What Are Danish Wedding Traditions?

This article will be a fun one haha. This far I have shot 100+ Danish weddings, so it is safe to say that I know my way around the wedding traditions of Danes. However, since not everyone spends their summers at weddings, I decided to write down all the main Danish traditions here for you to pick and choose what fits your day. Are you ready?

1. Morning gift. The morning gift, or "morgengave", is a traditional Danish wedding custom in which the couple presents each other with a gift on the morning after the wedding or the morning of. The gift is typically given privately, before the couple begins their new life together.

The morning gift has roots in Danish law and was originally intended to provide financial security for the bride in case the marriage did not work out. Today, the morning gift is more of a symbolic gesture and may be something small and sentimental, such as a piece of jewellery or a handwritten note.

The morning gift is often accompanied by a breakfast in bed, which is typically a simple meal of pastries, fruit, and coffee or tea.

The morning gift is an optional tradition and not all Danish couples choose to follow it. However, it is a sweet and thoughtful way for you to show your love and appreciation for each other on the morning after your wedding.

2. The bouquet. Today, the bouquet is more of a decorative element and is chosen based on the wearers personal style and preferences. Based on an old tradition, the bouquet is a gift. One would usually work with a florist or the wedding planner to select the flowers and design the bouquet, which is typically presented to the person who is going to wear it on the morning of the wedding.

While it is not a requirement to purchase a bouquet for the other, it is a sweet and thoughtful gesture that can add a personal touch to the wedding. But hey- it is not a must. Me for example couldn’t stand to not choose my own flowers hehe. After all you will be seen carrying them all day haha.

3. The ‘congratulations’ line. Okay, this one is at every big wedding. Right after the couple leaves ceremony spot, first ones to follow them are their immediate family, they will hug and kiss the newlyweds and line up after them, so who ever comes out of the ceremony can congratulate both the couple and their family! While in many cultures you might give a gift or flowers at this point, this is not the case in Denmark. You will just simply say your congratulations and will leave your gift for gift table. No flowers needed.

4. Confetti. Once every guest has hugged the couple, it is time to move towards some coffee/cake. While the couple exits to the (decorated) car, guests lines up to throw confetti of their choice.

5. Cake is cut and eaten right after the ceremony. Why postpone a good thing? Before it is cake time, someone usually will introduce the cake and what it is made off. And just like in other cultures, the first piece is cut by the newlyweds. They share a piece, feeding it to each other. After that couple encourages guests to get their piece.

The party!

6. Instead of a host we have a toast master. Party is always managed by a toast master. There are several speeches made during the wedding party, most often starting with the father of the bride. During the dinner close friends and family will take turns to give a speech or lead an entertainment for the couple. Needless to say the entertainments helps people stay awake and so does the breaks.

7. Signal the couple to kiss. This wedding tradition that can be particularly lively. Tradition is for guests to take their silverware and begin hitting glasses or plates to create a racket. When the noise reaches a crescendo, it is the signal for the couple to stand up on chairs and share a kiss. But if guests starts stamping on the floor the newlyweds then hide under a table and kiss.This tradition is a fun and playful way for guests to participate in the celebration and show their support for the newlyweds.

8. Stealing a kiss. Every time bride/groom leaves the room rest of the guests are welcome to rush over to kiss their partner. This is a good moment to whip out that red lipstick!

9. Taking off the jacket is only permitted if the groom/bride has taken theirs off. If its extra hot, I have seen some fired up groomsmen force the groom to take it off.

10. The first dance. The first dance is always a waltz and the Danes believe that “brudevals” should be danced before midnight approaches. The waltz’s music is from an 1854 folk tale by Niels Wilhelm Gade who was a Danish composer. As the couple dance, the guests surround them. With time, they slowly get close to the couple till there is no more space left, that’s where the couple shares a kiss and…

11. Cutting the socks. … Following that men of the party lifts up the groom, takes off his shoes and cuts off the top part of his socks. Random? Not to Danes. Additionally, some also cuts the groom’s underpants’ elastic band so to say ‘to prepare’ him for the wedding night to come.

After that everyone lives tipsy ever after.

Besides the listed ones, Danish couples often also implements throwing the bouquet, the garter toss and other traditions. It is important to note that each wedding is different. You have the freedom to mix and match the traditions or not have them at all, the day is yours and you should not feel obligated to include any of these.