First things first; before you start considering marriage in Germany, a couple of requirements must be met. Both you and your partner must be at least 18 years old to be eligible for marriage in Germany. Otherwise, parental consent will be required. Also, suppose you or your partner are not permanent residents in Germany. In that case, you must have resided in Germany for at least 21 days to be allowed to indicate your intention to marry before local authorities. It is highly recommended that you inform the local authorities if you intend to go back to your home country with your spouse later. 

Registering your marriage in Germany begins with filing a request at the nearest Standesamt (magistrate's office), where one of the two partners is registered. In case you'd like to choose another location, your local Standesamt will transfer your application to the corresponding magistrate's office, where you can register up to six months in advance.

To notify the local authorities of your intention to marry, you need to pay the applicable fees and present the following documents in original, along with German transcribed and notarised copies: Generally, it is best to check with the local office which documents are needed and follow the list of documents they will provide you with. In principle, the copies you present must not be dated more than six months old. If one of the partners is not a German national, documents will be sent to the Oberlandesgerichtspräsident for verification. The couple must appear in person at the magistrate's office. However, if one of the partners cannot make it, they can authorize the other partner to register their marriage. In the unlikely event during which both partners cannot be present, they can send a representative to register their marriage — as long as they are able to give grave reasons for their absence. If you or your partner are planning to change their name, now is the time to state what names you want to have after the marriage. For example, you can register a common last name, even though this is not obligatory under German law. In any case, if you haven't made up your mind yet, you can change your name after the marriage. Traditionally, the bride takes the groom's family name. However, it is the norm for many brides to keep their maiden name or opt for double family names nowadays. It is important to consider that changing your name means changing all your documentation and even contacting your previous educational institutions and banks. If you hurry to move to a different country, this might not be a convenient solution. Registration procedures can take between five and six weeks, and you cannot get married until you have received a certificate of capacity to marry. Suppose the magistrate's office concludes that all the conditions for a marriage are met. In that case, you will be given the authorization to get married in the next six months and dates to choose from for your wedding day, which will take place in the registry office or another venue (e.g., town hall, church, cathedral, castle, etc.) of your choice. Some registry offices have special halls for special occasions and offer celebratory touches such as decoration, music, etc. Of course, you should bear in mind that some dates and seasons (between May and September) are more popular than others. Hence, if you are not that flexible, you should proceed with the registration of your marriage as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. A civil registry (Standesamt) is required before a religious ceremony. Also, note that the church may require some additional documents in advance, such as baptismal certificates. During the wedding ceremony, the presence of two witnesses is compulsory. Given that the wedding ceremony will be conducted in German, you may have to hire a legal translator who can also be your witness.