Copenhagen has excessively accumulated revenue from matrimonial ceremonies for prolonged periods.
Copenhagen, the Danish capital known for its liberal marriage legislation, has found itself in an unexpected predicament. Thousands of couples, mainly foreigners, were overcharged for civil marriages since 2018 due to an administrative error or pricing mistake in the fees charged for the ceremonies.
The city's Culture Department confirmed the error in a statement, acknowledging the overcharging and announcing it will refund the affected couples. The refunds will be handled systematically: the city will contact those who were overcharged, verify the payments, and reimburse the difference. This process aims to ensure that all couples receive the correct refund promptly without needing to initiate claims themselves.
The extent of the overcharging is substantial. Copenhagen City Hall now has to refund 23 million Danish Kroner (around three million Euros) as a result of the overcharging. However, the method of refund for the overcharged couples is still unclear.
The illegal practice was stopped in the spring of 2025, and the responsible committee is deciding how to proceed due to the financial challenge posed by the refund. The information about the overcharging was reported by various news sources, including Ritzau, a Danish news agency, citing a report in the newspaper "Politiken".
Denmark's popularity as a wedding destination for foreign couples, including those from Germany, is due to its relatively liberal marriage regulations. In Germany, foreigners must submit an affidavit of marital capacity, but this is not a requirement in Denmark. This has made Copenhagen a popular alternative, similar to Las Vegas in the USA, for couples looking to get married.
Last year, Copenhagen City Hall recorded a record number of 8,000 civil marriages, with 5,000 being foreigners. It is likely that many of the affected couples are from Germany, but the department could not provide specific numbers.
Mia Nyegaard, the Culture Mayor of Copenhagen, expressed regret over the illegal practice. She emphasised the city's commitment to rectifying the situation and ensuring that all affected couples receive their refunds promptly.
