Elopement photographer in Berlin
Planning an elopement in Berlin? I photograph small weddings and elopements in a relaxed, documentary way, for international couples who want the day to stay about the two of them. My Intimate collection gives you four hours for €1,490, and I help you choose the places and plan the timing.
An elopement can mean a quiet ceremony at a registry office, a symbolic one by the water, or a walk through the city with no guests at all. Whatever shape yours takes, I photograph the day as it unfolds.
What an elopement in Berlin can look like
In Germany, the legal ceremony happens at a Standesamt (registry office). That still leaves plenty of room for a small, personal day, and you can shape it in a few ways.
A civil ceremony in a small registry office room, then portraits around the city. My guide to the most beautiful registry offices in Berlin compares the rooms and guest limits.
A free, symbolic ceremony somewhere that means something to you, before or after the legal one at the registry office.
A "quick yes" at the registry office. Rathaus Köpenick offers a few of these dates without a ceremony in 2027, which suit couples who are celebrating somewhere else later.
Married elsewhere, celebrating in Berlin. Some couples marry abroad, often in Denmark, and have their Berlin day photographed on its own.
If one of you isn't German, read my guide on how to get married in Berlin as a foreigner before you choose. It covers the documents, the sworn interpreter and the six-month rules that shape your timing.
What's included in the Intimate collection
The Intimate collection is made for small weddings and elopements. It costs €1,490, and this is what you get:
Up to four hours of photography
Enough time for the ceremony, portraits and the first part of your celebration, without rushing
A call before the wedding to plan the day
At least 300 edited high-resolution photos in a private online gallery
A sneak peek of 20 photos within 48 hours
If you need more time, the Storyteller collection gives you six hours for €1,890, and on Monday to Thursday dates and in March, April and October, six hours cost €1,690. An extra hour costs €260, an engagement shoot €350, and an album starts at €590. For a registry office ceremony on its own, see my Standesamt photography page. Every collection is on the pricing page.
Help with locations
A few days before the wedding, I visit the location to check the light and find the best spots. It means I already know where to stand when you arrive, and you can relax into the day.
Tiergarten: the tree canopy gives soft light even at midday, and in the early evening the open meadows catch the golden light. It works well for elopements and intimate ceremonies with a small guest list.
Schloss Köpenick: the Schlosscafé Köpenick hosts free (non-legal) ceremonies by the water, in the park or in the Aurora hall. Rathaus Köpenick, for the legal ceremony, is a short walk away. After the ceremony I often take couples down to the riverbank for a few quiet minutes.
Liebermann-Villa am Wannsee: for a very small group, the pier and tea pavilion take up to 20 people for two hours during opening hours. My guide to outdoor wedding venues in Berlin has more places and their rules.
Help with timing
In June, the sun sets around 9:30 PM in Berlin, so a summer evening gives you long, soft light for portraits. Registry offices book ceremonies in tight slots, so I plan the portraits around your appointment.
Berlin weather can turn even in summer. If you choose a park, book a nearby indoor space as your backup, and we'll plan both versions of the day on our call. Popular venues fill up 12 to 18 months ahead for summer Saturdays, so book those first.
How it works
Planning an elopement with me takes a few steps, and most of them happen before the day itself.
Tell me your date, where you're getting married and how many people will be there through the contact form.
We have a short phone call to get to know each other and talk about your plans.
If you're in Berlin, we meet for a coffee and put together a moodboard of the photos you love.
You book the Intimate collection on the pricing page with a 30% deposit of €447. The deposit secures your date and is non-refundable, and the remaining 70% is due 14 days before the wedding.
A few days before the wedding, I visit the location to check the light and the best spots.
On the day, I photograph what happens as it happens, plus relaxed portraits of the two of you.
Twenty sneak-peek photos arrive within 48 hours, and your full online gallery follows within a few weeks.
Questions couples ask
How much does an elopement photographer cost in Berlin?
My Intimate collection costs €1,490 for up to four hours, with at least 300 edited photos. That's enough time for the ceremony, portraits and the first part of your celebration. For a civil ceremony on its own, the Standesamt collection is €690 for two hours.
Is an elopement in Berlin legally binding?
Only a ceremony at a Standesamt (registry office) makes you legally married in Germany. A free ceremony in a park or by the water is symbolic. You can marry at the registry office first, then hold a small ceremony or take portraits somewhere else.
Where can we elope in Berlin?
Tiergarten works well for elopements and intimate ceremonies with a small guest list. The Schlosscafé Köpenick hosts free ceremonies by the water, and the pier and tea pavilion at the Liebermann-Villa take up to 20 people for two hours. A small registry office room such as Villa Kogge also works well.
Do we need a permit for an elopement or photos in a Berlin park?
For private wedding photos in the SPSG palace parks, such as the gardens of Schloss Charlottenburg, you don't need a separate permit as long as other visitors aren't disturbed. If you plan a free ceremony in Tiergarten with chairs, an arch or music, check with the Bezirksamt Mitte first.
How far ahead should we book an elopement photographer?
Booking opens up to a year in advance, and I can often take spontaneous bookings too. If you're also marrying at a registry office, you can register there no earlier than six months before the date, so contact me as soon as you know roughly when.
Can you photograph our elopement outside Berlin?
Yes. I photograph weddings across Europe. Travel costs are quoted per wedding, and I arrange my own travel and accommodation, agreed with you in advance. Tell me where and when in your enquiry, and I'll include the travel in your quote.
Ready to start planning?
I photograph a limited number of weddings each year, so I can prepare properly for each one. A small wedding gives us time to slow down, and I plan the day so that you get to enjoy it.
Get in touch here: tell me your date, where you'd like to get married and how many people will be there, and I'll come back to you with ideas for locations and timing. You can see every collection on the pricing page.