What should a guest wear to a German wedding?
Historically, German brides would wear black dresses with while veils. Nowadays, however, brides in Germany have adopted more the more common tradition of wearing a white wedding dress, usually without a long train. German brides tend to wear more of a ballgown-style wedding dress, with a fingertip length veil.
What are German marriages like?
A German bride traditionally carries a hand-tied floral bouquet, given to her by her partner at the wedding ceremony. After the ceremony, like it many countries, the unmarried women gather behind the bride, who throws the bouquet over her back.
Who pays for the wedding Germany?
Costs – the father of the bride has to pay the wedding. This is an old custom but today normally both parents and the couple itself divide the costs for the wedding. Dance – the first dance is danced by the bride and the groom, it is traditionally a waltz.
What does Polterabend mean in German?
Polterabend is a German wedding custom in which, on the night before the wedding, the guests break porcelain to bring luck to the couple’s marriage. The belief in the effectiveness of this custom is expressed by the old adage: “Shards bring luck” (German: Scherben bringen Glück).
Where is Polterabend celebrated in Europe?
The Polterabend is commonly celebrated in Germany and in the western parts of Poland – especially in Wielkopolska, Silesia, Kashubia, Kujawy and Kociewie, where there used to be significant German cultural influences. Polterabend has also been part of the wedding preparation for centuries in Denmark, Sweden,…
What is the difference between a Polterabend and a bachelor party?
At a Polterabend, the couple celebrates together with their friends, breaking porcelain for good luck in their new companionship, according to the superstition, whereas at a bachelor party the bride and the groom go out separately with their friends to celebrate the last day of their so-called freedom.
Do Bride and groom have separate bachelor/ette parties in Germany?
This is only the case in some parts of Germany. In Austria and Switzerland, bride and groom get separate bachelor/ette parties rather than a Polterabend. Some regions additionally celebrate the so-called custom of “Paube”: the Paube can also be celebrated days or weeks before the wedding.