HAVING A TRADITIONAL WEDDING IN LEAVENWORTH

German Traditions | Catering | Florists | Photography | Licensing

A special way to make your wedding more personal is to incorporate your culture and heritage. In Germany there are many unique traditions and customs that could make your wedding very memorable and add a special touch to your day.

* A traditional wedding in Germany lasts three days. On the first day, the couple is married in a civil ceremony, which only family and close friends attend. On the second day there is a big, informal party to celebrate. On the third day the religious ceremony and reception takes place..

* During the big party that takes place on the second day, plates and dishes are smashed in a tradition called Poltrabend. The broken pieces are thought to bring good luck to the couple. The couple must then clean up the broken pieces together, symbolizing that nothing will be broken in their house again..

* Before the wedding, a wedding newspaper is made by the couple's families. The newspaper includes photos, articles, and stories of the bride and groom and is sold at the reception to help pay for their honeymoon..

* A few nights before the wedding, the groom and his friends go out to drink at a local pub, which is called junggesellenabschied..

* An older custom is for the father of the bride to pay for the whole wedding. Nowadays, as in the US, the couple and the brides parents may also pitch in on the cost..

* Brides must carry salt and bread as an omen of good harvest..

* Grooms carry grain for good luck and wealth. * Brides do not have any wedding attendants except for the flower girl..

* The bride carries white ribbon in her bouquet which is tied to the antenna of their car after the ceremony..

* During the ceremony while the couple is on their knees, the groom may keel on the brides dress to show who will be "wearing the pants" in their family. However, when they stand, the bride may step on his foot to show differently..

* Wedding rings are worn on their right hand..

* As the bride and groom exit the ceremony, guests throw rice at them. They say that the bride will have as many children as the grains of rice that stay in her hair..

* As the newlyweds leave the ceremony location, they toss coins to the children..

* On the way to the reception location, the couple along with their guests create a car processional through town honking their horns..

* At the wedding reception, it is custom for the best man to steal the bride and bring her to a local pub until the groom finds them, often called kidnapping the bride. The groom must them pay for all they drank..

* The money dance, or veil dance, is a tradition where guests have to pay the bride and groom to dance with them..

* Friends of the couple block off the exit of the reception with ribbon. When the newlyweds leave they must pay a toll, which is usually a promise of another party..

* Friends often play tricks such as loosening the headboard of the bed, hiding the alarm clock, or filling the room with strange things to make the first night as husband and wife difficult.