Weddingbee Blog

As a child, I honestly never dreamt that I would marry at the courthouse. So when I woke up on the morning of our Zivilstand and started preparing for the day, I wasn’t sure quite how to feel. I didn’t feel like a bride, but I was happy and excited to be taking this big step with Mr. Funnel Cake.

Quarter past ten, we met my parents at their hotel nearby and hopped on the tram down to the Verwaltungszentrum Werd (Municipal Centre Werd) in Zürich to meet Mr. Funnel Cake’s parents and brother. (By the way, I apologise now for the non-pro quality photos. We had Mr. FC’s father using Mr. FC’s SLR camera and it was on a high ISO setting, so most of the pictures are really low quality!)

Inside we got the paperwork ready for Mama Funnel Cake to be my witness and for Mr. Funnel Cake’s brother to be his witness. Mama Funnel Cake and I needed to show our passports as proof of identification while the Swiss boys just needed their ID cards.

While waiting for our 15 minute slot to come, we took some family photos in the waiting room.

The awkward “Brautpaar”. Or maybe I’m just the awkward one. I think Mr. FC looks pretty dashing.

Our families meet for the second time.

Mama and Papa Funnel Cake and me. (Notice the glasses not doing anything for my looks.)

Mama and Papa Funnel Cake and Mr. Funnel Cake and me.

My parents, me and Mr. Funnel Cake, his mother and brother. (Photo taken by Mr. FC’s father)

Then it was time to file into the ceremony room I showed you earlier.

(Image via Stadt Zürich

Generally speaking, the rooms here are usually set up with a three-sided table: One side for the officiant, one side for the couple marrying and one side for the two required witnesses. Beyond the table there is usually some sparse seating in the room for close family, but not anything to accommodate a big group.

We sat down and the officiant explained the process. Everything would be said in English and then in High German so that both of our mothers could understand everything. (That’s not free either, it cost $120 extra for the extra language.)

Before we began, the officiant began with a cheesy poem titled “Affection.”

It was the most awkward poem ever. When she said the “I like you” part, the officiant would gaze directly at us, in English to me and in German to Mr. Funnel Cake, as if she really liked us. It made me so uncomfortable, I wanted to respond, “But I like him…not you…” and then we had to hold ourselves from laughing about it. It was so funny that for months afterward I couldn’t tell Mr. Funnel Cake “I like you” without bursting into giggles, which is sad because I often tell him that in addition to “I love you.”

After the poem we got down to business. The officiant asked us if we wanted to get married; we said “yes.” Mr. Funnel Cake was a little eager, so he said “yes” to the English part, and then “Ja” to the German part as well.

We were asked if we wanted to exchange rings, which we declined as we had not bought any yet.

Mr. FC leaned in to say “I love you.”

Next we needed to sign the marriage certificate. Wait, this means I have to sign my new name?!? Hadn’t practised that much yet, folks.

Then it was Mr. Funnel Cake’s turn.

Then time for our witnesses, FC’s brother and Mama Funnel Cake.

….and fifteen minutes later, that was it. We were married?!

It didn’t seem like anything happened, but Mr. Funnel Cake’s mother was crying and my parents were beaming.

We all filed out of the pavilion to take pictures in front of the building before we headed to lunch!

Our Zivilstand:

• Choosing the Traulokale
• Getting Dressed

*Photos personal unless noted.