Three German Wedding Traditions to Incorporate into Your Big Day

German culture is steeped in tradition, and wedding ceremonies are no different. While there is a growing trend in couples looking to break the mold and organize a more unique day, lots of ‘soonlyweds’ still prefer to plan the day’s schedule with convention at the heart of proceedings. 

But you don’t have to tie the knot on German soil to acknowledge the country’s culture. Whether you have German roots or are just fascinated by the country and its customs, there are lots of ways you can acknowledge German traditions before, during and after your special day. And best of all, it’s entirely up to you how many or how few you choose to incorporate. If you’re looking to integrate some Germanic customs into your wedding day, here are some of the top traditions to keep in mind.

Baumstamm Sägen

For something a little out of the ordinary, Baumstamm Sägen is a truly rustic tradition with an endearing meaning behind it. With a direct translation to mean ‘saw the tree trunks’, this custom sees the bride and groom work together to cut a log after the ceremony using a two-handled saw as the guests gather round to watch. 

It’s thought that this long-standing tradition symbolizes the couple’s willingness and ability to cooperate to overcome barriers together throughout their marriage. As romantic as this act is, it’s important to keep safety in mind by wearing protective equipment and ensuring the log is placed on a sturdy surface. 

Local Delicacies 

If you’re yet to decide on your wedding menu and want to acknowledge your German heritage, the wedding breakfast is a great place to do just that. When it comes to food, you can hardly get more traditional than Hochzeitssuppe, or ‘wedding soup’. This simple dish – which is usually based on a chicken broth – is packed with flavor and makes for the perfect starter. There are lots of regional variations to the recipe which see different ingredients added to the broth. 

Ultimately, you can change the flavors to suit your tastes, or trace your heritage back to a specific region and find local ingredients typically used to make the soup. As is customary at lots of weddings, the soup is usually served to the bride and groom before the guests receive their portions. For a sweet treat to round off the meal, bring some Spitzwecken to the party – a ten-foot wedding cake that is usually served up with a little theater. Carried into the dining room by a group of guests, the servers ritualistically pretend they can’t fit the cake through the door, before admitting defeat and sawing the cake in half before it’s portioned out to the guests. 

The Veil Dance

As you might have already spotted, there is a bit of a ‘messy’ theme to lots of German wedding traditions – and the same can be said for schleiertanz, or veil dance. As part of the evening’s festivities, the bride’s veil is removed and the couple are invited to dance beneath it, before unmarried guests rip it apart. Considered to be Germany’s answer to the bouquet toss, tradition dictates that whichever single guest tears off the biggest piece of the veil will be next in line to get married.