Of all the Standesämter (Registrar’s offices) in Berlin, the one that really takes the cake is of course the Red City Hall, aka das Rotes Rathaus, seat of the Berlin Senate and home of the Governing Mayor.

In 2020 it just celebrated 150 years since its inauguration. The building itself has been reconstructed after the original plans, and is somewhat newer (about half that age), and its monumental and historical presence is one of the most beloved landmarks in the city.

While the outside has the medieval Old Town Hall of Torun as an inspiration (its architect, H.F. Waesemann, was Gdansk-born), the interior, namely the main event hall where weddings are officiated, the Column Hall or der Säulensaal is Italian-inspired, modeled after the Palazzo Pubblico in Siena.

It is 9 meters high and in the old days it used to be a library. Now you can see it during your visit of the Red City Hall, sometimes there are exhibitions there, and sometimes weddings.

If I had a say in this, for the best effect, I would have the couples walk up to the officiant’s desk exactly through the center, and move the attendance on the sides., allowing the family to actually see the newly weds, not just the backs of their heads.

I must admit, when I first entered it I felt a bit crushed by the size of the space, not unlike the feeling one gets in the nave of a Gothic church. However, I was happy to observe that once it was not empty anymore, its grandeur actually emphasized the human presence.

However, I did lose sight of my newlywed couple in the giant lobby, on the large triptych staircase. Time for a really long tele-lens!

Congratulations and herzlichen Glückwunsch, M. & K.!