🇩🇪 Wedding traditions of Germany
18 traditions from Germany, best known first, across 7 cities and towns.
In Germany, marriage is a civil contract registered by a state official, with religious services remaining optional. Since 2017, same-sex couples have had the right to marry under federal law. Regional traditions vary across states, reflecting the country's diverse cultural history.
German weddings blend legal formality with personal celebration. The law requires a civil ceremony at a registry office, while religious rites are separate. Couples often choose dates that suit their families and seasons. Regional customs differ widely across the states.
A typical wedding
The legal union begins with a civil ceremony conducted by a registrar. This step is mandatory for all couples, regardless of faith or background. Many couples hold a religious service afterward if they wish, but it carries no legal weight. The civil event usually takes place in a town hall or a designated room. Guests attend this formal part before moving to a reception. Food, drink, and dancing follow the registration. The day focuses on celebrating the new partnership with friends and family.
Law and registration
Marriage falls under the Civil Code as family law. Only a civil registrar can legally marry people. Same-sex marriage became legal on October 1, 2017. Foreigners may marry in Germany without being residents. There is no minimum age specified in the provided text, but general capacity applies. Interfaith marriages are permitted without restriction. The law treats all eligible couples equally once registered. No dowry or bride price is required by statute.
Wedding season
Couples often avoid holding ceremonies during quiet days prescribed by state law. These restrictions limit public dancing or loud music on certain religious holidays. Good Friday and All Saints' Day are common examples. Easter Sunday and Pentecost are also protected rest days. Many prefer late spring or summer for outdoor receptions. Winter weddings happen too, often indoors. The choice depends on local traditions and personal preference.
Gifts and money
Guests typically bring gifts for the couple. Envelopes with cash are common and practical. Families do not exchange large sums between each other. The cost of the wedding is usually shared by the couple or their parents. There is no strict rule on who pays for what. Gifts focus on helping the new household start. Registry offices often provide lists of desired items.
Communities
Regional differences shape many celebrations. Southern states like Bavaria keep strong folk traditions. Northern areas may have simpler, more secular events. International marriages make up a growing share of unions. Partners from EU and non-EU countries both marry frequently. Minority languages like Sorbian or Frisian appear in some local customs. Each community adapts the civil requirement to its own style.
The facts in this overview come from the Wikipedia article "Marriage in Germany", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence. EveryShaadi rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
A wedding in Germany, stage by stage
The customs written up so far, in the order a wedding unfolds.
🇦🇹 Vienna, Austria and 2 moreViennese waltzWiener Walzer
The fast rotary ballroom dance that originated in Austria and defines the traditional waltz.Performance · Reception, dance and gifts
🇩🇪 Hamburg, Germany and 3 moreWimpelווימפל
A linen sash made from a baby boy's circumcision cloth that binds the Torah scroll.Adornment · The weeks before
🇨🇺 Havana, Cuba and 5 moreConga line
A long processing line dance that links dancers in single file to a rhythmic drum beat.Performance · Reception, dance and gifts
🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 1 moreGimmal ring
A betrothal ring with separate hoops that join to form the wedding band.Adornment · Engagement and betrothal
🇦🇹 Austria and 4 moreDirndl
The bodice, skirt and apron dress worn by brides in the German-speaking Alps.Attire · The ceremony
🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 3 moreBedding ceremony
The public ritual of placing the newlyweds in their marital bed to witness and seal the marriage.Rite · The ceremony
🇬🇷 Greece and 5 moreWedding ring
A metal circle worn on the finger to show that a person is married.Attire · Engagement and betrothal
🇮🇱 Jerusalem, Israel and 5 moreInterfaith marriage in Judaismשִׁדּוּג חַלּוּץ (Shidug Chalutz) / אינטרפייט מריאז' (Interafeyt Mariyaz')
The union of a Jew and a non-Jew, viewed as void by traditional law but increasingly common in modern communities.Vow · Engagement and betrothal
🇫🇷 France and 5 moreProxy marriage
A union where one or both partners are absent and represented by another person.Vow · The ceremony
🇩🇪 GermanyGroßvatertanz
A traditional Saxon dance played at the end of wedding celebrations to mark the finale.Performance · Reception, dance and gifts
🇺🇸 United States and 5 moreSaber Arch
An arch of swords or sabers held over a couple as they exit their wedding ceremony.Rite · The ceremony
🇩🇪 Germany and 2 moreBridal ChorusTreulich geführt
The Wagner opera march played for the bride's entrance at Western weddings.Performance · Procession and arrival
🇩🇪 Germany and 4 moreDower
A share of the husband's property set aside to secure a woman's life if he dies first.Gift custom · Engagement and betrothal
🇩🇪 Germany and 5 morePolterabend
The evening before the wedding when guests break porcelain to bring luck and test the couple's teamwork.Blessing · The eve
🇩🇪 Hamburg, Germany and 1 morePosthumous marriage in Germany
A legal rite that joined a living woman to a deceased soldier for state benefits.Vow · After the wedding
🇩🇪 Berlin, GermanySame-sex marriage in GermanyEhe für alle
The legal recognition of same-sex marriage in Germany since 2017.Modern
🇩🇪 Hanover, Germany and 5 moreBridal crownBrautkrone
A headdress worn by brides in Central and Northern Europe to symbolize purity and status.Attire · The ceremony
🇺🇸 United States and 5 moreSealing (Mormonism)
A temple ritual that binds couples and families together for eternity.Rite · The ceremony
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Polterabend: 4028mdk09, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Same-sex marriage in Germany: This image is a work by Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons user C.Suthorn, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Bridal crown: Daderot, CC0, source
- Bedding ceremony: Isaac Cruikshank, Public domain, source
- Wimpel: Wikipedia Loves Art participant " The_Grotto ", CC BY-SA 2.5, source
- Conga line: U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Derek J. Hu, Public domain, source
- Gimmal ring: Geni, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Wedding ring: CLW at English Wikipedia, Public domain, source
- Viennese waltz: Sigismund von Dobschütz, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Dirndl: High Contrast, CC BY 3.0 de, source
- Interfaith marriage in Judaism: Rembrandt, Public domain, source
- Proxy marriage: Alejandro Cicarelli, Public domain, source
- Großvatertanz: traditional, Public domain, source
- Saber Arch: Rabe100, Public domain, source
- Dower: Pvasiliadis, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Bridal Chorus: Pierre Petit, Public domain, source
- Sealing (Mormonism): NewNameNoah, CC BY 4.0, source