Bride and groom put a lot of effort to plan and prepare the ceremony and the
following celebration. At least six months ahead, a room in a restaurant or hotel is reserved,
the band is ordered and paper and design of the invitation cards are chosen.
The menu has to be considered, and they meet with the priest to talk about the mass:
songs, readings, and the ceremony itself are determined. My husband and I prepared
a small booklet which was given as a handout to every guest in church to provide them
with all the songs and the outline of the wedding.
On the wedding day, the bride enters the church in a long, usually white dress,
carrying her flower bouquet. Escorted by her father, she makes her way to the groom,
who is waiting for her in his dark elegant suit with neck or bow tie in front of the altar.
We gave our promise without any assistance from the minister,
and it turned out to be the most touching moment of our life.
After church, bride and groom either get into a car whose flower decorated hood shows
everybody that there is a just married couple inside or they take a coach with horses
to take a ride to the restaurant. Accompanied by their horn-honking guests in their
white ribbon-equipped cars, they make their way. Depending on the time schedule,
the party may have coffee and cakes or directly starts dinner. Some couples now take the
chance to have some wedding pictures taken.
During dinner, everybody who wants to, at least the two fathers, make a speech to praise
the new husband and wife. After that, bride and groom open the dance with a waltz,
parents and witnesses join them. With the next song, all guests are invited to perform
their ballroom dancing skills. Occasionally, dancing is interrupted by some friends or
relatives who present little stakes to entertain the party. It is very popular to ask
the couple to take part in those games.
Whereas in America, bride and groom leave the party after dinner to start their honeymoon
immediately, in Germany they stay and celebrate until the last guest goes home.
Consequently, this a very exhausting and long day (and night) for the new couple—my husband
and I closed the party room at five a.m.!
A lot of just married couples head for their one to two week honeymoon on the next day
and enjoy themselves on the beach recollecting the memories of their wonderful wedding.