german wedding dresses

It is fun to incorporate customs from other countries into your wedding day. If a bride or her groom has German heritage, it would be nice to include some of the traditional highlights of a German wedding into your nuptials. Many of the basic concepts are similar to the elements of an American wedding, but there definitely are some unique Germanic customs.

german wedding dresses

First of all, a German wedding celebration typically lasts for days, non just an afternoon. As is common in many European countries, a polite ceremony is a requirement for a legal marriage. This ceremony at the courthouse normally takes place within a few days of the larger church wedding. The civic service is small, with only a couple of witnesses and the bride in a simple dress of skirt and blouse.

german wedding dresses

The night before the church wedding, there is an event called Polterabend. This German custom involves smashing plates and china (but non glass) as a sign of good luck for the married couple. The idea is that these plates will be broken, but never the marriage. At the end of the fun, the bride and groom have to clean up all of the shards and pieces. The Polterabend usually turns into a fun, informal company with the couples’ friends, family, and neighbors.

german wedding dresses