Wedding Bells Are Ringing

Sorry for the slacking on the blog, friends. I have been crazy busy and I just found a moment to write.

Once again we had a long vacation weekend. These Germans LOVE their vacation…you know with the whole 4 weeks they get off during the summer and then plus all the holidays. Ridic!

So we had a BBQ at the sister-in-laws house (total of 6 people) where we enjoyed way too much. We had everything from steak (fresh from her uncle’s farm…), two different kinds of chicken, sausages galore, etc etc. Plus three different kinds of salad  – Green, Pasta, and Potato. Lets just say I think our eyes were bigger than our stomachs. It was great though…afterwards we sat around and played a drinking game – a German one….in German of course. Nothing compared to “Kings” or “Down The River” – I love those games but will have to wait until next time to show them!!

It’s been so warm here and I can say that even for my pale freckled Irish skin, I have the gleaming bits of a tan coming on. (Yes I wear sunscreen…apply 65SPF  approximately every 20 mins.) We went to a wedding on Saturday, my first one which was beautiful but some things were different then how I would have done them. So, lets back up and let me explain how it works here. Typically, the idea of the wedding (church, recepetion, etc) is similar so it’s not terribly different but they do invite people from their hometown that are of the same age. So, we were invited because Toblerone went to school with the groom and they are the same age. As well as about 4 or 5 other guys that were with us. There are literally specific invitations with your birth year on them and everyone has to check yes or no if they will be attending. I don’t think for my wedding in the US I would be inviting anyone who is the same age. Thats too many people and I don’t even like half of them!

Culturally, they don’t have “engagement” rings like we know them in the states. You know, the glitz, the bling bling etc. Here it looks similar to a wedding band normally and thats the ring. This option is not for me. I expect the glistening diamond shining and blinding me and everyone else in the eyes. Thats just my stand on the matter.

So the wedding begins in a beautiful church somewhere along the Lake of Konstanz. The Groom greeted everyone outside and then told us all to go in as it got close to the wedding starting. As we sit the music starts and in walks the bride and groom hand-in-hand down the aisle together. Each have one friend as their maid of honor and best man. Thats another thing…it’s not normal to have more than one person in your bridal party. Wait until the Germs get a taste of how I’m going to do it. And, walking down the aisle together at the beginning? I don’t like that. There is so much to say about the man waiting for his bride to come and the first moment he sees her in front of everyone! I always watch the groom, it’s the greatest moment ever!

For a Catholic wedding it was quite quick though, I think it was 47 minutes and we were counting on an hour or two. It wasn’t all that bad if you didn’t consider the Disney songs they had two German girls sing. There were 4 songs in total. Interesting selection. We had Lion King’s “Can You Feel The Love Tonight” and also something from Mulan I think? I have no idea. Anyways, moving on.

Then from the church we walk to another building for champagne and some snacks (which went VERY fast with the amount of people that were there.) We said congrats to the bride and groom and sat down. I of course had the man coming around filling up the glasses just leave a bottle with me. Yes, this is how I do it. I mean, what do you expect…I’m around people speaking too much German, I’m bored, and I want to drink – to celebrate of course!

Moving on, so now we have to pack up in our cars and drive another 20 minutes away – with no directions – to a parking lot. Then we walk from there for 15 minutes down to the port and wait for a boat. On this boat we are to enjoy coffee and cake. No we’re not….I’m to enjoy oodles of wine, thank you very much.  So, it’s hot out…we have to go all over creation and I’m in 5 inch stilettos. I bet you can sense my happiness. Let me remind you that Germany has cobblestone roads and uneven stones everywhere….yes, try this in heels in the sweltering heat.

Anywho, the boat was a nice idea though. Perfect day however they didn’t have enough places for everyone to sit….and the service sucked. Other than that, it was ok. It was a two and a half hour ride on the lake going past Austria, Switzerland, and of course Germany. About 2 hours too long on the boat if you ask me. It doesn’t take long for people to consume coffee and cake. So, we of course found a bar and went from there!!!

At the end of the boat ride we said goodbye to the happy couple and as half of the people went to a Hotel about 10 minutes away from there (lots of traveling I would say…) for the reception, the other half of us headed back to our cars to call it a day. So normally here they invite only a handful of people to join in the dancing/dinner/etc. I’m not sure if thats normal in the states but I’m pretty sure that whoever is coming to my wedding will be there for the whole thing, beginning to end. And we won’t be traveling all over creation to do this. Literally 4 different venues for small little things is not that enjoyable for those of us who traveled far from home or in heels. ANYWAYS. Moving on.

Toblerone and I were obviously hungry by this point since the wedding started at 11am ( we had to leave our house by 8:30am) and it was now 5pm. He found this GORGEOUS spot up from the water in this beautiful restaurant. The food was great, the view was fantastic, AND a wedding was going on in the courtyard and a DJ was just setting up in the dining area so I got really excited and I’m KIND of hoping Toblerone chooses this for the wedding spot. (HINT HINT!)

What have I learned from this weekend’s experience? To be more open to other cultures and their traditions. Granted, I wasn’t sold on the whole wedding and I’ve never been to a wedding I didn’t like. I figured it had to do with the differences of how we do it in the US. Although they were slight…it was hard for me all the same. Also, Don’t make people travel to 8 million places!! It’s inconvenient and the whole time, every one was complaining about this. So, this wasn’t just me…it was everyone. However, the important thing was that the bride and groom were happy and they were. Their special day was just that…special.

Since I will be having two weddings – One in Germany, the other in the US…I’m open to traditions and cultural differences. I’m also open to having two dresses… 🙂

In other news…we found a landscaper!!!! We’re shelling out 21,700 Euro to fix everything to our liking, they will even move the jacuzzi to it’s designated spot! Can’t WAIT! So the 3 or 4 stairs leading down to the platform we want for the jacuzzi cost 2,000 Euro! Ha! What is that?! Stairs are so expensive…who knew! Either way, I’m SO excited! They will start the first week of July and it will take them 3 weeks! So, By the end of July we will have a yard, our garden will be complete. I just need to find some lilac trees and such. 🙂

Oh and also we just booked our tickets for our tour of the East Coast in the US. I can’t WAIT to see all of my family again. And of course stop in NYC, Cape Cod, and Florida for a little R&R…I mean, afterall…it is vacation!!!

Until next time, readers!!!

xoxoxoxoxo