Civil Ceremony: Procedure, To-Dos & Costs

If you want to be legally married in Germany, a civil wedding ceremony is a must. Only this type of ceremony is legally valid—church weddings and alternative ceremonies are purely symbolic. We’ll show you how a civil marriage works in Bavaria, how much it costs, what you should keep in mind, and what formalities you need to take care of as part of your wedding preparations. And of course, we’ll also give you tips on how to make your civil wedding stylish and unforgettable.

At which civil registry office can we get married?
Do we need witnesses?
What is the “check of legal capacity to marry”?
How and when do you schedule a wedding date at the civil registry office?
How much does a civil wedding cost?
How does a civil wedding ceremony work?
How can you make your civil wedding beautiful?
Tasks for your civil wedding ceremony
The supporting program for your civil wedding ceremony

1. Location of the civil wedding ceremony

Before you get started, the question arises: Where do you want to get married? You must file your marriage application with the civil registry office in your place of residence—or, if you have two places of residence, with either one. The office will verify that all legal requirements have been met. The wedding ceremony itself can then take place at any civil registry office in Germany, regardless of where you live. After registering, you have six months to get married—otherwise, you’ll have to register again. Many civil registry offices also offer wedding ceremonies outside their offices—for example, in castles, museums, or other special locations. The venue must be appropriate for the significance of the marriage. The relevant civil registry office will decide whether this is the case.

Tip: Start looking into your dream venue early. You'll be surprised at what's possible. Some of our wedding venues are officially approved for civil ceremonies—feel free to take a look around!

2. Civil wedding ceremony with witnesses

The second decision you should make well before the wedding ceremony is: “Do we want to get married with witnesses?”—these days, it’s possible to have a civil wedding in Germany without any witnesses at all. This can be quite practical, especially for elopements, but aside from that, we’d advise you to have witnesses at your wedding. For one thing, it’s a lovely tradition and an even lovelier sign of friendship and trust. For another, witnesses can be a huge help with wedding preparations.

You can read what we mean here: What Do Wedding Attendants Do? – Feel free to share the link with your wedding attendants, too.

3. Verification of Your Eligibility for Marriage

A review of eligibility to marry is an integral part of the application process for a civil marriage in Germany. This process verifies whether all legal requirements for marriage have been met—such as being of legal age, not being currently married, not being too closely related, and not being under duress. The application for marriage must be submitted in person at the registry office—usually at the place of residence of one of the partners. Once the registry office has confirmed eligibility to marry, the wedding ceremony may take place within six months at any registry office in Germany.

You will need the following documents to determine your eligibility to marry:

• Valid ID card or passport
• Extended Certificate of Residence with Information on Marital Status and Nationality
• Certified copy from the birth registry

Depending on your personal circumstances, additional documents may be required—for example, if you have been married before or are a foreign national. The relevant civil registry office will provide you with detailed information on what you need to submit in your specific case.

4. Set a date for the civil wedding ceremony

In Germany, you can register your civil wedding ceremony no earlier than six months before your desired wedding date. By that time, many couples have already finalized their wedding venue and, often, their church ceremony as well—which is why there’s such high demand for popular dates in the spring and summer. Especially in larger cities, it can quickly become difficult to secure a date. In more rural areas, your chances of getting your preferred date are often slightly better—but don’t stress if it doesn’t work out right away. It’s perfectly common to hold the civil wedding ceremony a few days or weeks before the big celebration—often with a small group of guests and in a very intimate setting. You’ll find tips on how to make it creative in Section 7: Making Your Civil Wedding Ceremony Creative.

5. How much does a civil wedding cost?

The cost of a civil wedding in Germany generally ranges from 55 to about 200 euros—depending on whether both partners are German citizens or if additional factors come into play, such as foreign citizenship or special requests (e.g., a civil wedding outside of regular office hours).

• Marriage registration: approx. 40–60 euros
• Determination of eligibility to marry: Usually included in the registration fee
• Additional fees for foreign documents or citizenship: up to 80–100 euros
• Wedding ceremonies held during business hours in the wedding chapel: often free of charge or for a nominal fee of 5–10 euros
• Wedding ceremonies outside of regular office hours (e.g., on Saturdays): an additional 50–100 euros
• Wedding ceremonies at special locations or off-site venues (e.g., a castle): 50–300 euros, depending on the municipality or city
• Marriage certificate (first copy): approx. 10–15 euros; each additional copy: 5–10 euros

6. The Civil Wedding Ceremony Procedure

The procedure for a civil wedding is quite straightforward and takes between 30 and 45 minutes.

1. You'll meet at the registry office. Music is often played as you walk into the wedding hall. However, you'll usually have to arrange this yourself (Bluetooth speaker, playlist, etc.).
2. During the official part of the ceremony, the registrar asks whether the couple intends to marry, for example: “Do you wish to marry each other?” This is the central, legally required part of the wedding ceremony under Section 1310 of the German Civil Code (BGB).
3. If desired, the wedding vows and the exchange of rings follow. And, of course, a kiss is a must.
4. After that, the signatures are submitted to the marriage registry. The bride and groom always sign, of course—and, if there are any, the witnesses may also sign.
   

7. Making Your Civil Wedding Ceremony Creative

Even if the civil ceremony is just the first step for you, it’s still the first time you’ll officially say “I do” to each other. So, pay a little more attention to this part than usual, and it will become a unique moment that you’ll remember just as much as the grand church or non-religious ceremony:

• Ask if it's possible to have a personal conversation with the marriage officer beforehand. That will make the wedding speech more personal.
• A personalized welcome song or a singer and guitarist at the reception will add a special touch to the ceremony!
• A ring pillow, a wedding candle, and some floral arrangements on the registrar’s desk—and it already looks festive.
• There is also room for a wedding arch and a wedding backdrop in front of the registry office.

Tip: Set aside time for surprises: Clubs, friends, and coworkers may have prepared something for the reception. So be sure to set aside some extra time during the reception.

8. Your To-Do List for the Civil Wedding Ceremony

• Choose the registry office or the location for your wedding ceremony.
• Ask your witnesses.
• Schedule an appointment (six months in advance).
• Make sure you obtain proof of your eligibility to marry.
• Discuss the procedure with the registrar.
• Plan and organize the supporting program.

Tip: You might want to consider drawing up a prenuptial agreement before your wedding. We promise you, it’s much more romantic than it sounds—as you can read here: Prenuptial Agreement: Yes or No? Information on Separation of Property & More

9. Planning Your Civil Wedding

Whether you decide to head to the civil registry office on short notice, just the two of you, or whether there are save-the-date cards, food trucks, and a huge party—it’s entirely up to you. Don’t let anyone tell you what a civil wedding ceremony has to look like. Of course, there are a few things you should keep in mind—like documents, choosing a surname, or booking a date well in advance. But in every other respect, you’re free to decide exactly how you want it to be!