German Wedding Traditions: Before the Wedding

about us
forum
sitemap

articles

facts

history

recipes

resources

tips&tricks

In Germany parents start thinking about the daughter's wedding quite far in advance.

When a baby girl is born, the parents, and later on the little girl herself, will save pennies used to buy the wedding shoes in future.

According to German wedding traditions, when a baby girl is born in Germany, several trees are planted in honor of her birth. When her wedding date is set, the trees are sold, and the money is used for her dowry.

In some regions - the agreed upon abduction of the bride by her (and/or the groom's) friends.

Engagement rings are worn on the left hand. After the ceremony, the same rings are placed on the right hand. Engagement rings are commonly plain gold bands.

A couple should spend some time some time cleaning up - after their friends and family dropped loads of china in front of the door and made a huge mess during the Polterabend. Only the couple has the privilege to toss the china down the stairs the night before the ceremony. Each guest might bring a special food. This occasion continues until the early hours of the morning and may be followed by a breakfast at the bride's parents’ home.
This custom is figurative and is to wish a happy, lucky life to the new couple. The German proverb “Scherben bringen Glück,”( translated as ‘broken crockery brings you luck,’) originates from this custom

Driving the bride's furniture to her future home in a cart, with driver and musicians. At the threshold, the bridegroom greets her with a jug of beer; she gives him a pair of shoes, a shirt she spun and wove, and a key to her bridal chest.

A wedding contract called 'Heiratsvertrag' (previously 'Fraktur') is made, a precursor to prenuptial agreements.

The creation of a wedding newspaper by the friends and family of the bride and groom. This newspaper, or booklet, is filled with pictures, articles and stories of the engaged couple. The newspaper is sold at the wedding reception, to assist with the expenses of the honeymoon.

Next page: The Wedding

Like us on Facebook!