Getting married abroad - everything you need to know
For most couples, a wedding is the most important and beautiful day of their lives. An exciting trip abroad can make this day even more special! A wedding abroad is not a new trend, many couples are drawn to foreign countries for various reasons to celebrate their wedding or get married there. In the following article, you will find out everything you need to know about getting married abroad so that you can enjoy a relaxed, stress-free wedding celebration.
Why a wedding abroad?
Getting married abroad is an interesting and important consideration for many. Attracted by beautiful sandy beaches, warm temperatures, special cultural and religious places or unique natural phenomena, lovers are drawn across national borders to tie the knot forever. Especially for couples from different cultures, a wedding abroad is an opportunity to make the most beautiful day of their lives even more personal. After all, what could be better than traveling to your or your partner's home country to say "I do"? What's more, you can round off your wedding by heading straight off on your honeymoon!
The most important facts at a glance
The two ways to get married abroad
There are two ways to get married abroad. We'll show you both with their advantages and disadvantages.
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Organization & planning: what you need to consider
What you need to plan before your trip and what happens once you're abroad.
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Popular wedding venues & their special features
Where lovers are drawn to and what makes the perfect wedding venue.
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Costs & budget: Is a wedding abroad more expensive?
What the costs of a wedding abroad are like and what you need to bear in mind.
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Opportunities to get married abroad
There are two options for getting married abroad:
The less bureaucratic option is to have a civil or church wedding in Germany so that all the formalities can be completed immediately. You can then celebrate your wedding with your loved ones abroad and have a free wedding ceremony.
The advantages of this are that you can complete all the important paperwork before your trip and no longer have to worry about it when you start your journey.
The disadvantages can be the work of the authorities
The second option is to have the wedding ceremony abroad. It is important that you inform yourself thoroughly beforehand and pack all the necessary documents in your suitcase. These documents are usually: passport, birth certificate, certificate of no impediment to marriage, registration certificate if applicable, divorce documents for divorced partners, death certificate for widowed partners and the marriage contract if applicable. Depending on the situation, you should also consider hiring an interpreter to assist you in dealing with the authorities and filling out documents. Once the marriage ceremony has taken place, the German authorities will usually notarize it upon your return to Germany. However, you will need to have the marriage certificate translated into German.
The advantages of getting married abroad are that you can have the full experience of a wedding in the country in question. In addition, there are rarely any problems when it comes to having the marriage recognized in Germany.
However, the process can be disadvantageous if neither of you is familiar with the wedding ceremony procedure in the country in question, which can lead to complications and confusion.
Did you know?
A marriage entered into abroad is legally recognized in Germany if it is valid there under local law .
Organization & planning: what you need to consider
Probably the most important thing is planning the entire celebration and, if necessary, the wedding ceremony. Not only do you have to find suitable service providers and a suitable location, but you also have to do all of this across national and language borders. You should plan enough time to make sure everything runs smoothly. Of course, it would be helpful if you already have contacts in the country who can support you. It is best to draw up a precise plan that you can use as a guide when organizing your trip. It is important to remember that you may not have unlimited luggage capacity on arrival and departure. And a wedding dress can easily take up an entire suitcase. Of course, you can also buy and arrange certain things in your destination country. Plan well in advance when you want to arrive so that you can complete all the final steps in peace. You also need to consider possible delays and flight cancellations.
Another important point is your guests. Think about how they will get to the wedding venue, where they can possibly stay overnight and how they will get home again.
Popular wedding venues & their special features
Popular wedding venues can be divided into more categories than just beach weddings. Of course, there are classic locations such as the Maldives or Seychelles with wide beaches and epic sunsets, which attract many couples not only for their honeymoon but also for the entire wedding celebration. But there are also culturally and religiously important countries to visit to get married and places like Las Vegas for couples who can't wait to get married and want to get married in a flash. Did you know that Las Vegas is not the only place that offers lightning weddings? You can also get married in Denmark, Jamaica and Gibraltar without a lot of red tape. However, witnesses are still required!
The requirements for getting married vary from country to country. In some countries, such as Spain and Holland, residence in the country is required in order to get married.
Costs & budget: Is a wedding abroad more expensive?
The costs of a wedding abroad vary greatly depending on the location, number of guests and desired setting. The main costs are usually travel and accommodation - not only for the bride and groom, but also for the guests. Added to this are location rental, catering, photographer, decoration and service providers such as hairdressers or make-up artists, who either have to travel with the couple or be booked locally. While weddings in Germany cost between 5,000 and 25,000 € depending on the size, a wedding abroad can be cheaper or more expensive - a small beach wedding in the Maldives can cost less than a large celebration in a German event location. Countries with little bureaucracy, such as Denmark or Las Vegas, are particularly inexpensive, while exclusive destinations such as Tuscany or the Caribbean require higher expenses.
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Conclusion
In order to have a stress-free wedding abroad as a bridal couple, there are a few things that should be considered so that you and your partner have a wonderful time together with family and friends or alone.
First of all, you and your partner need to decide how you want to get married. A civil ceremony in Germany and a celebration abroad? Or a wedding ceremony and celebration abroad? You should then focus on planning and organizing all the necessary service providers in good time. At the same time, you should make sure that all your guests know when and where the wedding is taking place and how they will get there and what their stay will be like. A week before arrival, go through everything again, pack your suitcases and prepare all the necessary documents.
Once you are back in Germany as a newly married couple and have decided to get married abroad, remember to complete all the necessary formalities. The marriage must be legally recognized so that it can be recorded in the marriage register and your spouse also has a valid marriage in Germany.
Most frequently asked questions
Yes - provided it complies with the legal requirements of the country in which you are getting married and you submit the marriage certificate with apostille to the German registry office. A so-called "destination wedding" is therefore not only romantic, but also officially possible.
This depends on the country - you usually need:PassportsBirth certificatesCertificates of no impediment to marriageGf. translations & apostillesTip: Check with the registry office and embassy in good time - countries such as Italy, Greece or Thailand in particular have their own requirements.
This varies greatly. Some couples spend less on a beach wedding in Bali or Portugal than on a large celebration in Germany. But: travel costs, accommodation for guests and, if necessary, a local wedding planner should be factored in.
In many countries, the official language of the ceremony is mandatory. However, you can usually also organize a free ceremony in German - for example with a German-speaking wedding speaker or a symbolic wedding ceremony.
Yes - and that's exactly what makes it exciting! In India, for example (and especially in cities like Mumbai), weddings are multi-day events with rituals, colors and lots of music. In countries like France or Spain, the party often goes on until the early hours of the morning - with midnight snacks and multiple outfits. Our tip: incorporate elements that you like - and make them part of your own story.
