Beueler city hall closed Nobody wants to get married on Weiberfastnacht in Bonn
Bonn · February 20, 2020 is really easy to remember as a wedding anniversary. But the date falls on Weiberfastnacht and causes a lull in the wedding venues in Bonn. Fortunately, there are other memorable dates left this year.
Actually, February 20, 2020 should be a popular date for marriages. After all, the combination of numbers stands for cosy togetherness. But obviously not in Bonn. Because the day falls on Weiberfastnacht, nobody has registered a wedding ceremony with the city yet. However, there are also restrictions in the administration: "The town hall Beuel as well as the Old Town Hall Bonn are not available on this day", says Martina Suhr, head of the Bonn registry office.
The Beuel town hall is occupied on Women's Thursday anyway, literally. Then the jecken Wiever and Wäscheprinzessin Romina I. storm the administration rooms. The registrars would rather sway along than conduct serious wedding ceremonies. Because the civil services are closed on that day anyway. But they are also restricted in the town hall: Appointments can only be made by arrangement between 8 and 12 o'clock. "There are no requests from couples wishing to get married in the Stadthaus loggia," explains Suhr.
Dates with lots of identical numbers that are easy to remember are otherwise popular with the Bonners. "In fact, this year there are some round dates where marriages are held on Saturdays. They could already be reserved," says Suhr. These are April 4, June 6, August 8, October 10 and December 12. "The couples' demand was particularly great for the dates in August and October, as the marriages are held in the Old Town Hall on these days." All the dates scheduled there are already booked. In the past two years, August was the month with the most marriages. What you may not believe: In earlier years, December was the month with the most marriages.
The total number is similar over the years: in 2015 there were 1485 marriages in Bonn, in 2017 a total of 1567 and last year 1481. "No distinction is made whether the couples live in Bonn or not", explains Suhr.
The most popular wedding venue has always been the Old City Hall, which is fully booked until August. Which, according to the registrars, is due to two reasons: On the one hand, it is a historical place, on the other hand, the wedding ceremony on Fridays is comparatively cheap there. As in the town hall or the district administration offices, the standard fees of 40 euros for German citizens are charged there - plus 20 euros if you book an appointment. In most cases, this is necessary, as couples queue up nine months in advance. If you want to have a so-called ambience wedding at an extraordinary place like the Lede Castle, the House of Carnival, the Kameha Grand Hotel or in a boat on the Rhine, you have to pay a lump sum of 350 Euro for the registrar, because the special weddings are only offered on Saturdays and thus outside the regular office hours. On top of that, there are the costs for the subsequent reception, which has to take place at the same location. To what extent, however, is up to each individual. Somewhat cheaper are the Saturday weddings at the Villa Hammerschmidt, at the local museum, at the Godesburg and at the Kommende Ramersdorf: the expenses amount to 200 Euro.
(Original text: Nicolas Ottersbach; Translation: Mareike Graepel)
