How do I pronounce “Skagen”?
skæi’ən – Skagen is pronounced with a soft “g.” For English speakers the “g” sounds more like a “y.”
What are the COVID-19 restrictions in Denmark?
Travel – As of 14 March 2022, If you are vaccinated or previously infected, there are no travel restrictions when entering Denmark.
Internal – There are no longer COVID-19 restrictions in Denmark. It is also still possible for private businesses to require proof of vaccination and use of face masks.
For more information, visit the Danish Covid-19 information website here. Note the website is active, but requires a security check for entrance.
Where can I find a fascinator for the church ceremony?
A daytime hat or fascinator is encouraged, but not required. This image may be a helpful guide for guests for what to look for.
Peter Sham has an Etsy shop with modern and clean hats and fascinators. For guests looking for a quick/easy option, Amazon has a reasonable selection of hats. Decorative hair clips or headbands are also a great choice.
Do you have a registry?
Yes. A link to a registry with options for Danish, Canadian, and American guests can be found here.
For practical reasons, guests should send gifts to our home in San Francisco. We ask that guests not bring gifts to the wedding itself.
Our mailing address can be found here, and on the registry webpage under “Shipping Info.”
What should I do in Copenhagen?
Christian’s sister Anna and her partner Frederick have a curated list of recommendations and a two-day city guide you can find here.
What does the dress code for each event mean?
You can find more information on the dress codes here.
What is the difference between the ceremony, the reception, and the dinner?
This seems to be a pressing question for guests, particularly guests accustomed to American-style wedding traditions. It may be helpful to think of the ceremony and reception as being coupled together as day-time events, while the dinner is a separate event that takes place in the evening.
The ceremony will take place in early afternoon at a church. Immediately after the ceremony, guests will be transported to the reception.
Following the ceremony and reception, guests should return to their lodgings, and change into dinner attire.
In the evening, guests are invited to pre-dinner drinks before the seated dinner takes place. The dinner includes speeches and Danish wedding traditions. As the dinner comes to an end, the dance/party portion of the celebration begins. Guests should expect the party portion of the celebrations to go into the early morning of the next day.
What is a Danish wedding like?
Danish wedding customs come from a mixture of Christian and Anglo-Saxen traditions. The event should feel reasonably familiar to guests who have attended or seen any films representing Anglo-Christian wedding celebrations. Below are some Danish wedding traditions that you may want to familiarize yourself with before attending our celebrations.
THE BRIDAL BOUQUET IS CHOSEN BY THE GROOM – One of the many danish wedding traditions says that the groom should put together the bridal bouquet – without interference from the bride or anyone else. A modern version of this tradition sees the couples select the bridal bouquet together.
SPEECHES AND SONGS – It is a tradition for the family and friends of the bride and groom to give speeches at the wedding dinner. Often the speeches entail folk songs, known to all Danish speakers. Guests should expect about a dozen speeches.
KISSING WHEN THE GROOM OR BRIDGE LEAVES THEIR SEAT – When the bride leaves her seat at the table, it is a tradition for the female guests to run and kiss the groom. If the groom leaves his seat, it is the male guests who must kiss the bride on the cheek.
KISSING UNDER THE TABLE – It is tradition that the bride and groom kiss under the table when guests stamp into the floor.
KISSING STANDING ON CHAIRS – It is a tradition for the bride and groom to stand on the chairs and kiss when guests ring the cutlery on their plates.
THE WEDDING WALTZ – The wedding waltz must be danced before midnight. The dance originates from August Bournonville’s ballet “Et folkesagn” from 1854 with music by Niels W. Gade. The guests stand in a circle around the dancing couple and clap. Slowly, the guests make the circle smaller and at the end of the dance there will be no more free space. The bride and groom then kiss. You can watch a video of a wedding waltz here.
CUTTING OF THE SOCKS – After the waltz, the groom is lifted up and the toe of his sock is cut to pieces. The cutting symbolizes that the groom is no longer free on the market and thus does not have to impress potential partners by being able to show stockings without holes in them.
CUTTING OF THE VEIL – During the wedding, the veil protects the bride from evil spirits. Then the veil is torn up by the guests who take home a piece of the veil as good luck. The guests are supposed to make a wish for the newlyweds and tie their piece of the veil to their car. When the piece of veil falls off, the wish will come true.
Can I make a speech at the dinner?
In Danish tradition, close friends of the couple give short speeches during the wedding dinner. Danish wedding speeches are open to more people than the North American tradition. If you would like to make a speech at the dinner, please contact Toastmaster Benjamin Hansen before 1 June 2022.
I have a question I couldn’t find the answer to here.
Please contact us and let us know!
For logistical questions and other advice, please contact Christel Winther Weddings, phone: +45 31353716.