Marriage ceremony

Get married in Esbjerg Municipality

Where does the marriage ceremony take place?
Scheduling the marriage ceremony
Witnesses
Documents required 
For American and British soldiers
Age requirements
Interpreter 
Registration
Changing names
Examination fee


Where does the marriage ceremony take place?

Our goal is to make your marriage ceremony performed here at the registry office in Ribe's old city hall from 1496 a beautiful and moving experience for you as a copule and your guests.

Firstly, please examine whether a marriage ceremony performed in Denmark is valid in your country. The marriage ceremony take place in Ribe's old city hall,Von Støckens Plads at: 

  • Thursdays and Saturdays between 9-12
  • Fridays between 9-10.30

Please note that no marriage ceremonies will take place during week 28, 29 and 30 due to the summer holidays in Denmark. The last date before the holidays, on which a marriage can take place is 10.7.2010 and the first date after the holidays is 5.8.2010. We do not perform marriage ceremonies during the Christmas holidays from 24.12.2010 until 4.1.2011.

The Old Town Hall in Ribe The Old Town Hall in Ribe is an important historic site, and presently it welcomes the many couples who get married there.

Scheduling the marriage ceremony

You can make arrangements for the marriage ceremony orally or in writing by contacting the municipality of Esbjerg, Borgerservicecenter Ribe, Giørtz Plads, 6760 Ribe, phone no. +45 7616 8900:
Tuesdays and Wednesdays 13-15.30
Thursdays 8-17.00
Fridays 8-11.00

Witnesses

On Thursdays the municipality can provide witnesses. On Fridays and Saturdays you have to make sure to bring two witnesses.

The names and addresses of these witnesses shall be stated when the marriage certificate is given.

Documents required

Before making a reservation for a marriage ceremony, the following documents must be sent in copies by e-mail to: toer@esbjergkommune.dk or by fax: 0045 7616 8900. At the same time you must pay a  weddingfee of 70 Euro to Esbjerg Municipality to:

  • account SWIFT/Bic Nordea - NDEADKKK Iban-nr. DK2520005036170974
    Please write "Vielse" - and both your last names.

The administration of the case can take up to two weeks. After that period please feel free to contact us.

All documents must be sent in the original language as well as the translation. However, this is not case if the documents are in German or English.
The documents must be translated by an authorized translator.

The documents needed are:

  • Valid passport - and possibly visa
    If you are a citizen outside the Schengen collaboration but are now residing in a Schengen country, residence permit must be produced. If you are a citizen and live in a country outside of Schengen collaboration, the passport must have an entry stamp - not more than three months old.
  • Birth certificate and any documents on name changing
  • Documentation on present residency and marital status
    The documentation must include: name, address for at least the last year, date of birth and present marital status. If you are not a citizen of the country you are residing in now, the same documents from your native country must be produced. The documents must not be more than four months old.
  • Divorce/death certificate
    If one or both parties have been married, the divorce document/death certificate must be produced.

If the documents have not been issued in Europe, USA, Canada, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Australia or New Zealand, the documents must be legalized/aspostille certification - please see procedure for this below.

The divorce document must be certified by force law. Thai divorces/death certificates only require certificate of the Danish and the German representative in Bangkok.

Legalization:

Certification from the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country in question and the Danish representative in that country.

Apostille:

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country in question.

The room where the marriage ceremony will take place in the old town hall in Ribe.

For American and British soldiers

American and British soldiers who are stationed in Germany must, instead of the documentation of present address, marital status and passport, bring "Request and authority of leave" and "military ID".

Age requirements

Both parties must have passed the age of 18.

Interpreter

Registration and marriage ceremony is performed in German or English. If both parties do not understand German or English, an approved interpreter will be present on registration and during the marriage ceremony.

We will be happy to assist you in making the arrangements for an interpreter.

Financial assistance concerning having an interpreter at marriage ceremonies on Saturdays cannot be expected. The parties shall defray the costs themselves.

The beautiful surroundings is the perfect setting for a marriage ceremony.

Registration

Registration must be done personally and takes place between 9-12 on Tuesday for marriage ceremony scheduled to take place onThursday and Wednesday for marriage ceremony schedules to take place on Friday/Saturday at:
Ribe citizen service centre
Giørtz Plads
6760 Ribe

Original documents or confirmed copies must be presented. Subsequently, the examination will take place after which you are expected to take up residency here in this municipality during the case administration. If the documentation is not sufficient, the marriage ceremony cannot take place. By showing up personally without any preceding agreement, a marriage ceremony cannot be expected to take place during the same week.

Changing names

Change of name is not possible in connection with the marriage ceremony.

Examiniation fee

The examination fee amounts to 70 Euro.