Marriage

Number of guests

At present, in addition to the registrar and the bride and groom, a further 30 people may be present as guests of the bride and groom during a wedding ceremony at the Historic Town Hall. This number already includes witnesses, photographers and children (including the couple’s own children).

Cancellation or postponement of the wedding

Should you wish to postpone or cancel your planned wedding, please inform us in writing by email.

Participation of non-German nationals

In civil status matters where the parties involved do not hold German nationality or where foreign civil status law also applies to the registration (e.g. due to foreign documents), please always enquire in person at the registry office in advance regarding the necessary documents and the relevant procedure.

Wedding appointments can also be booked by telephone on Mondays and Wednesdays between 09:00 and 12:00.

Wedding dates

Bookings for wedding dates in 2026 can be made from 1 October 2025. You can contact us by telephone on Mondays and Wednesdays between 09:00 and 12:00.

To save you from long waiting times on the phone, you can also email us your preferred date and a telephone number. We will get back to you straight away to discuss the details.

All documents required for the registration of a marriage must be complete and in original form.

• A valid identity document (identity card or passport)
• Extended registration certificate from the registration authority for both partners’ main residence (no more than 3 weeks old at the time of registration)
• Certified copies of the birth records, newly issued for both partners
• If the couple have children together from a previous relationship: the children’s birth certificates or certificates of parentage; acknowledgement of paternity, if the father is not yet listed on the certificate; declaration of custody (if applicable)
• If one or both partners have previously been married and the marriage was dissolved by divorce, the marriage certificate and a final divorce decree from the last marriage must also be submitted
• if one of the partners is widowed, the marriage certificate and the death certificate must be submitted
• If the main residence of both applicants is not in Jena, a certificate of residence for the secondary residence issued by the Jena Citizens’ Office must also be provided to establish the jurisdiction of the Jena Registry Office
• Documentary evidence if a name change has taken place

We will inform you of the amount of the fees when you apply to register your marriage.