No family or friends able to attend wedding due to virus

A German couple in Cologne was amongst those defiantly tying the knot despite the coronavirus pandemic, getting married without their parents, relatives or friends in attendance.

Due to the country's lockdown, nobody was allowed to attend at Cologne's historic City Hall other than the couple's witnesses.

However, given that one of their best men was stuck in France, the couple went ahead completely alone.

After taking their vows, 32-year-old Matthias Dewald and 34-year-old Sarah Michelle Dewald could be seen raising a glass of sparkling wine on the near deserted square outside the city hall.

Dewald said that "it was a beautiful moment for the two of us".

After the ceremony, he said that they would cycle back home, where they would spend the evening alone in line with the locldown rules - for the first time "as husband and wife", the bride added.

Amid the coronavirus pandemic, half of all weddings originally planned to take place on weekdays in Cologne have been cancelled, according to the city government.

However, during weekends, 60 percent are still going ahead.

The current restrictions will apply until at least 19 April. Church weddings are not allowed at all until then.

As of Tuesday afternoon, Germany had confirmed over 103,300 COVID-19 cases and 1,810 deaths.

The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death.