Normally the requirements for non-German citizens to be married in Germany are numerous and can be difficult to meet. The concept of the quick legal marriage as found in Las Vegas is not available in Germany. The best solution to avoiding problems is to have a professional wedding agency arrange the wedding, as they should be aware of all the German requirements. Here are some guidelines for you to follow:
Local Requirements: Check with the American and German embassies for local requirements.
Official Documents Needed in Germany: Have your passports with you at the ceremony. You will need a long form of your birth certificate - the one with your parent's names. Have in your possession divorce decrees, annulment decrees, or death certificates if any are pertinent.
Ledigkeitbescheinigung: This is a certificate that states there are no impediments to the marriage as both the bride and groom are single. (Ledigkeit = Single) (Bescheinigung = Certificate).
Earnings and Bank Statements: The fee for the marriage is commensurate to your financial status. Also, while not required, both the bride and groom may want to see each others documents before the ceremony!
Only Civil Weddings Are Legal: The couple must apply to one of four alien registry offices before a Standesamte can perform the ceremony. Religious ceremonies can only be performed after a civil ceremony. Unlike in the United States, you cannot simply get married in a church and be legally married. You must first get married at the registrar's office and then you can have your church wedding later. Don't be alarmed though - many of these offices are decorated nicely with flowers and warm atmospheres. Don't expect to find stained glass and religious themes as they try to keep things as neutral as possible.
Citizenship: I you are an American marrying a German citizen, you do not need to change your citizenship nor does a German need to change his or her citizenship when getting married in America. After getting married in Germany and you should decide to live in the United States, you will need to apply for an Immigrant Visa for the non-American spouse.
Other Recommendations: Remember that the ceremony will be in German so it may be handy to have a translator with you. Don't forget about all the wonderful castles there are in Germany. Many of them offer wedding ceremonies.
An Alternative: If the requirements for a wedding in Germany seem to be too much trouble, you can always choose to take a nice vacation in Germany instead.
Shopping In Berlin
Berlin has long come in from the cold to become a shopping centre for fashion, antiques, furniture and home accessories.
Each of Berlin's districts feature its own shopping zone. The famous Kurfurstendamm (Ku'damm) is home to the clothes shops, boutiques and department stores. All the grand names of fashion and perfume have their outlets here.
Friedrichstrasse is home to many of Berlins more elegant outlets. A large branch of the French Galleries Lafayette department store opened here recently. The Unter den Linden is close by which offers a number of boutiques, mainly located between Friedrichstrasse and the Brandenburg Gate.
For more offbeat wares, head for the second-hand stores and art boutiques around Hackescher Markt. Even more exotic is the Turkish ambiance of the Kreuzberg Türkenmarkt. Berlin also offers a bunch of flea and antique markets
Shopping In Munich
Shopping in Munich is not cheap but this is offset by the generally high quality. You'll discover world-famous brand names and designer goods sitting side-by-side with traditional Bavarian crafts
Munich has undergone something of a shopping renaissance in recent years. Such state of the art upscale malls as the Fünf Höfe have graced the local shopping scene. Then there are the old die hards such as Beck and delicatessen Dallmayr and Kafer.
The premier shopping artery of Munich is Kaufingerstrasse, a two kilometer pedestrian zone extending from the railway station to Marienplatz and north to Odeonsplatz. Here you'll find every major international chain store but the maze of streets running off Kaufingerstrasse offers a more intriguing selection of shops. For even more colour, explore the Greek and Turkish stores found on Goethestrasse and Schillerstrasse.
Maximilianstrasse is the center for international luxury items together with the creations of Rudolph Moshammer, a home-grown fashion designer. Residenzstrasse and Theatinerstrasse also boast fine arrays of stores.
For more offbeat items, head to Schwabing, north of the university. You can peruse Bavarian antiques in the small shops clustered around the Viktualienmarkt and at Türkenstrasse, Theresienstrasse, and Barerstrasse.
Then the Sunday flea market at Kunstpark Ost is a great place for used bargains.
Most stores in Munich open from 08:00 – 18:30 from Monday to Friday and from 07:00 to 14:00 on Saturdays.
Both Evelyn Whitaker & Alistair White are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.