Love knows no borders – unfortunately, bureaucracy does. Anyone planning a bicultural wedding, such as a German-Ukrainian, German-Israeli, German-English or other intercultural wedding, quickly realizes that the path to the altar in Germany does not lead through roses, but through endless stacks of paper. What begins as a romantic journey ends for many binational couples in the waiting rooms of German registry offices, followed by months of frustration.
At Reinweiss Hochzeiten, we believe that the anticipation of your big day should be sacrosanct. That’s why we want to dispel a common myth: you don’t have to go through this bureaucratic marathon in Germany. There is an alternative that is not only uncomplicated and absolutely legally secure, but can also be perfectly transformed into an exclusive premium experience. The official internationally recognized civil wedding ceremony in Cyprus. This is a decisive advantage for international weddings. And the best thing about it: the local registrar comes to the beach, the hotel, the church or the boat – wherever you want to get married.
Example: German-Ukrainian couples who wish to marry in Germany
Why is the registration of a German-Ukrainian marriage in Germany so complex? The problem lies at the heart of German private international law. The registry office generally requires foreign nationals 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 have a certificate of no impediment to marriage as defined by German law.
In order to bridge this legal vacuum, the German state requires a highly complex replacement procedure:
- The notarized declaration: The Ukrainian partner must submit a sworn declaration of current marital status. This was traditionally made in front of a Ukrainian notary, but can now also be applied for digitally as an official certificate of unmarried status via the Ukrainian state online portal “Diia“. However, due to the current geopolitical situation, obtaining and verifying this in the home country is often associated with enormous hurdles. Ukrainian consulates in Germany are overcrowded or do not even offer this specific service abroad.
- The apostille requirement: Every Ukrainian document (whether birth certificate, declaration of unmarried status or any divorce decrees) must have an original apostille issued by the competent Ukrainian ministry.
- The ISO-certified translation: In Germany, these apostilled documents must be translated into German by a court-certified interpreter exactly according to the strict transliteration standard ISO 9. Even one misspelled letter in the Cyrillic name leads to rejection.
- The exemption procedure at the Higher Regional Court (OL G) As 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 exemption from the requirement to produce a certificate of no impediment to marriage can the marriage take place. This procedure often takes three to three months and costs additional fees. It is not uncommon for six to twelve months to pass before the German registrar gives the green light.
What services do we offer as wedding planners in Cyprus
In Cyprus, on the other hand, the legal situation is completely different, which is why the island is the perfect choice 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 a Hague Apostille and are therefore 100% legally recognized worldwide and in Germany. An invaluable advantage is that all documents and the ceremony itself are issued and conducted directly in English. Valid passports, international birth certificates and an extended registration certificate of the German partner are essentially required for the registration. For the Ukrainian partner, the affidavit made locally in Cyprus is often sufficient. It is issued before a Cypriot registrar or court entirely in English. Thanks to an express license, you can be legally married within a few days.
Our wedding packages
At Reinweiss Hochzeiten, we organize the complete package for you in Cyprus so that you don’t have to worry about a thing. Our exclusive service not only includes the coordination of all documents and official procedures, we also make your wedding day an unforgettable experience. The registrar comes flexibly to exactly where you wish. Whether directly on the sandy beach, in a luxurious hotel, in a charming church or on a yacht on the open sea. For international weddings in particular, we are happy to take care of all the coordination.
In addition, we accompany you with our entire range of services on location. We organize a professional, exclusive photo session for you at the most beautiful and picturesque locations on the island. We take care of the elegant hair and make-up styling, the tailor-made floral design and the decoration of the wedding structure. We will also coordinate the subsequent romantic dinner, the musical accompaniment and the smooth transfer for you and your guests from A to Z. So the bureaucracy becomes a sideshow! You can enjoy your (intercultural) wedding to the full from the very first second.
