Today I was able to attend the civil wedding of my friend Sarah from our ward. Sarah met her groom Ryan in America last spring while she was there visiting her aunt, and he recently moved here to Germany so they could be married.

In Germany, the government doesn't recognize a temple sealing as a legal marriage, so couples have to be married civilly before they go to the temple to be sealed.  From what I understand, this is common practice in most countries outside the U.S.  The civil marriage took place in a local Rathaus (city hall).

So romantic!