8 Danish Wedding Traditions You Need to Know
Planning or attending a Danish wedding? 8 authentic Danish wedding traditions you need to know, from midnight waltz deadlines to the hilarious under-table kissing custom that challenges every bride in a full gown!
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After experiencing over 60+ weddings across Denmark, Lithuania, and the UK, I've come to appreciate how each culture celebrates love in its own unique way. The Danish wedding traditions especially stand out with their blend of playfulness, meaning, and community involvement.
In this article, you'll discover essential Danish wedding customs that you might want to include in your own celebration – or at least be prepared for if you're attending a Danish wedding! I'll also add some interesting contrasts with Lithuanian and British traditions that show how different cultures mark this special occasion.
Let's dive into what makes Danish weddings unique!
The Kissing Tradition - When the Bride or Groom Leaves the Room
Every time the bride leaves the room, all the men rush to kiss the groom. When the groom steps out, all women line up to kiss the bride! This playful tradition creates some of the most spontaneous and joyful photo moments at Danish weddings.
You'll see countless funny moments of surprised grooms being ambushed by enthusiastic male relatives and friends. For brides wearing red lipstick, the aftermath is especially memorable – the groom returning to find his bride covered with lipstick marks!
In Lithuania, we don't have anything similar – instead, we have the "veil dancing" tradition where the bride dances with male guests who contribute money to the newlyweds' future.
"Something Old, Something New..." and Danish Additions
Most of us know the wedding rhyme: "Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue." In Denmark, there's an additional element: a coin in the shoe.
This small addition symbolises prosperity for the couple's future together. You'll often see mothers or grandmothers discreetly slipping a special coin into the bride's shoe right before the ceremony – these small family traditions tell a deeper story about connections between generations.
In the UK, brides follow the complete British rhyme that adds "...and a sixpence in her shoe" – the origin of the Danish coin tradition.
Rice Throwing with a Modern Twist
After the ceremony, Danes traditionally throw rice at the newlyweds as they exit the church or venue. The rice symbolises fertility and prosperity, wishing the couple many children and abundant harvests.
This tradition is evolving with environmental awareness. In recent Danish weddings, you'll see couples being showered with flower petals, biodegradable confetti, or surrounded by bubbles instead of rice.
In the UK, guests often form a tunnel with raised arms for the couple to run through, sometimes with sparklers for evening ceremonies.
The Wedding Cake Ritual
Danish couples must cut the first piece of cake together, with the groom helping his bride. According to old belief, if they don't do this together, they risk not being able to have children!
Many Danish couples save the top tier of their cake, freeze it, and share it on their first anniversary. This sweet tradition extends the wedding celebration into the first year of marriage, giving the couple something to look forward to after the big day.
The Chair and Table Kiss Challenge
One of the most entertaining Danish wedding traditions involves the newlyweds kissing in unusual positions. The guests will insist that the couple kiss while standing on chairs, and then immediately afterwards, they must crawl under the table to kiss again!
This playful custom tests the couple's agility and willingness to work together under challenging circumstances, symbolising how marriage requires flexibility and cooperation in all situations.
Church Positioning and Procession
The groom arrives with his best man and sits on the right side of the altar. Meanwhile, the bride traditionally arrives last, escorted by her father who walks her to the groom.
This moment when the father "gives away" his daughter is one of the most emotional parts of the ceremony. The brief handshake or embrace between father and groom carries generations of tradition in a single gesture, often bringing tears to the eyes of everyone present.
In UK weddings, I've noticed a similar tradition, but with bridesmaids leading the procession before the bride. In Lithuania, the bride and groom often stop at the church entrance for a blessing from both sets of parents before proceeding.
The Speech Order - A Clear Sequence
Danish weddings follow a specific speaking order that reflects family importance.
The traditional Danish speech sequence is:
The host welcomes everyone and introduces the toastmaster
The bride's father (or another close family member)
The groom
The best man
The groom's father
The bride (which has become more common recently)
After these formal speeches, additional guests may speak, generally in order of closeness to the couple.
This differs from UK weddings, where speeches typically happen between dinner courses: father of the bride, groom, and best man. The British best man's speech is typically more humorous than its Danish counterpart!
In Lithuanian traditions, speeches are less structured, but we have a dedicated "wedding host" who organises various games throughout the reception.
The Bridal Waltz Before Midnight
The Danish bridal waltz must happen before midnight to avoid bad luck. This isn't just any waltz – it's specifically "Brudevalsen" composed by Niels W. Gade in 1854, a piece unique to Danish weddings.
What makes this tradition especially photogenic is how the guests surround the couple in a circle, slowly moving inward as they clap to the rhythm. The circle closes until the couple is pressed together for a kiss – a beautiful moment that I capture from multiple angles.
Following the waltz comes another unique Danish tradition: the men lift the groom up and cut off the toes of his socks! This symbolizes that he's no longer a bachelor on "free feet."
Final Thoughts
There's something beautiful about how Danish couples blend century-old traditions with their modern love stories. What I appreciate most is how these customs aren't followed rigidly out of obligation, but chosen thoughtfully to reflect what matters to each couple. Some embrace every tradition, while others pick just a few meaningful ones.
If you're planning a Danish wedding, my advice is simple: understand the traditions, then make them your own. Your wedding should feel like you – whether that means following every custom or creating entirely new ones.
about the author:
i'm ieva vi - a Copenhagen wedding photographer. When I'm not behind the lens capturing beautiful moments, I love to explore new places and share my experiences with readers. Take a look at my portfolio, and feel free to reach out for collaborations and/ or if you’re planning your own wedding!
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