An Austrian Wedding

We’re hoping over the Atlantic Ocean today to share a very special event with all of you just as I said we would last Friday when we celebrated a green US wedding.  No – Martin and I aren’t literally heading to Europe right now.  We’ve still got the rest of the summer in the United States.  But still.  With wedding memories like these, who wouldn’t want to hop back to Europe for the day?

One of the most beautiful advantages of marrying a European is gaining a European family.  This is Martin’s sister and her new husband.  Last year, they had one of the most breathtaking weddings in Vienna, Austria where they met.  (How could a wedding in Vienna not be breathtaking, right?)

austria-wedding

The groom is Russian.  All of his family and friends were speaking Russian or German that day.  The bride’s family and friends were speaking English, Czech, and German.  It’s amazing how love has no language barriers, as was clear by everyone attempting to unite despite the language barriers that day.  The bride and groom primarily speak German with one another, though rumor has it my sister-in-law has picked up some amazing Russian skills since the wedding.  I dream of speaking two languages some day; she’s already at four.  Amazing, huh?

This picture chokes me up every time.  It’s my sister-in-law in front of the church just before she got married.

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Vienna is known for its fine musicians and breathtaking classical music.  It’s been that way for centuries (hello Mozart).  Lucky for everyone attending, even the bride and groom decided to share their talent.  Talk about jaw-dropping amazing music.

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From here, traditions really start changing from what I grew up knowing in the United States.  After leaving the church, it is customary for guests to give flowers to the newlyweds.  Can you imagine what their home must have smelled like the next day?

wedding-flowers

The wedding cake also comes with a unique custom: sparklers shooting off the sides.  I really can’t tell you what this custom means (anyone know?), though I can say it’s incredible.  Fireworks on your wedding cake – now that’s got to be every guy’s dream.

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The most interesting custom doesn’t actually happen on the day of the wedding ceremony.  It happens on a different day.  The bride and groom go to the courthouse to officially file a wedding certificate to declare their marriage in both Austria and Germany the day before.  It isn’t a signed deal at the church the day of the celebration like it is in the United States.  The bride and groom dress up in traditional wedding outfits, only a slightly more casual version, and head to the courthouse before all the chaos really gets going.  Because most Austrians are Catholic (and you can’t remarry in the Church), my sister-in-law told me that many couples like to have a court wedding first.  Then a couple of years later, they’ll do the big church wedding.  Interesting, huh?

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And that wraps up one sensational and completely sweet wedding day… and the official day.  (Note to the fam: we love you guys, and we’ll see you soon!)

Now where do you suppose we’ll be hoping to next?  Nothing’s off the limits when you’re an international couple, so stay tuned until next Friday…

Peek into all the international weddings our friends and family have shared on Making This Home (from Romania to Japan) on the International Wedding Page.  Of course it includes our wedding, too!