on flights and shrink in the cold, so size them at a normal temperature and at the end of a day.
- Always carry your rings in hand luggage and keep the receipts with your travel documents.
- Pick one person, often one of your two witnesses, to look after the rings until the ceremony.
Do you need wedding rings for a destination wedding in Denmark?
No. Wedding rings for a destination wedding in Denmark are a personal choice, not a legal requirement. A Danish civil marriage becomes legal when you both answer the registrar's question with a yes and sign the register with your two witnesses. The ring exchange is an optional moment that most couples choose to include.
At Copenhagen City Hall, exchanging rings is something you choose in advance. If you include it, it comes straight after your yes, and it is often the moment guests remember most. If you prefer, you can marry without rings and buy them later together as a souvenir of the trip.
Whatever you decide, the rest of this guide helps you choose rings that suit a life together, have them ready on time and get them to Denmark safely.
When should you buy your wedding rings?
Buy your rings as soon as you have decided to marry in Denmark, ideally before you start the paperwork. That sounds early, but the Danish process can move faster than a jeweller. Approval from Familieretshuset, the Danish Agency of Family Law, can come through in as little as five business days when your documents are correct first time, and most couples are married 4 to 8 weeks after first contacting us.
Custom designs, engraving and resizing all take time, and that time is set by the jeweller, not by you. Ask for a clear completion date before you order, and add a margin for delivery.
A ring timeline that works with a Danish wedding
| Stage | Ring tasks |
|---|---|
| Deciding to marry in Denmark | Agree on a budget, styles and metals. Visit jewellers or browse together. |
| Gathering your documents | Order the rings and confirm when they will be ready, including engraving. |
| Application filed | Collect the rings, check the size and the engraving, and store them safely. |
| Date confirmed | Add the rings to your travel insurance if needed and to your packing list. |
| Wedding week | Hand the rings to the person who will look after them on the day. |
If you are not yet sure how long the whole process takes for your nationalities, read how to get married in Denmark or see the three steps on our how it works page.
How to choose wedding rings you will wear every day
Choose rings for daily life first and for the photos second. You will wear them while working, cooking, travelling and sleeping, so comfort and durability matter more than how they look on a velvet cushion.
Metals at a glance
| Metal | Look | Things to know |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow gold | Warm and classic | Lower carat gold is harder, higher carat is softer and richer in colour. |
| White gold | Cool and bright | Often plated, so it may need re-plating over the years. |
| Rose gold | Soft and romantic | Pairs well with warm skin tones and vintage designs. |
| Platinum | Naturally white and heavy | Very durable and usually more expensive. |
| Titanium and other modern metals | Light and contemporary | Comfortable, but some cannot easily be resized. |
Think about width and profile as well. A comfort-fit band, which is rounded on the inside, slides on and off more easily and feels lighter during long days. Wide bands look striking but feel tighter than a narrow band of the same size, so try them on before you decide.
Your rings do not need to match. Many couples choose two different designs in the same metal, or the same design in two metals. If one of you wears an engagement ring, check that the wedding band sits comfortably beside it, or choose a shaped band that fits around it.
How do you get the ring size right when you travel?
Size your rings at a normal room temperature, towards the end of the day, and avoid measuring right after exercise, a hot shower or a cold walk. Fingers change size through the day and with the weather, and a destination wedding adds flights and a different climate to the mix.
- Long flights and salty food can make fingers swell for a day or two, so a ring that feels tight on arrival may fit perfectly the next morning.
- Copenhagen can be cool even in summer, especially by the water, and cold fingers shrink. A ring that feels loose outdoors may be fine indoors.
- If your knuckles are larger than the base of your finger, ask about a size that passes the knuckle comfortably without spinning.
- Try the ring on several times over a few days before the trip, at different times of day.
Engraving ideas with a Danish touch
An engraving is a quiet way to carry your Danish wedding with you. Keep it short: there is limited space inside a ring, and shorter text is easier to read and lasts longer as the metal wears.
- Your wedding date and the word Copenhagen.
- The coordinates of Copenhagen City Hall, 55.6757 N, 12.5694 E, or of the place where you plan to marry.
- For altid, which is Danish for forever.
- Ja, the single Danish word you will both say during the ceremony.
- Your initials, a small heart, or the first words you said to each other.
Order the engraving before you know the final date only if you are happy to add the date later, or choose text without a date. Because the Danish date is confirmed after approval, some couples engrave the city and coordinates first and add the date when they are home.
How to travel with your wedding rings to Denmark
Carry your rings in your hand luggage, never in a checked suitcase. Bags can be delayed or lost, and replacing a ring in a foreign city a day before the wedding is the kind of stress no one needs. Keep the rings in a small, plain box or pouch that does not draw attention.
A simple ring travel checklist
- Put the rings in a small padded box or pouch inside your cabin bag, in a pocket you can close.
- At airport security, place the pouch in the tray with your other small items and watch it go through.
- Keep the receipts or valuation papers with your passports, in case anyone asks where the rings were bought.
- Check that your travel or home insurance covers jewellery abroad, and note any limits per item.
- On arrival, store the rings in the room safe or keep them on you, not loose in a bag.
Customs rules for jewellery differ between countries and change from time to time. If you are buying rings abroad or carrying expensive pieces, check the current rules for your return journey before you travel. Some couples wear their rings on a different finger or on a chain during the flight, which is also fine.
More tips on carrying wedding essentials are in our guide to flying to Denmark with your wedding dress and suit.
Who holds the rings during the ceremony?
Choose one person to look after the rings from the morning until the ring exchange. Most often that is one of your two witnesses, who stand with you at the front of the wedding hall anyway. If you travel without guests, we can arrange witnesses for you, and one of us can hold the rings.
The ceremony itself is short, about fifteen minutes, and the ring exchange comes after you have both said yes. If you have chosen a ring exchange, you place the rings on each other's fingers, and then you kiss and sign the register. No special words are required, but some couples say a short line of their own as they give the ring.
- Give the rings to your witness in their box, and ask them to take them out just before the ceremony starts.
- Agree in advance which hand and finger each of you will wear the ring on.
- If your hands are cold, warm them for a minute before the ceremony. Rings slip on more easily.
- If a ring sticks at the knuckle, smile and twist gently. It happens often and makes a lovely photo.
To learn more about who can be a witness and what they do, read our guide to wedding witnesses in Denmark.
Left hand or right? Ring customs around the world
There is no single rule, and Danish law has no opinion on it. In the UK, the US and Australia, wedding rings are usually worn on the fourth finger of the left hand. In Germany, Norway, Poland and Russia, many couples wear them on the right hand instead. In international couples, partners sometimes follow different customs, and that is perfectly fine.
Some couples move their engagement ring to the other hand on the wedding day, so the wedding band can sit closest to the heart, and then stack them again afterwards. Others wear the wedding band alone and keep the engagement ring for special occasions. Decide what feels right for you, and tell your witness so the ring exchange goes smoothly.
Photographing your rings in Copenhagen
Ring photos are some of the most loved details in a wedding album, and Copenhagen gives your photographer plenty of textures to work with: old cobbles, granite steps, warm oak tables and the flowers in your bouquet. Ask for a few detail shots before the ceremony, while the rings are still in their box, and a few after, when they are on your hands. Our team’s favourite wedding photographer is Sla Karvounis Photography.
Our wedding inspiration gallery has a whole set of ring photos taken in and around Copenhagen, from rings on tulips to hands on lace. For advice on finding the right person behind the camera, see how to choose a wedding photographer in Copenhagen.
Your rings are ready. Now let us plan the ceremony
Once your rings are ordered, the next step is the paperwork. We prepare and pre-check every document, submit your application to Familieretshuset and book your ceremony at Copenhagen City Hall or another venue.
Compare what each option includes on our packages and prices page: Essential €290, Complete €690, Priority €1,190 and Premium €1,590, all with tax and 25% VAT included. Or contact us with your nationalities and preferred dates, and we will send your free personal document checklist within 24 hours.
Written by the Denmark Wedding team in Copenhagen. Published 29 January 2026. Questions? Ask us directly.
