Getting Married in Denmark: A Step-by-Step Guide (Part 1)

Getting Married in Denmark – The Background Story

I married my best friend a couple of months ago in the beautiful city of Copenhagen. As soon as I shared the happy news on Instagram, my DMs were flooded with congratulatory messages – as well as tons of questions haha! Since I’m not super active on my personal account, except when I travel, my 10 million followers were like, “Wait, I didn’t even know you had a boyfriend, and all of a sudden you’re married?!”. And among the most FAQs were:

“Why Copenhagen?”
“Is your husband Danish?”
“Why not in Indonesia?”

With “WHY COPENHAGEN?” being the top question lol. I know it sounds a bit random. So, I thought I’d share some details about why we chose Copenhagen and how to get married there, especially for other mixed-nationality and mixed-religion couples (because, yes, sadly, it’s still a challenge in Indonesia when you’re of different faiths) – so here we go.

Read part 2 of this article: Getting Married in Denmark – A Step-by-Step Guide (Part 2)

Why Married in Copenhagen

The Danish government has a super liberal approach to marriage laws, allowing anyone from any country to legally get married there. If you need a visa to enter Schengen countries, a standard tourist visa will do. And if you’re one of the lucky ones who don’t need a visa, all you need is your passport – easy peasy lemon squeezy!

We ruled out Indonesia because the paperwork is just way too complicated. As for the UK, where my husband is from, that was also no-go. Getting married there would require a fiancé visa, which is not only pricey but also takes ages to process.

We actually found out about Copenhagen from an article my mother-in-law sent us on WhatsApp. And, in true Gemini fashion, I impulsively said, “Let’s do it!” – so we did.

We worked with www.gettingmarriedindenmark.com, they are superstars!

The Wedding Agency in Denmark

Since we’re not exactly fans of admin work and are super busy with work and daily jiu-jitsu training, we decided to hire an agency for the convenience, time-saving benefits, and better chances of approval (since they know what they’re doing!). We worked with Getting Married in Denmark.

All we had to do was send one email, and they were incredibly responsive. They even scheduled a video call to walk us through everything in detail. They took care of all our paperwork, making sure it met the Danish government’s standards, submitted everything on our behalf, and even booked our chosen city hall for the ceremony. They also offer other services, like document apostille, hair and makeup, flowers, etc. Basically, you can tailor everything to your preferences and needs. But since we were aiming for a super simple ceremony, we didn’t need any of those extras.

Getting Married in Lovely Denmark Documents Kata-Bella

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Essential Documents for Marrying in Denmark

All you need to submit to the Danish government are:

Photos of your passports

Yes, the Danish government prefers photos, not scans, so the details, including the holograms, are clear. They need pictures of all the pages, even the blank ones without stamps. Just a heads-up: they’re very specific about how the photos should be taken. They need natural light, all pages should be flat and clean, and no fingers should be holding the sides.

Schengen visa

If you need a Schengen visa to travel to the country, it’s best to apply well in advance to stay organised. Your application can’t be processed without it, and popular city halls like Copenhagen City Hall can get fully booked quickly.

P.s. They don’t mind which country you enter the Schengen area from, it doesn’t have to be Denmark. I entered through The Netherlands.

Relationship document

They basically want to make sure you’re in a genuine relationship and have actually met in person, not just in it for the spouse visa. You can put together a Power Point presentation with all your photos and milestones. Take screenshots from your phone with the metadata showing the dates the photos were taken. If you’re in a long-distance relationship and travel frequently to see each other, adding supporting documents like flight tickets can really strengthen your application.

Next stages

Now that the headachey part is done, you can just send everything over to the wedding agency and let them work their magic. The Danish government has a strict rule that they must approve or reject everything within five working days, so that part was quick. I share more about the next steps in part 2 so you can have a break from reading and digest this information first.

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24 May 2026 by Bella in Info

Canggu Travel Guide: Surviving Bali's Busiest Neighbourhood

Canggu Travel Guide Canggu is only a tiny dot on the map of Bali, and yet more and more people seem drawn to that little dot more than anywhere else - sometimes forgetting there’s so much beauty on the other sides of the island too: rice fields, waterfalls, mountains, and the sea to dive into (literally). But I get the appeal. Canggu somehow has everything packed into one neighbourhood. If you don’t mind the always-busy streets, it’s the capital of fitness culture, surfing, food, food (yes, I mentioned food twice on purpose because there are just SO MANY good spots), recovery culture, remote work life, and… a traffic simulator too. Most people arrive in Canggu thinking it’ll just be a quick Bali stop. Then suddenly they’re extending their villa stay, signing up for Hyrox sessions they never planned to take, and debating which oat milk flat white is “the best in Berawa.” It happens fast. So if you’re looking for a proper Canggu travel guide, here’s the insider version. You may also like this article: What It’s Like to Live in Bali: Cost, Culture, and Everyday Life AREAS TO STAY Batu Bolong Crowd-o-metre: 9/10 Spoiler alert, it's probably the heart of Canggu chaos because this is pretty much the main strip that has everything. If someone says they’re “in Canggu,” there’s a high chance they mean Batu Bolong. Here, you’ll find: Busy cafés, warungs, and restaurants on basically every corner Convenience stores every few steps (you’ll never be far from iced tea or instant noodles) Medical centres and pharmacies for all your Bali emergencies Shops selling everything from surfwear and jewellery to random little knick-knacks Beach bars, breweries, live music spots, and sunset crowds All kinds of massage places, from 150K local spots to fancy 1Mill spa experiences Scooters everywhere, all the time Digital nomads with laptops in cafes Stay here if you are: A solo traveller who wants everything within walking distance A couple or single traveller who enjoys being in the middle of the action A remote worker A café hopper or coffee lover Someone who likes having options for literally everything A first-timer in Bali who wants the full “Canggu experience” Billie's, one of my favourite souvenir shops in Canggu Berawa Crowd-o-metre: 8/10 Every part of Canggu is busy, but Berawa feels a little more like an area where people actually live, mainly because first-time Bali visitors tend to gravitate more towards Batu Bolong. It’s still lively, but slightly more residential. There are also lots of brunch spots, nice restaurants, and gyms. Here, you’ll find: Restaurants with playgrounds and bigger spaces that are more family-friendly Healthy cafés, smoothie bowls, salad spots, and every kind of wellness food Villas - from cosy tropical stays to massive designer villas Coffee shops that have been around long before Canggu became "Canggu" Mid-to-upscale restaurants with cuisines from all over the world Fitness centres, recovery centres, and dance studios Boutiques, beauty salons, and concept stores Stay here if you are: A couple or family Planning to explore other neighbourhoods, since it’s slightly closer to Seminyak A foodie who wants international dining options Into fitness, wellness, or remote-working culture Pererenan Crowd-o-metre: 7/10 Pererenan is slightly less chaotic because it’s not right in the centre of the Canggu madness. Rice fields still exist here - they haven’t all turned into villas, cafés, or gyms every other month. The vibe feels more residential and slower-paced compared to Berawa or Batu Bolong. Areas like Tumbak Bayuh and Tiying Tutul are great options if you want a quieter stay while still being close enough to all the Canggu comforts. Here, you’ll find: Small boutique hotels and villas in quieter streets A mix of fitness spots - from local gyms to fancy wellness clubs, padel courts, martial arts gyms, and recovery centres More relaxed cafés, warungs, and restaurants A calmer remote-working crowd compared to Batu Bolong Stay here if you are: Wanting to stay close to Canggu, but not directly inside the chaos Not super into partying every night Into surfing, fitness, or wellness Happy to trade convenience for a slightly calmer atmosphere Okay with driving further for malls or bigger shopping areas - with Bali traffic, it takes 1-2 hours to get to Kuta Cure, one of the newest seaside restaurant and bar in Canggu PLACES TO EAT IN CANGGU I’ve written a few articles about restaurants in Canggu — from cheap eats to smarter dining spots — which you can find here: My Little Canggu Restaurant List - Part 1 My Little Canggu Restaurant List - Part 2 Bali on a Budget: Cheap Eats in Canggu for Under 100K 5 Must-Visit Best Coffee Shops in Canggu, Umalas, and Nearby Areas BEACHES AND SUNSET SPOTS If it’s your first time in Bali, or in Canggu, you might notice that the beaches here aren’t the postcard-style turquoise beaches people usually imagine when they think of Bali, like the ones in Uluwatu. The sand is dark here, and these aren’t really the kind of beaches people come to quietly sunbathe all day. In true Canggu fashion, the beaches here are more about the social life. Surfing, sunset drinks with friends, beach bars, music, people-watching, and somehow running into the same people everywhere you go. Canggu sunsets are basically a daily ritual. Around 5pm, everyone somehow ends up facing the ocean - surfers still sitting in the waves, people on bean bags with coconuts or Bintangs, kids running around, dogs playing on the beach, and someone inevitably playing acoustic music nearby. A few local beaches worth checking out: Batu Bolong Beach - probably the most social and busiest beach in Canggu Berawa Beach - popular for beach clubs and sunset hangouts Echo Beach - known for surfing and sunset spots Pererenan Beach - less hectic, with a more local and residential feel compared to central Canggu. Seseh Beach - technically a little outside of Canggu, but worth mentioning if you want somewhere quieter There are often community activities on the beach, like this grappling session my gym Woven organised TRAFFIC REALITY CHECK This part belongs in every honest Canggu travel guide: the traffic. It can get really chaotic, especially during high season, rush hours, sunset time, and dinner hours when everyone seems to leave the house at once. A distance that looks “close” on Google Maps can sometimes test your patience, your scooter skills, and your decision to stay in Canggu. The usual traffic hotspots: The famous Canggu shortcut - the worst that could happen is a full-on gridlock with scooters squeezing through every possible gap Berawa junction - somehow busy at almost every hour of the day Batu Bolong main road before sunset and dinner time Any road near beach clubs during sunset hours Random tiny streets that suddenly become two-way traffic with 200 scooters and one confused car Best strategy: Stay close to the area you’ll spend most of your time in Don’t over-schedule your days Drive a scooter or use Gojek/Grab if you’re not comfortable riding Leave earlier than you think you need to Accept that “5 minutes away” in Canggu is sometimes emotionally optimistic So yeah, Canggu is a strange little bubble where wellness trends, digital nomads, smoothie bowls, rice fields, and traffic chaos somehow all coexist together. Some people absolutely love it, some people leave after two days overwhelmed, and somehow both reactions make complete sense. Hope you find this Canggu travel guide useful. Have a fun trip, stay safe, and always wear a helmet when you’re on a scooter - even if you’re only going 200 metres away. Thanks for reading!

16 Mar 2026 by Bella in Info

Creative Connections: 5 Bali-based Illustrators and Designers

(Main image by Hemo Art) “Bells, do you know any freelancers who can help me with a design?" Aside from “Where’s your favourite bakery to go for scones?” - this is probably one of the most common questions I get from friends (knowing I work in the creative field). Lucky for you, I do know some talented folks, but it really depends on what you’re after. A logo? Branding services? Graphic design? Product design? Illustrations? Let me help you out! Hemo ArtClara Claudia SafistaFinda AyuKumonjiaBunny Hemo Art The world of Hemo Art is imaginative, whimsical, and full of personality. Their work screams fun, colourful, and cute, with a signature style featuring quirky monster characters you can’t help but love. Illustration is their strong suit, making them a perfect fit if you’re looking to build a brand, create a children’s storybook, or design playful packaging. 👩🏻‍🎨 Specialty: Illustration and children story books🎨 Portfolio: www.behance.net/hemo-art📱 Instagram: @hemo.art Playful, imaginative, and cheerful, Hemo Art is perfect for kids projects Clara Claudia Safista Clara is a multi-talented artist with a diverse skill set. She helps brands grow through brand identity development, logo creation, digital and printed collaterals, vector work and illustrations, as well as technical packs for the fashion industry. Bonus point: She’s also an absolute sweetheart, making every collaboration feel easy and enjoyable. 👩🏻‍🎨 Specialty: Illustration and graphic design🎨 Portfolio: https://claraclaudiakeke.myportfolio.com/📱 Instagram: @claraclaudia.14 If you're starting a business, Clara can translate your vision into a brand kit You may also like this article: The Vibrant Journey of Xoxo Bali - 2024 local shop guide Finda Ayu If you don’t know already, Finda Ayu is the creative mind behind Bali’s vibrant merchandise brand, Xoxo Bali. If you head over to their page, you’ll quickly get a sense of her illustration style and visual identity. While her main work lies in product design, she’s also highly versatile and can adapt to whatever you need on the graphic design side - from social media content and promotional materials to branding assets, packaging, and more. 👩🏻‍🎨 Specialty: Illustration, product design, and graphic design🎨 Portfolio: https://www.behance.net/findaayu📱 Instagram: @xoxobali Finda has collaborated with various big brands like Disney, Surfer Girl, and Bali Soap Kumonjia Their main work is illustration, known for a soft watercolour style, but they can actually adapt to all kinds of visual directions- from cute and playful to clean and corporate. They also handle brand kits if you’re starting a business, photography, motion graphics, promotional materials, menu design, product design, and more. Basically, whatever style or creative support you need, Kumonjia delivers. 👩🏻‍🎨 Specialty: Illustration and graphic design🎨 Portfolio: https://kumonjia.myportfolio.com/illustration📱 Instagram: @kumonjia From passion projects to corporate briefs, Kumonjia can adapt effortlessly Bunny Bunny works on her personal project Bunny Bone - a collection of reflections about herself, women, and Indonesia’s culture and people, which she deeply loves. The works are mostly acrylic paintings for now. More recently, she’s also been developing Bunny Jitsu, a jiu jitsu-inspired art project featuring digital art, oil pastel drawings, and merchandise.So if you’re looking for acrylic projects or jiu jitsu-inspired commission work, from merchandise to murals, she’s your girl. Ps. She is also the founder of Rumah Rabbit Bali, an art space dedicated to creativity and playful learning. 👩🏻‍🎨 Specialty: acrylic painting, oil pastel drawing, digital art🎨 Portfolio: Check out her works on Instagram📱 Instagram: @bunnybone, @bunnyjitsu, @rumahrabbitbali Some of Bunny’s recent work includes a mural at a new jiu jitsu gym in Jakarta You may also like this article: Things to do in Bali: Fun Art Classes at Rumah Rabbit And there you have it - talented creatives from Bali who are definitely worth keeping on your radar. Whether you’re building a brand, working on a passion project, or simply need a fresh visual touch, these lovely humans might just be the collaborators you’re looking for. If their work speaks to you, don’t hesitate to reach out and say hello. Who knows, it might just be the beginning of a beautiful creative partnership. Hope you find this useful, and thank you for reading! 😊

12 Apr 2026 by Bella in Info

5 Co-working Spaces in Jogja to Get Things Done

I was in Jogja visiting my parents, and while their house is nice (and rent-free, with three free meals a day, hehe), I still prefer working in a proper work setup; less distractions, more focus, proper chair for your back. So I ended up trying a few spots around the city which I was surprised are very affordable, and I put together this list, so you don’t have to go through the hassle of checking and contacting them one by one. Ps. A little bonus fun fact in case you didn't know, Jogja has a free public wi-fi network called "Jogja Istimewa" that you can connect to around the city, super handy if you ever need a quick connection on the go. Based on my experience, the connection is quite decent, though at my parents’ house it tends to be faster at night. Pps. You’re welcome 😉 KLA Co-working SpaceCreative HubGenius IdeaCrônica Creative Working SpaceAntologi Collaborative Space You may also like this article: Lokananta - Why This Musical Landmark is a Must-Visit in Solo KLA Co-working Space Don’t panic when you walk in and it looks like a computer shop - because it is, lol. The coworking space is on the second floor. You just need to order coffee or snacks from their little stall to use the space. It’s nice and bright, with plenty of tables and easily accessible plugs. There are also booths with more comfortable chairs, shared tables, as well as private meeting rooms you can book in advance. The internet is good enough, and when I was there, most people were university students studying or working on assignments, so it was chill and quiet. Image credit: KLA Google page 💰 Price: From IDR 20K (for coffee) ⏰ Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday, 9am-8.30pm 📍 Address: Jl. Prof. Dr. Ir. Herman Johannes Jl. Sagan No.73, Samirono,Caturtunggal, Yogyakarta 55223 Creative Hub They have a few branches across Jogja, but I’ve only been to the one in Gejayan. I needed to work on a Sunday and it was the only location open (remote work comes with flexibility, but also means work can show up anytime lol). Since it was Sunday, it was just me and one other person in the whole coworking space. There’s a café where you can order drinks and snacks, and the overall ambience was good. Image credit: Creative Hub Google page 💰 Price: 20K (half day day), 40K (full day) ⏰ Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday, 8am-9pm 📍 Address: The Jayan Building, 1st Floor The Jayan Building, Jl. Affandi No.4 Lt. 1, Gejayan, Condongcatur, Yogyakarta 55281 (Check their website or Instagram for other locations and opening hours) You may also like this article: Goolali Gelato Bar & Pâtisserie - Semarang’s Sweetest Escape Genius Idea I booked a private room at Genius Idea once because I had a few online meetings that day. It’s only IDR 150K for a full day for a small room that fits up to 5 people. You can also book it for half a day for 75K, but I figured I’d just have the whole space to myself to finish my deadlines. They have quite a few rooms, a pantry on the first floor, plus free coffee and tea. It’s more of a focused office space, so there’s no café inside, but you can order food online. There’s also an outdoor area and some sofas in the hallway where you can eat or take a break. Image credit: Genius Idea Google page 💰 Price: 75K/ day (plus tax) ⏰ Opening Hours: Monday to Friday, 8am-6pm 📍 Address: Jl. Magelang No.32-34, Cokrodiningratan, Jetis, Yogyakarta 55233 Crônica Creative Working Space This co-working space is perfect for those days when work is a bit lighter. The setup is more relaxed, maybe good for a research day or wrapping up the last few emails on a Friday, since the tables and chairs aren’t very office-like. The vibe is also more chill café than quiet workspace. If you need privacy for important calls, they have a phone booth available upstairs for IDR 50K for 5 hours, but you need to book in advance. Other than that, the space is free to use as long as you order coffee or food from the café. The only downside is that not every table has access to a plug, so you will need to take turns with people nearby. Image credit: Crônica Google page 💰 Price: From 20K (for coffee) ⏰ Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday, 7am-10pm 📍 Address: Jl. A.M. Sangaji No.62 Lt. 02, Cokrodiningratan, Jetis, Yogyakarta 55233 Antologi Collaborative Space It’s under the same management as Crônica, and the staff recommended this space to me. I haven’t had the chance to visit yet, but thought I’d add it to the list so you’ve got more options. Aside from the co-working space, there’s also a café, an event space, and even a garden area. Membership is pretty affordable too, starting from just 45K a day. Image credit: Antologi Google page 💰 Price: IDR 45K (daily), 175K (weekly), 599K (monthly) ⏰ Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday, 7am-10pm 📍 Address: Tawangsari CT II Gg. Gayamsari II No.9C, Karang Wuni, Caturtunggal, Kec. Depok, Kabupaten Sleman, Yogyakarta 55281 Whether you’re in Jogja for a quick visit or staying a little longer, there are plenty of spots to get work done. Each place has its own vibe; some more focused, some more laid-back, so it really depends on what kind of workday you’re after. Also, don’t be alarmed when locals say “it’s so far from here”, because most of the time…it really isn’t, hehe. Especially if you’re from Jakarta or other big cities, a 10 to 30-minute commute is basically nothing, right? hehe. Anyway, enjoy your work-holiday in Jogja, and don’t forget to explore and eat lots of delicious food after work!