Weddings and marriage in Germany - statistics & facts
The rate of marriage in Germany has decreased over the last 100 years. This could be due to a number of factors such as the fact that women have become emancipated from men in Germany, gaining rights to vote, own property, and work outside the home without the permission of their husbands. Another aspect to consider is that institution of marriage has been around for so long, for some people, aspects of it feel outdated and incompatible with modern values, and so people are reimagining the traditional wedding day.
For the moment, marriage is still seen as an option for many people. Although the wedding is hopefully a lovely memory for couples to look back upon, it is probably the legal advantages that are seen as the main purpose.
Evolution and advantages of marriage
The age at which both men and women get married has increased over the last two decades, which is probably a consequence of the changing attitudes towards marriage in society. It is common for couples to live together and have children without getting married, however, this was not as culturally accepted even 30 or 40 years ago. Although nowadays marriage is not a necessity, there are some advantages. The main one of these is the tax break that married couples can receive. This is because spouses can opt to be assessed together for the amount of tax they have to pay. The process then entails the wages of both parties being added together and divided into two. This is especially advantageous for couples who have a larger disparity in salaries because the person with the higher salary ends up paying much less tax than if they were assessed alone.Changing traditions
One of the most notable changes to wedding ceremonies is that more and more people are opting for a non-religious ceremony. This is because religion does not play a large role in their life and so they do not see a need to have a religious wedding. Therefore, many choose a registry office ceremony, which is typically a lot smaller than a traditional wedding, suggesting that having a traditional big white wedding is perhaps not so important to everyone. Another big change affecting couples getting married in particular is the changing of the law surrounding surnames. If couples want to keep their surname or perhaps even merge their surnames, this is currently not possible. For many women especially this is important because of the historic connotations of taking a husband’s name. Only one person can add the name of their partner to their surname and the double-barreled name cannot be passed onto any children they may have. This law, however, if approved by the cabinet and parliament, will change and double-barreled surnames will be allowed for children and their parents from the beginning of 2025.For the moment, marriage is still seen as an option for many people. Although the wedding is hopefully a lovely memory for couples to look back upon, it is probably the legal advantages that are seen as the main purpose.
