Tradition
Once upon a time in Wuppertal, a German Wedding Tradition
Aug
Weddings are a collection of traditions and rituals dotted from engagement to anniversary. While some weddings may follow a classic formula, others will follow another beat. Whatever the choices, traditions are a beautiful way of connecting couples to their past and to their futures. They are also a way to add some extra love and fun to the day.
One wedding guest recently travelled to Wuppertal, Germany for a wedding. The experience opened her eyes to the role of wedding traditions and the fun which quirky ones can bring to celebrations. When the Bride and Groom nailed shoes to a tree, symbolic of stopping the other from running away, this guest loved being a part of something so old, yet so new to her.
At this Wuppertal wedding, guests watched as a wooden log was placed between the bride and groom. The log represented the first obstacle the newlyweds must overcome, in a lifetime of inevitable future obstacles! With a two-handle long-saw, and cheered on by their guests, the couple worked as a team until that log was successfully cut in two.
Later, during the reception, like a garter is tossed or the cake is cut, the bridal shoes were then festively auctioned off to guests, with the groom putting in the last bid and returning the shoes back to his wife.
Maybe you don’t want to put a nail through your beautiful shoe, or risk your cousin’s new girlfriend not returning them, but the history of shoes and wedding traditions is colourful. In Sweden the bride’s parents put a coin in each shoe. In Greece they write the names on the sole of the shoe, with the last legible name believed to be the next person to wed. In India, they hide the groom’s shoes.
Wedding traditions can reflect the blending of families or culture, acknowledge people who have passed, represent a promise that couples want to begin for their own family, or they may just be for fun. Most importantly, if they reflect you – the couple – it’s a good tradition to follow.
Panache Advice:
“Something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue,” is one of the most embraced wedding traditions in Australia. New or blue wedding shoes are a simple way to incorporate this tradition into your wedding day!
