Special dream wedding in Emden: Mayor celebrates love!

Special dream wedding in Emden: Mayor celebrates love!

A heartwarming wedding ceremony was celebrated in Emden on June 13, 2025, which impressively demonstrated the meaning of love in all its facets. Johann Schreitling and Petra Willerts-Schreitling exchanged vows in the Kunsthalle, a celebration that was characterized by emotions and a festive atmosphere. The incumbent mayor Tim Kruithoff conducted the wedding as registrar, while Alwin Brinkmann, the former mayor and long-time best man, provided a personal touch. What a beautiful combination of tradition and modernity![NWZ Online]

Johann Schreitling is a well-known personality in Emden - for many years he was the mayor's driver for the city. His bride, Petra Willerts-Schreitling, not only shares her job with the city of Emden, but also the happiness in life that they have now been able to officially seal. At this special wedding, the beaming smiles of friends and relatives who surrounded the newlywed couple and warmly congratulated them could not be missed.

Celebrations between tradition and change

Johann and Petra's wedding not only represents a personal connection, but also reflects a larger trend in German wedding culture. In recent years, marriage in Germany has undergone numerous changes. The traditions have not lost their importance, but the way couples organize their celebrations has become more diverse. According to a study, around 361,000 couples in Germany announced the knot in 2023, underscoring the appeal of marriage[Statista].

Nowadays, weddings mostly take place in a civil ceremony and the number of church weddings is decreasing. The celebrations are often held on a small scale with 16 to 50 guests to create an intimate atmosphere. When planning, particular emphasis is placed on creating a stress-free and relaxed atmosphere; After all, 58 percent of men and 70 percent of women attach great importance to this. The budget is a common topic: a third of engaged couples find a wedding budget between 2,001 and 5,000 euros to be appropriate[Statista].

A look back – the iron wedding of the Czajkas

But it's not just new married couples who enjoy the annals of married life. Another couple who caused a stir in the region are Rudolf and Rotraut Czajka, who recently celebrated their iron wedding. On October 11, 2023, they looked back on 65 years of happiness together. Mayor Bert Knoblauch conveyed best wishes on behalf of the city, while Rudolf, a trained machinist, and Rotraut, who worked as a laboratory technician, told exciting stories from their time together[Schönebeck].

These two couples show us that love can blossom at any age and in different forms. While the Schreitlings are freshly starting their life adventure together, the Czajkas are already looking back on a fulfilling life together. This is a wonderful example of how the values ​​of marriage are preserved and celebrated again and again in society.