Many bridal couples in Germany celebrate their marriage with a glamorous wedding party. But first the marriage must take place at a civil registration office (German: Standesamt). This is a formal administrative act, with only the witnesses to the marriage and a small circle of friends and relatives allowed to partake. But this does not mean that it has to be boring: after all, Hamburg offers a host of romantic locations to make even civil bureaucracy worth remembering.
Marriage on an Alster Steamer
In Hamburg, you are never far from the water. So, what could be better than holding your civil marriage ceremony on an Alster ferry boat? Whether you prefer the scenic views of the outer Alster lake or the dreamy, romantic canals, Hamburg’s full beauty will be on display at a marriage ceremony on an Altser steamer.
Civil marriage ceremonies on Alster boats are officiated by the civil registration offices of the Eimsbüttel and Hamburg-Nord districts. The civil registrars will board the boat at Krugkoppelbrücke stop. For appointments please call:
+49 40 42801-3319 (Eimsbüttel district)
+49 40 42804-2181 / +49 40 42804-5308 / +49 40 42804-5310 (Hamburg-Nord district)
Fees: €300 (registration only; boat chartering not included)
Alster Boat Chartering
Alster Touristik GmbH (ATG)
Anleger Jungfernstieg
20354 Hamburg
Tel: +49 40 357424-0
Please visit the Alstertouristik website for more information, such as fares, routes, food and drink, decoration, etc.
Register Your Marriage in a Real Castle
Sitting on the picturesque banks of the Bille river, this romantic moated castle has got everything you need for a fairy tale wedding. Being the only fully preserved castle structure in Hamburg, Bergedorf Castle will make your marriage ceremony an unparalleled experience.
Fees: €300 (registration and location)
Address
Bergedorfer Schloßstr. 4
21029 Hamburg
Public transport: S 21 to Bergedorf station
Please visit the website of the registration office Hamburg-Bergedorf (German only) for more information and appointments.
Civil Marriage at Harburg Town Hall
The wedding venue at Hamburg-Harburg town hall is bedecked with exquisite Italian-style furniture, beautiful flower bouquets, antique paintings and other tasteful decorative elements. The registration office of the Hamburg-Harburg district meets the rising standards of civil marriage procedures and offers the perfect backdrop for entering your marriage in style.
Fees: €300 (registration and location)
Address
Harburger Rathausplatz 1
21073 Hamburg
Public transport: S3/S31 to Harburg Rathaus
Please visit the website of the registration office Hamburg-Harburg (German only) for more information and appointments.
Marriage in a Historical Village
The Museumsdorf Volksdorf is an open-air museum for rural history inside Hamburg’s city limits. The historical northern German farmhouse Wagnerhof also provides room for romantic civil marriage ceremonies, wedding celebrations and other festivities. Here, bridal couples can register their marriage and celebrate their wedding with up to 40 guests (including the registrar). The quaint greenery features half-timbered cottages with thatched roofs, which form the ideal framework for a picture-perfect wedding.
Fees: €300 (registration only; location may charge additional fees)
Address
Im Alten Dorfe 46-48
22359 Hamburg
Public transport: U1 to Volksdorf
Please visit the Museumsdorf website (German only) for more information and appointments.
Register Your Marriage in a Medieval Fortress
High above the banks of the Alster river sits the picturesque medieval-style Henneberg Castle, also called Alsterschlösschen (lit.: ‘Little Alster Castle’). Originally a replica of the real Henneberg Castle in Thuringia, it is now a landmarked building and a popular wedding location. Marriages can be registered in the small chapel at the foot of the castle hill, which offers room for up to 17 attendees, including the registrar.
Fees: €360 (registration and location)
Address
Marienhof 8
22399 Hamburg
Public transport: S1 to Poppenbüttel
Please visit www.burg-henneberg.de (German only) for more information and the Wandsbek district registry office website for appointments.
