Old Retired Guy Blog
July 8 - 14, 2010
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Eichstätt (Page 3 of 5)
We rode with Gerhard and Ursula Müller to the church. The guests were gathered outside under some shady trees. The priest came out and greeted everyone. After making some additional remarks that I didn't understand, he and the wedding party led a procession of guests into the church for the ceremony. Kathy and I went in last so that the couple's family and friends could get the best seats. The best part of the ceremony was the music performed by family and friends of the bride. Simone's brother Andi, who teaches music at the Catholic University in Eichstätt, assembled and arranged a beautiful selection songs for the wedding. Although I wish I'd been able to understand more than a few random words, I suspect that the ceremony was similar to wedding ceremonies in the United States. Even if the words weren't the same, the sentiments certainly were, and the love and happiness showing in the smiles on the faces of the guests were the same. I was very happy to be there despite the language barrier.
After the ceremony we rode with some of Simone's friends to the town of Neuburg on the Danube where the reception was held at the Arco Schlösschen, a beautiful location on a hillside overlooking the Danube River. The Castle Neuburg was visible across the river. We sat at tables on the patio while the bride and groom welcomed all of the guests. They then cut the cake and we lined up to get some. In addition to the official wedding cake there were about ten other cakes from which the hungry guests could choose. I suspect that some people tried more than one of the cakes.
Guests were given small pieces of paper and asked to write down their best wishes for the couple. Then we all went out to the parking lot and tied our notes to helium balloons. After a simple 3..2..1 countdown we all released our balloons and watched them rise into the blue sky over the Danube. We went inside and found our places for dinner. We shared a table with a young couple from St. Louis and another young couple with a man from Germany and a woman was Poland. Since they spoke English very well we were all able to converse very well during the meal. In fact, the menu at our table was also in English. Simone had really done everything imaginable to make us feel comfortable at her wedding. By the way, in case you're wondering, I had the brook trout and Kathy had the steak. The food was excellent as was the wine. As the meal ended the DJ set up his sound system and the dancing started with the traditional first dance by the newlyweds. Then the bride danced with her father as the groom danced with his mother and soon the guests joined in. During a break in the dancing the couple sat in chairs back to back and was asked questions like "Who's the sweetest?" and "Who does most of the cooking?" They used signs to answer "Sie" (she) or "Er" (he). The crowd enjoyed it most when their answers disagreed. At midnight the cakes were put out again along with fruit and cheeses so that guests could have a snack before the reception ended. Kathy and I finished with a midnight dance and then enjoyed a snack as we stood out on the patio and gazed across the river where the Castle Neuburg glowed in the dark. It was a great wedding and a great reception and we had a wonderful time.
'Eichstätt' |
