How to elope to Germany - The complete Guide for 2024
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1. What is an Elopement?
Eloping means taking the focus away from traditions you don’t really see yourself in, entertaining way too many guests and having to deal with the color of your table cloths and putting it back on what really matters: The two of you and your love for each other. No more pressure, anxiety or obligation - just two people celebrating their love for each other while also being at incredible places in Germany. But hey, there is more good stuff about elopements. In fact there is a LOT more:
Your day will be 100% yours and no one can or should change that.
No stressful and big wedding planning. Only a few things need to be planned in advance, but let's be honest: you will love planning these things!
A honeymoon right after the wedding without travelling - why not! You love the mountains more than anything else and can't imagine anything better than travelling through the German Alps straight after your wedding? We won’t stop you!
By having an elopement, you are already doing the environment a big favour. Big weddings can often be full of things that create a lot of waste afterwards. If that's not for you, then an elopement, where the experiences mean so much more than material things ever could, is the perfect fit for you. (As we really share a big passion and love for nature and the mountains, this point is particularly important to us. That's why we always make sure to leave nothing behind during our outdoor weddings and work according to the "Leave no trace" principles. If you would like to know more about LNT, feel free to check it out here).
You don't have to rob a bank to finance your dream. Sure, you'll still have some expenses, but unlike a bigger wedding, they'll be much smaller. To put this into perspective: For a wedding with about 60 guests you will spend approximately between 25,000 and 30,000$. Just imagine how many wonderful adventures you could share with this amount!
If you want to find out more about why you should definitely consider having an elopement instead of a traditional wedding – we have a whole blogpost dedicated to what an elopement actually is!
2. Can we get married in Germany?
Well, this one is bit tricky to answer, as Germany has some more rules on getting legally married compared to let’s say the US. In the US it is way easier to get legally married than it is here in Germany. Only a registrar (Standesbeamter) can get you legally married in Germany. This also needs to happen in a dedicated place (usually the town hall) and in most places, cannot happen outside.
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If none of you are German residents, there is also quite some paperwork which needs to be done in advance.
Typically, both of you must furnish the following documents to the registrar:
A certified true copy of an identification document containing a photograph (e.g., passport, identity card).
Original birth certificate (issued within the last 6 months) or a certified true copy showing parents' names. Translation may be necessary. A baptismal certificate is not acceptable. If the applicant has been naturalized, a Certificate of Naturalization must also be provided.
If divorced, a certified copy of the divorce decree along with a translation into German by a certified translator. If the previous marriage was dissolved by a court outside Germany, the divorce decree might need approval from the appropriate German federal-state administration of justice department.
Non-German residents planning to marry in Germany need a "Certificate of no impediment to marriage" (Ehefähigkeitszeugnis) stating that they are legally eligible to marry.
Sometimes, the civil registrar’s office also requires an affidavit ("eidesstattliche Versicherung") affirming that the applicant is unmarried.
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As you can see, getting legally married in Germany takes up a lot of work in advance and that’s why most of our international couples (if not all) opt out of this and choose to get the paperwork done at home. This way you have more freedom and flexibility in where you want to have your ceremony and of course, when. The idea of a commitment ceremony is, that you are not getting legally married during this ceremony (this has already been done back at home) but you rather have a ceremony full of the things & rituals that truly mean something to you two as a couple. There are no papers that need to be signed and no rules on where the ceremony has to take place.
Your commitment ceremony can be wherever you want it to be – imagine a stunning alpine lake or the top of a mountain at sunrise 😍 Most couples use the commitment ceremony to exchange their personal vows, change their rings or even have someone else (like a wedding speaker) guide them through the ceremony. If you plan on bringing family or friends with you, this is also the perfect time to incorporate them into your elopement day.
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The good news is: as of October 2017 Germany allows same-sex marriage. That means all homosexuals can get legally married in Germany with exactly the same rights as heterosexuals. That is different to countries like Italy, where same-sex marriage is still not allowed and homosexuals are only allowed to have same-sex civil unions. Those unions give you almost the same rights as married people but with a few exceptions. For example: You are not allowed to adopt children in Italy.
3. Best places to elope in Germany
It is starting to feel real, isn’t it? Germany has so many stunning places to offer and it is hard to choose which ones of them are our favorites. We have all hiked more miles in the German Alps than we can count, and we’ve all grown up in this area and therefore have been living here for over 30 years. The thing that we are 100% sure about is – the German Alps offer everything you can find in Austria, Switzerland and the Dolomites and we are sure you will be in awe every second of your elopement.
To make it easier for you, we have put our heads together and came up with a list of four incredible regions in Germany that we think are perfect for your elopement in Germany.
3.1 Berchtesgaden Alps
In the south-east of Bavaria, right at the border to Austria you will find the town Berchtesgaden. The perfect place to start your elopement in the Berchtesgaden Alps. You have incredible alpine lakes, stunning mountain backdrops and so much more. The most famous places in this area are probably the “Königssee” and the “Watzmann”. The lake surrounded by all the mountains around looks almost fjord-like but there are also many hikes that you can take which provide a perfect view on this stunning lake without having to deal with all the crowds.
At the top of the mountain Jenner you will also find a registrar’s office (Standesamt) where you can get legally married with stunning views all around you. The perfect thing about this mountain is, that it also offers the possibility to take a gondola up to the top and then start exploring the breath-taking area around the summit.
This is why a lot of our couples fell in love with this area and wanted to have their elopement in the Berchtesgaden Alps
3.2 Garmisch-Partenkirchen
The area around Garmisch-Partenkirchen is probably most known for the highest mountain in Germany “Zugspitze” and the famous Lake that sits right underneath it “Eibsee” but there is so much more to discover within this area. Because of those two and how close it is to Munich, the town Garmisch-Partenkirch is usually pretty popular, and a lot of tourists like to travel there. But that doesn’t mean that you won’t find spectacular views with not a lot of tourists around – by no means!
There is also an extended system of cable cars that take up to several mountains with beautiful views of the Zugspitze and the surrounding mountains.
3.3 Allgäu Alps
Located at the south-west border of Germany and famously known for "Schloss Neuschwanstein" aka the Disney Castle. The Allgäu Alps can usually be considered as bit less touristy than the area around Garmisch-Partenkirchen. But it is also the furthest away from Munich. Besides the famous castle this area has a ton to offer for adventurous souls. With its beautiful alpine lakes & meadows and some of the most incredible hiking trails, this region has it all. And if you fancy a winter elopement, the Allgäu Alps have ski slopes everywhere and cosy hotels where you can relax afterwards.
3.4 The Bavarian Forest
Not exactly located in the German Alps but with incredible views, nonetheless. The Bavarian Forest is located in the north-east of Bavaria and is about a two-hour drive away from Munich. It is the largest cohesive forest in Central Europe and home to Germany’s only primeval forest. With its highest mountain “Großer Arber” it also has something to offer for hiking lovers.
Additionally, you will find one of the few places where you can get legally married outside in Germany in the Bavarian Forest. Honestly, if you love spectacular views of wide forest landscapes and are looking for an area that is a bit quieter than the Alps region, look no further!
There are definitely more than those 4 areas which are perfectly suited for your elopement in Germany and if you find it hard to choose between those 4 (which we totally understand by the way) we have few more tips that might help you in this blogpost:
4. Best season to elope to Germany
We get that question from couples quite often: “What is the best time of the year for our elopement?” Honestly 9 out of 10 times our answer is: “It depends”. Pretty boring, right? But it really does, it depends on a few factors that you need to consider before planning and especially choosing the season for your elopement.
No. 1: How accessible should your elopement location be? If you are planning your elopement in the Alps be aware that certain areas are only accessible during the warmer months/ in the summer. Especially a lot of the alpine huts are often closed during winter because it would be too dangerous to hike. If hiking is something that you definitely want to do or maybe you want to spend the night in a mountain hut, winter might not be the best season for you.
No. 2: Tourists! During the summer most locations attract more tourists than during off-season. Three things you can do to avoid this: Choose autumn instead of the summer, consider having a sunrise elopement to avoid the crowds or hire experts who could help you in finding a more “private” location.
No. 3: Activities! What activities would you like to incorporate into your elopement. If skiing is 100% your thing, well surprise surprise you should opt for a winter elopement. If swimming in a lake or doing an SUP tour is your thing, summer might be the better choice.
What is safe to say is – an elopement in Germany is possible during every season of the year. Here are some of the pros and cons of each season:
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During this time of the year the Alps slowly start to wake up from their winter sleep and at the end of spring the alpine meadows blooming with wildflowers. It is also less crowded than during peak season in the summer and there aren’t as many European countries that have holidays during spring. But what also has to be said is that not all hiking trails and huts are open during spring as, especially at higher altitudes, you will still find sound in certain areas of the Alps. That means, if doing a multi-day hiking adventure is your dream elopement, it is best to wait until the end of spring/ beginning of summer.
Spring is an amazing season to have elopements at alpine lakes, in the valleys or on hiking trails at lower altitudes.
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The season that most people think about when the word “wedding” pops into their head. And we totally get it! It’s the time of the year when days are the longest, when all huts and hiking trails are usually open and when the temperatures are warm enough for sunrise hikes and staying up at night for star gazing. But it is also the time of the year when most European countries have their summer holidays and when the Alps are in its peak season. That means, more tourists and harder to find spots that are secluded and a bit more private.
Because of the rising temperatures it is also not as unusual as it has been about 10 years ago that temperatures during the day rise up to almost 104°F. This means we strongly recommend opting for sunrise or sunset elopements.
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Our favorite season of the year. Why you ask? Because autumn (or fall, for all you US people out there) has the best of everything. If you choose to elope in early autumn, you will still find huts and hiking trails that are open. But the big plus compared to the summer months is, that there are no European countries that have their holiday season during that time of the year. This means less people and more spots that you might have all to yourselves. And we probably don’t have to tell you that the colurs in autumn are incredible. Of course, there are some downsides to eloping in autumn – the temperatures can get pretty chill during the morning and evening and the weather can be unpredictable (i.e. always have a rain jacket with you). But if you are flexible and don’t mind the rain, this is the perfect season for you.
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Who says you can’t have an elopement in winter? Yes, hiking up mountains is usually not possible but there are endless ways to have fun during winter. If skiing for example is something that you love doing and something you would like to incorporate into your elopement in Germany, winter is the perfect time for it! Some of the alpine lakes in the German Alps are frozen during the winter and offer spectacular views and create a magical feeling. Germany is also famous for its winter markets with lots of fairy lights and mulled wine. So get cozy and plan your winter elopement!
Still not sure where and when to elope to Germany? No worries, reach out to us and we can go over your vision and everything else together!
5. How to travel to Germany
If you are not from Central Europe, we highly recommend taking the plane to Germany. The best airport for your elopement in Germany (especially for your Alps Elopement) is going to be Munich. Munich is Germany’s third biggest city and it gives the perfect opportunity to explore the area around the Alps. If you plan on staying in the city for a few days, public transport is going to be much easier that getting from A to B by car.
Once you leave the city we recommend hiring a car, as public transport in rural areas is, how do we say it politely, non-existent. Having a car makes it so much easier to drive from one destination in the Alps to another. It also means you are much more flexible.
If you plan on having your elopement in the Berchtesgaden Alps, another airport that could be interesting for you (although we should mention it is technically not in Germany) is Salzburg. A beautiful city with lots of history and very close to the mountains.
6. Activities you can do on your Germany elopement
As we have established already, Germany has a lot to offer and eloping to Germany is definitely a great idea. The activities that you can do on your elopement in Germany are endless but here are a few of our favorites.
Going on a hike in one of the most beautiful mountain areas in the world – the Alps
Taking a helicopter flight to see everything from above
Want something a bit more laid back and relaxed for your elopement? Why not plan a wonderful picnic on an alpine meadow in Germany
Stargazing at night
Hitting the slopes on your elopement day
Taking a boat ride across one of the many stunning alpine lakes
Visiting a fairy-tale castle
If you are looking for more activity ideas you can have a look at our blog with many elopement stories from our couples.