Denmark’s Golden Days Festival is transforming the concept of marriage by repurposing its most iconic cultural institutions as unconventional wedding venues. Under the aptly titled initiative The Big Day, 50 couples are tying the knot across 10 unusual locations—from design museums to a Viking longship—merging love, history, and public celebration in a way Denmark has never seen before.

At the Designmuseum Danmark, five couples will be married in the sculpture garden with fashion-forward themes. Each wedding is curated by celebrated designer Henrik Vibskov and accompanied by live jazz, turning the ceremonies into immersive design experiences.

Frederiksborg Castle, renowned for its Renaissance architecture, will host four weddings in its grand ceremonial hall. These legal civil ceremonies, open to the public, offer free entry for guests, though regular museum admission still applies for general visitors.

The Viking Ship Museum in Roskilde will stage the most unique wedding setting of the festival. Aboard the Sea Stallion, a full-scale Viking longship, five couples will exchange vows while docked at the harbor. The ceremony will be officiated by Roskilde’s mayor and led by renowned DNA researcher Eske Willerslev, marking the first time this vessel has been used for a wedding.

The festival’s bold use of cultural landmarks as wedding venues is about more than just spectacle—it’s a rethinking of space, ceremony, and tradition. These venues, traditionally reserved for exhibitions, are now platforms for personal stories, love, and community participation. Public guests are encouraged to attend the ceremonies, participate in cultural programs, and interact with the couples through open events.

The Golden Days Festival doesn’t just celebrate love—it redefines it in a public, inclusive, and artistic way. As Denmark leads in cultural innovation, these public weddings offer a model for how cities worldwide might reimagine civic spaces and traditions.