Austria & United States
A wedding is always the bringing together of two different traditions and families and – in our case – the bringing together of two different cultures. We are excited for you to be part of our special intercultural day. Be prepared to be surprised.
We thought it would be fun to share a little bit about how traditional weddings in Austria & the states look like. Although traditions are different from region to region and even from family to family, there is some common elements. So here it goes:
Austria
- A traditional wedding day will start with “Rausschießen” (wedding shooting) of the bride & groom. Close friends will come at dawn (5 or 6 in the morning) to awaken the bride and groom with gunshoots and/or firecrackers. The groom/bride is expected to serve them breakfast afterwards (oftentimes, the mum/dad will have been informed beforehand by those friends).
- At some point in the morning the bride has to be fetched from her parent’s house by the groom and friends.
- Afterwards the bride and groom drive to the ceremony site. On the way there, they might be stopped by friends or family. The couple has to stop and complete a task (for example; solving a riddle or sawing through a log together) before they can proceed.
- The bride & groom then continue to the registry office together with the immediate family. Here the legal wedding ceremony is performed. (Although some couples prefer to do this a week before and not on the same day).
- In the early afternoon the church ceremony will take place. Afterwards, an “agape” (snack and drinks) is served for all guests.
- After some time of chatting/taking pictures/etc. the newlyweds and those guests invited for the evening entertainment will drive to the evening location in a caravan while everybody is honking.
- After dinner, traditions like cake cutting & first dance are celebrated.
- Although this is not a true Austrian tradition (more of a German one), Raphi is used to the evening being filled with program, skits, songs, performances, tasks for the wedding couple, etc.
- The dance floor will be open up until midnight when the bride will be officially given to the groom after a speech by her father.
- Oftentimes, another snack is served at midnight such as for example goulash soup.
- Depending on the couple and the wedding guests, the party will continue with dancing & drinking till the early morning hours.
United States
- Though there are traditions that are normally followed in weddings, it’s important to note that it all depends on the couple as well. So things tend to vary wedding to wedding.
- The bride and groom will ask close friends or family to be a part of their “wedding party.” The bridesmaids and groomsmen will be there to support the couple as they get married and will normally stand up front next to the couple during the ceremony.
- The week before the wedding usually involves a few events before the actual wedding day. This could include a bachelor/bachelorette party where the groom and bride spend time partying or relaxing with their wedding parties (or with more friends and family).
- The night before the wedding, everyone involved in the wedding will attend a rehearsal to go over what the ceremony will look like. Afterwards, the people will eat dinner together.
- The morning of the wedding, the groom and bride and their parties will take time to get ready and beautify themselves.
- Some couples prefer that the bride is seen for the first time as she is walking down the aisle. Others prefer to have a “first look” where the couple will meet before the ceremony to have a moment to themselves and to have pictures taken.
- What happens during the ceremony depends on the individual couple. However, normally there is music, a message, and exchanging of vows.
- Depending if photos still need to take pictures, there could be a bit of a break before the reception. This could include snacks and drinks.
- The reception dinner will take place followed by speeches from the best man & maid of honor about the bride & groom.
- Sometimes games are played . Dancing is soon to follow.
- The couple is sent off by their guests and the party will normally come to an end before midnight.