How weddings differ across Europe

Where a church wedding counts in law and where you need the town hall first, plus Polterabend, confetti, crowns and arras. European weddings compared.

The short answer

Weddings across Europe differ most in two ways: the law and the customs. In France, Germany and the Netherlands, only a civil wedding is legally binding, so couples who want a church wedding hold it after the town hall. In England and Wales, Italy, Spain, Greece and Sweden, a religious ceremony can also be the legal marriage. On top of that, every country has its own customs, from German plate-smashing to Italian sugared almonds and Greek wedding crowns.

The legal side: civil first, or either?

The EU's own Your Europe guidance notes that national rules on marriage differ between EU countries, including on the relationship between religious and civil marriage. Broadly, countries fall into two groups.

Customs by country

Germany. On the Polterabend, the night before the wedding, guests smash porcelain for luck ("shards bring luck"), and the couple sweeps it up together. The custom is also found, less often, in Poland, Austria and Switzerland.

Trends: fewer religious weddings

In many countries, civil ceremonies now dominate. The Office for National Statistics found 83.0% of marriages in England and Wales in 2022 were civil ceremonies, up from 50.4% in 1992. For more on how customs are changing, see traditional vs modern weddings around the world.

Planning a European or cross-border wedding

Two ceremonies may be normal. In civil-first countries, a small town hall wedding and a larger celebration are common, sometimes on different days. Our guide on whether to have two wedding ceremonies helps you decide.

Which European countries require a civil wedding?

France, Germany and the Netherlands are well-known examples where only a civil ceremony is legally binding and any religious wedding follows it. Check each country's current rules, as others also require one.

Is a church wedding legal in Italy?

Yes, if it is a Catholic concordat wedding. The priest sends the marriage record to the civil registrar, and once transcribed it has civil effect.

What is a Polterabend?

A German eve-of-wedding party where guests smash porcelain for good luck and the couple sweeps up the pieces together.

Can foreigners get married in Europe?

Usually, but requirements differ by country and often include residency periods, translated documents or a certificate of no impediment. Ask the local registry office or your embassy.