Marriages and partnerships

Getting married is still popular in the Grand Duchy, with almost 2,500 couples saying "I do" every year. Other interesting facts: over 30% of marriages are entered into between Luxembourgers and non-Luxembourgers, and around 3,5% same-sex marriages have been celebrated each year since same-sex marriage was made legal in 2015.

Marriage or civil partnership?

Various partnership options are available in the Grand Duchy, including marriage, of course, which is the most popular form of partnership, but also the PACS civil partnership.

In order to enter into a civil marriage in Luxembourg, the prospective spouses must be at least 18 years of age, unless an exemption is granted by the guardianship judge. One of the prospective spouses must be legally resident in Luxembourg. Before the marriage can take place, several administrative procedures must be completed and an application must be submitted to the relevant local authority. The timeframes and documents required may vary depending on the personal circumstances and nationality of the prospective spouses.

In Luxembourg, only a civil marriage has legal effect. A religious marriage may be celebrated, but only after the civil marriage has taken place.

In addition to civil marriage, it is also possible to enter into a civil partnership (PACS). Open to both heterosexual and homosexual couples, the PACS allows a shared life to be officially recognised and confers certain rights and benefits on the partners, particularly in relation to tax, civil law and social security.

Customs

Traditions depend heavily on the couple's preferences. For example, whilst the white wedding dress remains very popular, there are no set rules on this and all colours are permitted. The groom, for his part, usually wears a darker-coloured suit, accessorised to match the bride's outfit.

If a couple also decides to have a church wedding, the civil and religious ceremonies often take place a few days apart, sometimes even within the same week. In this case, it is usually the religious ceremony that is accompanied by a big celebration.

Let's talk about the celebrations: often, a drinks reception bringing together friends, colleagues and extended family is followed by a festive meal attended by the bride and groom and a smaller circle of close friends and family. Among the highlights of the evening are undoubtedly the couple's first dance, the throwing of the bridal bouquet and the cutting of the cake by the bride and groom.

As for gifts, most couples are happy to set up a wedding list with one or more retailers to help them furnish their home or fund their long-awaited honeymoon.