5 Reasons to Get Married in Germany

Germany may not be as well-known for wedding destinations in Europe as countries like Italy, France, or the UK, but the quality Germany has to offer, makes it a hidden gem for international weddings and elopements.

Maris Events is based part-time in Germany (and part-time in Rhode Island, USA) so we know the ins and outs of maximizing on everything Germany has to offer.

1. Celebrate with no curfew

.Weddings in Germany usually start in the late morning and carry through until 5:00 or 6:00 am the next day! While you certainly don't have to plan on having your wedding run this long, if your crowd likes to party, or you're looking for a way to milk every single moment with your favorite people, a culture the embraces having no curfew, might be the way to go for planning your wedding.

2. Get married in a castle, a chalet, or a boathouse

Germany has so much old beauty to offer, as well as stunning natural environments. There are castles of all kinds: charming small villas, impressive medieval stone fortresses, and sweeping luxury palaces, home to former kings and emperors.

In the mountains and forests of southern Germany, you can find quaint and cozy chalets with traditional architecture from the region. In the northern, the Baltic Sea and the North Sea offer sweeping saltwater vistas.

Whether you go for a luxury hotel (yes, these are often in castles!), a private property rental, a city venue, or even just a nice local restaurant or museum, Germany has such a range of options to match your vibe and offer a backdrop for you and your guests to celebrate in a meaningful way. You can chat with us about your vision, and we'll help you find the perfect place!

3. Smash some dishes, saw through a log, or get kidnapped by the groomsmen

These are just a few of the quirky wedding traditions in Germany. The week before the wedding it's typical to have a "Polterabend." A huge, casual party that lasts all night. The couple smashes dishes (or other porcelain items—I've even heard of smashing an old toilet) to shoo away bad spirits. Then the couple is left to clean up the mess, as a symbol of working together in their future marriage when things get challenging.

Directly after the wedding ceremony, it's not uncommon to see German couples presented with a log and a saw. Sawing through the log together is symbolic of working together. The legend is, the better handle this task, the better you'll face challenges together in your marriage.

Kidnapping the bride during the reception and letting the groom find her is a tradition that's becoming less common, but one that can definitely help pass the time in an amusing way, if you're opting for the full 18-hour German wedding celebration.

4. Have a party, not a Pinterest shoot

In Germany, it's more common to focus more on throwing an amazing party for your family and friends, than there is on making your wedding look shiny and Pinterest-worthy. Not that you can't do both, if that's what you're dreaming of! But if you're more of a couple that just wants to have a good time, some good food, music, a nice backdrop and the opportunity to celebrate with your friends, you'll fit right in with a lot of German couples.

5. Save Some Money

In the same vein as the last point, wedding culture focuses more on creating a gathering, rather than feeding in to an overheated, commercialized wedding market. Therefore, you're less likely to experience really high wedding mark-ups (a.k.a. "wedding tax") on things like your venue and your catering. And prices for these things in Germany are on the whole less expensive than many places in North America.

So, what do you think?

Germany it is!

Great! Let's dive right in! Contact us, and tell us a bit about yourself and the event you'd like our help creating. We'll get to know each other, and create a package of services that exactly fits what you need. Together, we'll create an unforgettable and unique wedding or event in Germany.

I'd like to keep looking...

Also great! We are experts in working with our clients to create a wedding that is super personalized and meaningful. We want you to find the place, the venue, the team of vendors, that will bring to life a wedding (or other event) that is a true reflection of what matters to you.

whether in Europe (Germany, Italy, France), New England (Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire), or beyond!