It’s still summer here in Germany.  Along with our annual Mediterranean beach escape, my family and I have been hitting the Autobahn to attend various weddings of friends here in Germany. Since I also had my church wedding in Germany, I have closely observed with special interest the various traditions which take place at these festive occasions. I’ve listed the various games and activities which I’ve seen or heard of at German weddings. These games are usually organized by other guests or family members of the bridal pair.  Take this as a preliminary guide, if you will, so that you know what to expect and to perhaps strategically duck out for a smoking break, regardless if you smoke or not.

Cutting a Heart Out:  As the bride and groom are emerging newly married from the church or Standesamt (civil registry office), friends of the bride and groom have prepared a sheet with a heart drawn on it.  The sheet is held in front of the couple and they must cut the heart out in order to pass.  In order to enhance the challenge, they are typically given the smallest pair of scissors such as nail scissors in order to symbolize overcoming the first challenge in their new union. Typically, the husband then carries his new wife through the heart.

Most of the other activities typically take place at the Hochzeitsfeier, the party commonly known as the reception at an American wedding.

Group Art. Guests are invited to paint a square of a canvas. I’ve seen this executed in different forms. The theme could be to draw a heart and personalize it. At my wedding, various guests were given squares from one painting.

One wedding guest getting artistic.

The goal is that the couple will have a work of art to hang in their marital home by the end of the night. If the couple is lucky, they will indeed have a palatable souvenir ready to hang from their wedding. READ MORE »