This past summer I photographed one of my best friend’s weddings in Germany. Karin and I met in highschool, back in the early 90′s. We’ve managed to stay in touch and I was honored to be chosen as her wedding photographer.
I arrived only a few days before the wedding. In Germany weddings are legal only if you get married in a courthouse first (German word= Standesamt). So Karin and Heiko got married on Friday at Haus Kemnade, a residence to many royals over the years, built in the 13th century. Saturday was the church wedding.
Since Karin works for the police, she was surprised by many of her collegues as they held up the traditional cloth with Karin and Heiko’s initials inside a heart. Tradition in many German weddings is to cut the outline of the heart, meticulously, with nail scissors, then climb through it.
Friday: Courthouse Wedding
Saturday: Church Wedding
The ceremony was held at a small Protestant church in Hattingen, Germany. (about 1 hour drive north of Cologne) on a rainy and cool day. The clouds parted just in time as the couple exited the church as husband and wife and were greeted by well-wishers in the church’s courtyard. As clouds started billowing again, I had to quickly gather everyone for the formal pictures before the rain returned.
The wedding party and some of the guests rode in an American yellow schoolbus to the reception site at “Gastronomie Waldhaus”, a small, but upscale restaurant hidden in the woods. Dinner was fantastic, buffet style. But there was no wedding cake!
Karin and Heiko’s first dance was impressive! They were surrounded by their guests cheering them on as they danced a fast waltz. The joy and energy in that room was intoxicating! There was cheering and clapping and singing and laughing. Just beautiful!
Later that night, after DJ d.lite got the crowd dancing, the restaurant passed around portions of Currywurst, a midnight snack. Currywurst is a common dish served in my hometown: it’s Bratwurst, sliced and covered with a curry ketchup sauce. Yummy!
The party went on til late in the night. It was certainly a day I’ll never forget!
That’s me on the right, together with my two best friends, Verena and Karin. What a great time!!!
Congratulations Karin and Heiko!
