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Spontaneous weddings are booming: The new wave of weddings in churches!
In Gifhorn, Gudrun and Jörg Berntsen celebrated their church wedding after 50 years of marriage. Pop-up weddings are gaining popularity.
Spontaneous weddings are booming: The new wave of weddings in churches!
What a beautiful moment in the Protestant Church of St. Nicolai in Gifhorn! There, Gudrun and Jörg Berntsen, a couple with an impressive 50-year civil marriage, took the step on May 25, 2023 and spontaneously got married in church. The occasion was their return from a week's Golden Wedding holiday in Belgium, and what was supposed to be a quick stopover turned into an unforgettable wedding.
Gudrun, 70 years old, had wanted a church wedding for a long time. This was unusual in the GDR, and her husband Jörg was initially against the idea. But when the couple came across a spontaneous wedding party during their visit to Gifhorn, Gudrun seized the opportunity. Her decision to stay together, assured of “God’s help,” surprised and touched her husband greatly.
Pop-up weddings are trending
Yellowings like those of Gudrun and Jörg are part of a larger trend in the Protestant Church. More and more couples are choosing pop-up weddings, a hassle-free way to reaffirm their love without the lengthy preparations. Many couples who have been married for many years take part in these ceremonies in order to get married in church without having previously gone through the church marriage ceremony. At these celebrations, the couples choose a wedding vow and often organize the ceremony with small gestures of affection, such as changing the ring.
The Protestant Church of Cologne and the region is a pioneer in this development and is already planning the next pop-up wedding on November 11th. These uncomplicated weddings are very popular, while the demand for church weddings among church members has decreased significantly, reports the Protestant community newsletter.
Criticism and challenges
Despite the great interest, there are also critical voices. The Catholic pastoral theologian Matthias Sellmann expresses concerns that spontaneous weddings do not provide enough time for reflection. Comparatively less common in the Catholic world, church weddings are considered a sacrament here, which is reflected in the church's stance on such new trends.
Another point of discussion is that the need for individual wedding planning has often been underestimated by the church. Many couples who choose a “free wedding” find this type of wedding more suitable for their relationships. The challenge of combining a church wedding with organizational issues—such as parking or a champagne reception—is also being considered more and more.
The issue of church weddings is therefore not just a question of tradition, but also a reflection of changing social values and needs. And while Gudrun and Jörg of course celebrated the delicious end of the day with an ice cream meal together, one thing is clear: the search for the right setting for love and connection remains an exciting construction site for many couples.
For everyone who is considering getting married in the region: Spontaneous civil weddings will take place in Ludwigsburg on May 25th from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. This provides further information Ludwigsburg registry office, where you can also inquire about documents for a subsequent church wedding.