Wedding Traditions?
Of course, there is no single accepted tradition. You’ll find lots of peculiar behavior surrounding this event…some of them: I remember being surprised at seeing in Idar Oberstein, Rheinland Pfalz, people carrying dishes out to the street and smashing them, and a young couple, turned out bride and groom (to be?) trying to keep them swept up. Apparently the custom is that all old dishes should be broken before the wedding, and the marriage will be excellent if the couple can keep up with the sweeping. During the reception the bride is kidnapped by the wedding witnesses (best man etc.) to a local bar or restaurant, the groom has to go rescue her and pay the bill at the local bar. German receptions last very long into the night – at midnight the bride’s veil comes off and is given to the next girl/woman who is going to get married. The first dance is danced by the bride and the groom, it is traditionally a waltz! The next dance is only for bride with father and groom with mother, while
