German Wedding Rings + Attire

German wedding 1901. Herr Von Ploennies, the Queensland Consul for Germany, married on 9 April 1901.  German wedding attire has changed somewhat over the centuries. Modern German brides wear white, of course. Their grooms wear dark suits or tuxedos. It wasn't always so.  

The German Wedding Dress

Traditionally, German brides wore black. She dressed at her parents' home, and her groom came for her wearing church clothes. This likely changed after Queen Victoria adopted black as the official mourning color in the 1860s. From then on, German brides chose a dress of their choice. While the dress might have been a simple everyday frock, she might decorate it elaborately with flowers and ribbons. Modern German brides wear white ballgowns, a tradition that took hold after several of Queen Victoria's daughters wore white for their weddings in the late 1800s. Today's bride also wears a fingertip veil, unless she marries in the Catholic church. A church wedding demands a floor-length veil trailing elegantly behind the bride down the aisle. She carries a traditional bouquet of white roses, orchids, and Bells of Mary (lilies of the valley). Her groom wears a suit or tuxedo.  

Rings + Things

Tied to her bouquet, the bride may carry a long white ribbon which comes into play as their guests depart for the reception. She may also wear white gloves and carry a small drawstring purse, for tissue and lip gloss, I presume. The groom carries a bit of grain for luck and wealth, and the bride carries a pinch of salt and a piece of bread to ensure a good harvest. In addition to her wedding jewelry, a German bride might also wear a jeweled tiara or a circlet of flowers. German couples exchange rings during their wedding ceremony. Customarily, they choose simple gold bands without diamonds. They wear these bands on their right ring finger to symbolize their union.