Christina and Mark's Wedding
Accommodation :Quick Links: Times and Maps
This site was originally intended to gather together everything our guests might have needed to know about our wedding. Now we're actually married the site remains as a reference for anyone wanting to visit the area again. We've also added a few pictures from the Polterabend, Registry Office, Church and Reception for you to look through. Thanks to everyone that travelled from near and far to be there, you all helped to make it so unforgettable for us.
NEW! - We've finally added a small album of Wedding Pictures. Hopefully we'll get around everyone eventually to force you to sit through the hundreds of pictures we've got...
NEWS - For the latest updates on any Industrial Action affecting BA check here.
NOTE - A printable (Acrobat) document including the full timetable and local maps can now be downloaded from the Timetable Page. This was also sent out to guests by email.
NOTE - Please don't worry if the Hackbarth Family Home looks slightly different to the picture on the maps! There has been some building work since the picture was taken.
NOTE - A short Wedding List was available on the Debenhams Web Site. Ours was list number 976251, and is now closed - everything has now been received, thanks very much indeed!
NOTE - Date set as August 21st 2004. Note that (by pure coincidence of course) this isn't a Grand Prix weekend!
Useful Information
Christina's family live in the village of Barendorf. Barendorf is in Lower Saxony, Northern Germany. The Polterabend was held at the Tennis Club next to the Hackbarth family home on Thursday 19th. The reception after the Wedding took place in the village too - there is a site for the venue. Rooms were available here - more info can be found on the Accommodation Page. Barendorf is on the B216 road.
The nearest town is Lüneburg (about 5 miles away). The Registry Office and the Church Wedding were both here (you must go to a Registry Office in addition to having a Church Wedding in Germany). We booked the Registry Office for 10AM on the day of the Church Wedding, leaving guests time after the ceremony to see the town and have a leisurely lunch before heading round to the Church in the afternoon. See below for full addresses.
The Church Wedding was at St. Michaelis Church (Joh. Seb. Bach Platz, 21335 Lüneburg) at 4 PM. There's a picture to the (top) right and another one here. Apparently JS Bach went to school here, and was in the Church Choir. We were lucky that Vicar was happy to perform a bi-lingual ceremony.
The Registry Office ceremony took place in the Heinrich-Heine-Haus (see picture on the right) at 10 AM. The building has its own Website, in German. The street address is Am Ochsenmarkt 1, 21335 Lüneburg.
General Register Office - Information on getting married abroad.
The nearest city is Hamburg. Hamburg has a main City Centre Airport, Fuhlsbüttel (HAM). UK Flights arrive at Terminal 4. You can take a 'Jasper' coach to the city centre (one every 15-20 mins until 11 PM) and a train onwards to Lüneburg. You could also hire a car and take the A7 South, then the A250 for Lüneburg (about 50 miles). The Airport Site has a downloadable map showing the routes in and out of the Airport, and where to return your Hire Car. We've just updated the directions below to give you the simplest route.
Ryanair also fly from 'London' Stansted to an Airport called Hamburg-Lübeck (LBC), which would also be cheaper. It's a little further out, but trains from Lübeck centre can take you on to Lüneburg (if you don't land too late!).
If you want to use your Air Miles you'll need 950 Miles (plus tax and charges per adult) to fly to Hamburg from Heathrow (LHR). Alternatively, you could travel from Birmingham (BHX) to Hamburg for 1050 miles, plus charges.
Maps and Directions
Context Maps - A few maps to put the location in context.
Event Maps - Our list of the times and dates of events, with local maps.
Hot Maps - Searchable Street Plan of Lüneburg.
Airport to Lüneburg - UPDATED Directions from Hamburg's Main Airport to the Bremer Hof Hotel in Lüneburg.
Airport to Barendorf - UPDATED Directions from Hamburg's Main Airport to Barendorf, where some people stayed and the Polterabend and Reception were held.
Lübeck Airport to Lüneburg - Directions from Lübeck Airport to the Bremer Hof Hotel in Lüneburg.
Lübeck Airport to Barendorf - Directions from Lübeck Airport to Barendorf.
Cuxhaven to Barendorf - Directions from Cuxhaven (if you come via Ferry) to Barendorf. Note this route is not the shortest possible, but should be the quickest.
ViaMichelin - Michelin's Online European Route Planner.
MSN MapPoint - Microsoft's Online Route Planner.
Travel Links (English Language)
For Hotels and Rooms in the area have a look at our Accommodation Page
Hamburg Airport - as above, information on flight arrivals and transport links across to Hamburg's main Train Station.
Die Bahn - online train timetables.
Deutsche Bahn UK Booking Centre - book German train tickets in the UK.
DFDS Seaways - their Harwich to Cuxhaven Ferry leaves you with only a 2 hour drive down to Barendorf - see the route above. Ferries from Hull or Newcastle don't go to Germany (if you go from here note that Amsterdam or Rotterdam are nearer than Zeebrugge, but still at least 5 hours or so away).
Ferry Info Service - more Ferry information, including a useful Route Map.
National Express/Eurolines - operate coach services connecting with Hamburg from the UK.
British Airways - operate a number of direct flights to Hamburg Airport.
Lufthansa - also operate a number of direct routes to Hamburg Airport (including some from London City and Manchester).
KLM - operate indirect services to Hamburg Airport, typically via Amsterdam Schiphol (including flights originating in Newcastle).
GermanWings fly low-cost from London Stansted (STN) and Manchester (MAN) to Hamburg Airport (HAM).
easyJet fly low-cost from London Gatwick (LGW) and London Luton (LTN) to Hamburg Airport (HAM).
Ryanair - fly low-cost to Hamburg-Lübeck Airport (LBC) from Stansted (STN), Stockholm, Milan and Pisa.
Air Berlin - fly low-cost from Manchester to Hamburg's Main Airport.
For car hire from Hamburg Airport the companies operating there are Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz, National and Sixt.
For cheaper flights and car hire you could try eBookers, Expedia, Opodo, Lastminute.com and Travelocity.
Learning the Language
BBC Languages - German - even includes "Cool German - Pulling Lingo"!
Deutsche Welle - Learning German - Beginner and Intermediate Courses
German for Travellers
The Good Wishes Glossary - designed to help you find the right phrase for an occasion
Learn German Online
BBC Languages - English
Links to Local Attractions and Activities (English and German Language)
Lonely Planet World Guide - Guide to Hamburg. (English)
BBC Holiday Programme - Guide to Breaks in Hamburg. (English)
German Tourist Board - their site has a nice section on Lüneburg. (English)
Lüneburg Site - the town where the wedding will take place. Has information about the town, cheap accommodation and things to do in the area (including visting the Lüneburg Heath). (English/German)
Lüneburg Heide - the famous local Heath. (English/German/French/Spanish)
Luene-Info - What's On in Lüneburg. (German)
News - Cafe-Bar in Lüneburg's Schröderstrasse. On the same street you could also try Maxx, Lilienthal or shop at Ricardo Paul (German)
The Lüneburger Wasserturm - We had been hoping the Registry Office ceremony would take place here, but they don't have ceremonies on Saturdays. You should be able to get a really good view of Lüneburg from here, it's the tallest building in town. There's also a Live Webcam on their site. (English/German)
Heide Park - Theme Park. (English)
Heide Park - Theme Park. (German)
SaLü -Salztherme Lüneburg- Freizeitbad und Spassbad - Indoor Swimming and Spa Park. (German)
Deutsches Salzmuseum - The German Salt Museum (!) in Lüneburg (English/German)
City of Hamburg - The second largest City in Germany. (English)
Hamburg Tourist Board - Events, Accommodation, Sightseeing. (English)
Facts About Germany (German/English/French/Spanish)
Expatica - Interesting site designed for Expats living in Germany (English)
Some people asked to see a bigger version of the picture of us (used as the button on the left hand side). Click here for the image, taken while we were in Paris.
