Getting Married in 2026: Why a December Wedding Makes Sense

The tax office doesn’t ask whether you got married in June or on a Friday in December at eleven. It only asks if you were married this year.

That’s exactly why December isn’t a dead month at the registry office. If you’re planning to marry anyway and your big celebration is set for 2027, you can move up the paperwork and claim the entire year 2026. That’s not a reason to marry—but if the reason is already there, it’s a pretty good reason for the date.

A quick note upfront: This isn’t tax advice. It’s an explanation of why it’s worth running the numbers.

Why December counts for taxes

Married couples can file a joint tax return. This triggers the income splitting method: Your combined income is halved, tax is calculated on that half, and the result is doubled. Since the tax rate increases with income, the tax burden is lower whenever your incomes differ.

The key point is in the law: For joint filing, it’s enough if the requirements are met at any point during the year—even if the marriage takes place in December. The only other conditions are that you’re both fully taxable in Germany and not permanently separated. A wedding on 18 December counts for tax purposes just like one in January. The splitting method applies to the entire year.

Who benefits—and who barely does

Let’s be honest: The splitting advantage depends mainly on the gap between your incomes.

If you earn roughly the same amount, splitting offers little to no benefit. In that case, December is simply a nice month—not a smart one.

If one of you earns significantly more, for example because someone works part-time, is still studying, is on parental leave, or has just started a business, the difference can be noticeable. Depending on your income, it could even be a four-figure amount.

How much it adds up to for you can be checked with a splitting calculator in five minutes—or your tax advisor in one sentence. Do the math before deciding for or against December.

Two things that are often confused:

• Tax class isn’t the same as tax. After the wedding, you’ll automatically be placed in tax class IV/IV. Changing it only affects how much is withheld monthly. What you actually pay is determined by your tax return.
• The benefit comes via the 2026 tax return, which you’ll file in 2027. Anyone hoping for a higher December paycheck will be disappointed.

The calculation follows the rules for the 2026 tax year. If you’re already thinking ahead to later years, it’s best to consult your tax advisor.

How to make December work in Münster

Now for the part that usually trips people up: not the tax office, but the calendar.

The wedding dates. At Lotharinger Kloster on Hörsterstraße 28, the Münster registry office performs weddings on Thursdays from 2 to 4 PM and Fridays from 9 to 11:30 AM and 1 to 3 PM, year-round. In December 2026, Saturdays are available on the 5th, 12th, and 19th, from 11 AM to 3 PM. There are no weddings on public holidays. To check if anything is available between Christmas and New Year, it’s best to ask directly.

Stay realistic. Saturdays are the most sought-after dates everywhere, and December is no exception. If you’re only just inquiring now, you should mentally prepare for a Thursday or Friday. The city notes: If you don’t have a specific date in mind, you’ll often find last-minute availability. How Münster assigns slots when multiple couples want the same time is a story of its own.

Related read Münster Registry Office: Your Dream Wedding Date Is Drawn by Lottery Why your preferred date at Münster Registry Office is drawn by lottery, what the colour-coded calendar shows, and when… Read more

The minimalist option. The Münster registry office also offers last-minute weddings in the office—without guests or witnesses, just the two of you. The request is sent with your documents via email to heiraten@stadt-muenster.de, and the appointment is arranged by phone. Unromantic? Depends on what you do afterward.

The paperwork. If you both live in Münster, are single, and hold German citizenship, you mainly need your valid IDs. If you weren’t born in Münster, you’ll also need a new certified copy of your birth record. Order this from the registry office in your birth town—and this is the bottleneck: It doesn’t arrive overnight. Order it first, before even thinking about times.

The process. If one of you has an ID with online functionality, you can start the registration digitally, including uploading documents. After that, the registry office will invite you to an in-person appointment at Stadthaus 1 on Heinrich-Brüning-Straße 7. Bring your original documents with you. The registration is valid for six months—more than enough for a December date. If you don’t live in Münster, register at your local registry office and clarify the next steps there.

The costs. Registration in Münster costs 72 euros, and the first marriage certificate is 15 euros. For a Friday from noon onward, add 119 euros; for a Saturday, 153 euros. A Thursday afternoon or Friday morning isn’t just easier to book—it’s also cheaper.

Marry in December, celebrate in summer

Most couples who find this interesting are already planning their big celebration for 2027. That’s not a contradiction—it’s a pretty relaxed division: a small, quiet ceremony in December with your closest loved ones, and the big party in summer.

Two things to clarify early on:

Who’s coming to the registry office? In winter, it’s more likely to be twenty people than eighty—and that’s all that fits: The Schlaun Hall has space for your witnesses and about 36 guests, while the Lotharinger wedding room fits around 16. That’s perfectly fine, but it should be a deliberate choice, not a surprise for Grandma. What matters on the day at Lotharinger Kloster—from the witnesses’ IDs to arrival times—is explained here.

Related read Münster Registry Office: The Unwritten Rules Getting married at the Lotharinger Monastery or the zoo: how tight the slots are, where to park, what to bring and where… Read more

How do you tell people? Between December and summer, there are months when you’re married but still sending out invitations. One sentence in the invitation is enough: “We’ve already said ‘I do’ at the registry office. The celebration is in June, and we want you there.” If you communicate it this way from the start, you’ll avoid questions about whether the party is “just a party.”

If the two dates mean two different guest lists, it helps to manage both in one list instead of juggling two separate spreadsheets. And if you’re wondering whether you need a civil ceremony and a free wedding, we’ve broken that down here.

Other things to consider

A wedding is more than a tax question, and a December date doesn’t change that. At the registry office, for example, you’ll also decide on your name—and since the name law reform, there are more options than before. What the new double names mean for you is explained here. Don’t let the end of the year rush you. The name lasts longer than the tax benefit.

And if, after running the numbers, you realize it doesn’t pay off for you: Then just get married when you want. December is an option, not an obligation.

In short

If you’re planning to marry anyway, earn different amounts, and your big celebration is set for 2027, you should seriously consider December. In Münster, that means: Order your birth record, register, and aim for a Thursday or Friday. Then celebrate in summer with a year of splitting behind you.