Love knows no boundaries – unfortunately, bureaucracy does. Those who bicultural wedding such as a German-Ukrainian, German-Israeli, German-English or other intercultural wedding plan, quickly realizes that the path to the altar in Germany is not paved with roses, but rather with endless stacks of paperwork. What begins as a romantic journey ends for many binational couples in the waiting rooms of German registry offices, followed by months of frustration.
Here at Reinweiss Hochzeiten, we believe that the anticipation leading up to your big day should be untainted. That’s why we want to dispel a widespread myth: You don’t have to go through this bureaucratic marathon in Germany. There’s an alternative that’s not only straightforward and completely legally sound, but can also be transformed into an exclusive, premium experience. An official, internationally recognized civil wedding ceremony in Cyprus. This is a decisive advantage for international weddings. And the best part is: the local registrar will come to you—whether you’re on the beach, at a hotel, in a church, or on a boat—no matter where you’d like to get married.
Example: German-Ukrainian couples who want to get married in Germany
Why is the registration of a German-Ukrainian Marriage in Germany so complex? The problem lies at the core of German private international law. The civil status office generally requires foreign citizens to provide a so-called Certificate of no impediment to marriage. This document is intended to prove that there is no existing marriage or other impediment to marriage in the home country.
The problem: Ukraine does not issue a certificate of no impediment to marriage in the sense of German law.
To bridge this legal vacuum, the German state requires a highly complex substitute procedure:
- The notarized declaration: The Ukrainian partner must submit an affidavit regarding their current marital status. This was traditionally sworn before a Ukrainian notary, but today it can alternatively be issued digitally as an official certificate of no impediment via the Ukrainian state online portal „Diia“ must be applied for. Due to the current geopolitical situation, procurement and verification in the home country are nevertheless often associated with enormous hurdles. Ukrainian consulates in Germany are overwhelmed or do not offer this specific service abroad at all.
- The apostille requirement: Every Ukrainian document (whether birth certificate, certificate of no impediment, or any divorce decrees) must be provided in the original with an apostille by the responsible Ukrainian ministry.
- The ISO-certified translation: These apostilled documents must be translated in Germany by a court-sworn interpreter strictly according to the strict transliteration standard ISO 9 be translated into German. Even a single misspelled letter in the Cyrillic name will lead to rejection.
- The enforcement proceeding at the Higher Regional Court (OLG) Since there is no genuine certificate of no impediment to marriage, the registry office must forward the file to the competent Higher Regional Court. Only when the judge there grants the exemption from the requirement to provide the certificate of no impediment may the marriage take place. This procedure often takes three to six months and incurs additional fees. Until the German registrar gives the green light, it is not uncommon for six to twelve months to pass.
What services do we offer as wedding planners in Cyprus
On Cyprus, on the other hand, the legal situation is completely different, which is why the island is the perfect way out for German-Ukrainian weddings, for example. Cyprus is therefore an ideal destination for international weddings. As an EU member state, Cyprus issues official certificates. These are provided with an Apostille under the Hague Convention and are thus 100 percent legally recognized worldwide and in Germany. An invaluable advantage is that all documents and the ceremony itself are issued or conducted directly in English. For the registration, essentially valid passports, international birth certificates, and an extended certificate of residence of the German partner are required. For the Ukrainian partner, the statutory declaration („Affidavit“) made on-site in Cyprus is often sufficient. It is issued completely in English before a Cypriot registrar or court. Thanks to an express license, you can thus be legally married within a few days.
Our Wedding Packages
Here at Reinweiss Hochzeiten, we’ll organize the complete package for you in Cyprus so you don’t have to worry about a thing. Our exclusive service not only includes coordinating all documents and administrative procedures, but we’ll also make your wedding day an unforgettable experience. The marriage officiant will come to exactly wherever you wish—whether it’s right on a sandy beach, at a luxurious hotel, in a charming church, or on a yacht out on the open sea. We’re especially happy to handle all the coordination for international weddings.
Furthermore, we accompany you on site with our entire range of services. We organize a professional, exclusive photo session for you in the most beautiful and picturesque locations on the island. We take care of the elegant hair and makeup styling, the custom floral design, and the decoration of the wedding arch. The subsequent romantic dinner, the musical accompaniment, and the seamless transfer for you and your guests are also coordinated by us from A to Z. This way, the bureaucracy becomes a minor detail! You can enjoy your (intercultural) wedding carefree and to the fullest from the very first second.
