Getting married in Germany involves going to the magistrate\u2019s office (<\/em>Standesamt<\/em><\/a>)<\/em> because only marriages performed in the Standesamt<\/em> are legally valid. Many people stop at just this civil ceremony: however, there are some traditions, especially if you are of the Christian faith, related to weddings. If a religious ceremony is also to be held, the larger church ceremony is held after the marriage at the magistrate\u2019s office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Most German brides wear white, and in addition, the gown can be a heirloom gown passed down via an older sister or her mother. If she does not have one, of course, she can purchase a new gown. Not all brides today do this, but this tradition is similar to traditions in the UK and in the US.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Superstition dictates that it is absolutely forbidden for the groom to see the wedding dress before the wedding day, as it is said to bring misfortune. This is, in fact, somewhat of an international tradition today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the past, German brides traditionally donned black wedding dresses with white veils, but by the late 19th century, the majority embraced white attire. Contemporary dresses typically feature ballgown styles without a train.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They typically have a fingertip-length veil, unless the ceremony takes place in a church, prompting many brides to choose floor-length, cathedral-style veils. German grooms typically go for a formal wedding suit in a neutral color along with a tie and a handkerchief matching the bride’s dress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To demonstrate her financial responsibility, it is customary for the future bride to pay for her bridal shoes using only one-cent coins. One of these cents can be saved to be put into her left shoe at the wedding, symbolizing prosperity for her and the groom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As part of the wedding celebrations, there is a symbolic auction of one of the bridal shoes. After the guests put their ‘bids’ inside the shoe, the groom then makes the winning bid and gives the shoe back to the bride along with the collected money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If a Christian wedding, a church ceremony is also held. Since the couple is already legally married (remember, only marriages performed at the Standesamt are legally valid), the German bride and groom enter the church together and exit together. This is a bit different from some other countries’ wedding day traditions but remember: the religious ceremonies now are held after the civil ceremony, and so the couple is already married in the eyes of the law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As she walks down the aisle, the bride carries a bouquet tied with a white ribbon. This floral arrangement typically features Germany’s national flower, the blue cornflower, along with a myrtle branch, symbolizing good luck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Speaking of the wedding ceremony<\/a>, it\u2019s customary for the wedding party to throw rice at the couple when the couple exits the church. The rice is from an old tradition believing that the woman will have as many children as the rice is stuck in her hair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00a9 Pixabay<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are some fascinating pre-wedding traditions that German weddings often include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The hochzeitslader, also known as the official inviter, is typically a close friend or family member appointed by the couple to extend personal wedding invitations to the couple’s guests, often in the form of rhymes. Originating in Bavaria, this tradition predates Germany’s postal system. Upon accepting the invitation, guests traditionally take a ribbon from the hochzeitslader’s staff and affix it to their hat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Similar to practices around the world, German couples celebrate their impending nuptials with a ‘last party’ before the wedding. However, in Germany, friends take the bridal couple out separately for a night of revelry in the city center or a party destination. The evening is filled with laughter, mischief, and the person getting married is often dressed in a humorous outfit, adding a touch of fun to the celebration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To ward off bad luck, German lore advises against sharing a bed the night before the wedding. The bride and groom sleep in their parents’ home or at a friends’ house, reinforcing the superstition that this separation ensures a harmonious and fortunate union. Surprisingly, a significant percentage of German couples still adhere to this age-old tradition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There is also an evening roughly one week earlier than the official wedding day called the Polterabend<\/em><\/a>. This unique German wedding tradition is known as the \u201cevening of broken crockery\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The bridal couple hosts this event, where friends and neighbors are invited, each bringing porcelain to the party. The wedding guests then smash and break china and porcelain dishes, symbolizing the shattering of any potential evil spirits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From what we can trace, the German proverb Scherben bringen Gl\u00fcck<\/em> (\u201cbroken crockery brings you luck\u201d) comes from this practice. The idea is that the new couple cleans up the broken dishes and kitchenware, implying that nothing will be broken in their new home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to German wedding tradition, the engagement ring is traditionally worn on the LEFT<\/strong> hand (and was often just a simple gold band). After the wedding, the same ring is worn on the RIGHT<\/strong> hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Men also wear their wedding rings on the right hand. This might be different from your traditions! In the U.S., a wedding ring is worn on the ring finger of the left hand, from an ancient thought that there was a vein there that led directly to the heart. In Germany and Austria, though, it\u2019s more common to wear the rings on the right hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After the ceremony, as part of the post-ceremony festivities, there is a log-cutting ceremony in some areas of Germany. This represents the first obstacle that the newly married couple meets \u2013 they must work together to successfully saw a tree trunk through using a rather blunt long saw with two handles, demonstrating teamwork and their willingness to face obstacles together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are some of the German wedding traditions and rituals the newly married couple often performs at the reception room with their family and close friends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first dance of the evening takes place between the bride and groom, typically a waltz. The bride then shares the next dance with her father, and the groom with his mother, accompanied by the bride’s mother and groom’s father also going to the dance floor together. Following these traditional dances, the real festivities begin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n German wedding traditions pay special attention to the wedding menu, typically favoring a sit-down dinner over a buffet-style meal. The first course is typically “Hochzeitssuppe<\/a>” – a soup made with chicken broth, small meatballs, and glass noodles. As the second course, they often serve an Austrian dish called Tafelspitz, made of thinly-sliced beef served cold with horseradish and onions, or served hot with some fried potatoes and apples.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the past, the inclusion of marzipan in a German wedding cake held significance, as almonds were believed to bring luck in love. While some couples still adhere to this tradition, others find humor in the act of cutting the cake, joking that the person with the upper hand is the one in charge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One notable wedding tradition involves the bride and groom sharing a toast at their reception using a special crystal cup known as a brautbecher. This cup, with a swiveling hinge, carries a tradition dating back to the 15th century when a goldsmith created a bridal cup to express his love for a nobleman’s daughter. Today, these cups are typically made of pewter, enabling both partners to drink simultaneously without spillage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the stroke of midnight, the newlyweds dance to a romantic melody beneath a veil held by their guests. Occasionally, guests may need to stand on chairs to ensure the veil covers the married couple entirely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n During this dance, unmarried women are granted the opportunity to playfully ‘steal’ the bride’s veil and tear it into fragments. According to tradition, the unmarried woman who ends up with the largest piece is believed to be the next one destined for marriage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Also at midnight, the new bride throws her wedding bouquet.<\/strong> It is said that the woman who catches it first will be the next bride.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Similar to the tradition in the U.K. and U.S., German wedding traditions also feature the custom of a husband carrying his new wife into their home or hotel suite after the ceremony. This charming tradition, rooted in ancient beliefs about warding off evil spirits, has endured through the years. The husband’s act of carrying his wife is a protective gesture thought to ensure a harmonious and fortunate beginning to their married life.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat Germans Wear \u2013 First Things First<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Wedding Attire and Wedding Shoes<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The Shoe Ritual<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Second \u2013 the Church Ceremony<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Getting](\"https:\/\/smartergerman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/z0fO6jOc1Cj1dCKVoTlBHNJTWpzOFR_0sHiCpdtXrOo3Bm0DDCTLTEofLQUMuMZ9eqqNaQxcsnfhwoKvGUE8KUZbHBbLHo_LODhI3_H16LCc9e_FeZWiHNOzXj-0Z9f8nDOhDwNtuV5pocrbi2nuh74.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThird \u2013 Wedding Traditions Before the Actual Wedding<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Hiring an Official Inviter (Hochzeitslader)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Bachelor Party\/ Bachelorette Party (Junggesellenabschied)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Sleeping Apart<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Wedding-Eve-Party (Polterabend)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Fourth \u2013 the Wedding Rings<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Fifth \u2013 The First Obstacle for the Newly Wedded Couple<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
German Wedding Reception Traditions<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Traditional Dances<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The Menu<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Wedding Cakes<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The Bridal Chalice<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The Veil Dance (Schleiertanz)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Wedding Bouquet Toss<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Carrying the Bride Across the Threshold<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n