Civil wedding: Special and romantic registry offices from Munich to Salzburg 

The 10 most unusual locations for your civil wedding ceremony  

Planning your civil wedding in 2019? Congratulations on this beautiful endeavour, it's sure to be a great year for you! Are you still in search of an extraordinary registry office? I have written down my personal "Top 10 registry offices" among all wedding offices in Bavaria and Austria.

I'm always happy to attend civil wedding ceremonies at these locations, and I know the people here. Processes, premises, environment and local customs. I am happy to recommend them to others because I know that they go down well with both the bride and groom and the wedding guests. After all, an uncomfortable office is simply not what couples today imagine as a place to say yes, especially if there is no longer a church wedding ceremony.

So here are my 10 favourite places to get married in a registry office. Have fun discovering them!

1st registry office Mandlstraße in Munich: The cosy one

Beautiful little building right next to the English Garden (great place for romantic photos afterwards!). The beautiful baroque façade with the tall columns at the entrance immediately catches the eye. Very popular registry office in Munich- It is best to enquire at least six months in advance. The date is decided by lottery. It is best to travel by public transport.

2nd registry office Roseninsel on Lake Starnberg: The magical

Even the journey here is an experience in itself: a ferryman ferries the wedding party across the lake towards the picture-postcard panorama to the jetty on the island on Lake Starnberg. In this A jewel with many roses The wedding ceremony takes place in a villa known as the Casino. Inside the historic building, the old wall paintings and the beautiful wood are astonishing.

3. Registry office Spiegelsaal in Garatshausen: The atmospheric

Garatshausen Castle on Lake Starnberg is home to the beautiful Hall of Mirrors, where wedding ceremonies are held on Fridays and Saturdays in summer. The castle is owned by Princess Gloria von Thurn und Taxis and has a Particularly atmospheric ambience. The Feldaffing municipal officials are extremely friendly and go to great lengths.

4. registry office Gasteiger am Ammersee: The artistic

Get married in the idyllic Künstlerhaus Gasteiger in the municipality of Utting am Ammersee: every room here is a picturesque little work of art. Faithfully restored to its original state, the Turn-of-the-century house with its magnificent park  a unique setting for your wedding. 21,000 square metre property directly on the Ammersee. Wedding only on Saturday, but also possible in winter.

5th Fuschl Castle on Lake Fuschl: The stately

Whether it's the Rosa Salon or the Diana Terrace outside: At Schloss Fuschl directly on Lake Fuschl in Salzburger Land, every couple will find the right place to say "I do". In the heart of the Salzkammergut is the legendary "Sissi Castle" simply predestined for a wedding. The mountains in view, the direct location on Lake Fuschl, the stately castle building - everything is just right here.

6th Leopoldskron Palace near Salzburg: The elegant

The rococo Lepoldskron Castle has a particularly fairytale-like and elegant appearance. Due to its location in the midst of Salzburg's nature and the protected atmosphere on the shore of the Leopoldskroner Weiher, you will immediately feel as if you have travelled back in time. Right by the lake in the open air, a summer wedding at this location is an unforgettable experience.

 7th Samerstall in Leogang: The original

Around an hour's drive south-west of Salzburg is a legendary location for civil weddings: In the historic Samerstall at the Kirchenwirt in Leogang looks back on over 700 years of history. The marvellous stone vault is a listed building and looks graceful and down-to-earth at the same time. Afterwards, you can celebrate at the Kirchenwirt.

8th Old Town Hall in Fürstenfeldbruck: The Festive

The old town hall of Fürstenfeldbruck is located directly on the Amper river. The historic building has a extraordinary aura, the wedding hall is large and stately. The flight of steps leading down from the registry office to the fountain in front of the small square is a popular motif for souvenir photos. Church-like building with turrets and murals.

9th Kurhaus in Bad Tölz: The stylish

It is one of the most enchanting buildings in the entire Oberland region - the Kurhaus Bad Tölz is a very stylish place to get married. Situated in the centre of the spacious spa gardens the magnificent building with the large parlourthe historic wedding hall. The fairytale castle façade and the fountain, which is illuminated in the evening, are popular backdrops for wedding photos.

10th Ismaning Palace near Munich: The Baroque

Only around 20 minutes north of Munich by car, in the middle of the countryside the pretty Ismaning Castle from the 16th century. Bridal couples say "I do" in the magnificent and large Red Hall. The lavish stucco ceilings, stylish baroque furnishings and Pompeian murals are particularly extravagant. 

Getting married as a German in Austria: Checklist of documents

In principle, it is perfectly feasible to get married in Austria as a German citizen. It is only important that you obtain certain documents in advance, which you will need specifically required for a civil wedding in Austria.

For German nationals, who enter into their first marriagethese are:

• valid identity card or passport
• Certificate of residence from the registration office (not older than four weeks)
• For domestic birth certificates: certified printout from the register of births or copy from the register of births (from the registry office of the place of birth)
• for foreign birth certificates: current birth certificate

For German nationals, who were already married or in a registered civil partnership are also included:

• Marriage certificate and final divorce decree and, in the event of death, the marriage certificate and death certificate of the former spouse. 
• Proof of the establishment and dissolution of the last civil partnership

Would you like to find a very special venue for your civil wedding? Perhaps you already have a particular registry office in mind and would like to know more about itHow is the venue suitable for your wedding party and where is a recommended location nearby where you can hold your wedding reception?

I would be happy to advise you as a wedding planner to your project and share my wealth of experience in registry offices with you. I look forward to your enquiry!

Photos from Barbara Gandenheimer, Julia Winkler, Marina Scholze, Birgit Hart, Tanja Kibogo