Marital Unions in Germany: An Overview
In Germany, weddings are a blend of time-honoured traditions and personalised touches, creating a unique celebration for each couple.
According to recent data, around 407,000 couples tied the knot in Germany in 2017. The majority of these weddings take place between May and September, making the most of the warmer months.
The average age of women at marriage in Germany stands at 31.5 years, while men typically marry at 34. Compared to couples two and a half decades ago, today's brides and grooms are about five years older.
Many German couples choose wedding dates with special numbers, such as 8.8.2018 and 9.9.2019. The majority of weddings in Germany are religious, with approximately every fifth couple opting for a religious ceremony. In 2016, 88,000 couples chose to have their wedding in a church.
Traditional German wedding rituals include the Polterabend, where guests and the couple smash porcelain to bring good luck. Another tradition is the formation of a guard of honor at the church or registry office, where guests create an arch with joined hands for the couple to pass through, symbolising facing future challenges together.
A unique German practice is the log cutting ceremony held after the wedding, where the couple saws through a log together as a metaphor for teamwork in marriage. Another tradition that is still observed in some weddings is the veil dance at midnight, where unmarried women try to tear pieces of the bride’s veil, with the largest piece going to the next to marry.
In terms of wedding rings, in Germany, the wedding ring is traditionally worn on the right hand's ring finger, differing from many countries where it is worn on the left. Before marriage, the engagement ring is worn on the left hand but is moved to the right hand after the wedding, often worn alongside the wedding band. The design of wedding rings tends toward simple gold bands symbolising honor and trust.
Younger couples may choose to personalise their wedding day, with options ranging from a champagne reception outdoors and a wedding table in the green for warm, sunny months, to more unusual weddings such as skydiving or underwater weddings. Some older practices, like the veil dance or bride kidnapping, have become less popular with younger couples.
Regardless of the specific details, German weddings are a celebration of love, unity, and the beginning of a new journey together.
Home-and-garden magazines may feature ideas for unique outdoor champagne receptions, catering to the growing trend among younger couples who personalize their wedding day. Lifestyle blogs often showcase creative wedding decor inspiration, such as transforming a wedding table into a lush green oasis for warm, sunny months.
