Even though there are a lot of weddings around the world, each one follows a different set of cultural rules about how the day should be spent. Everything from money dances to warding against evil requires guests. If you want to delight the couple and their family on their special day, you should be aware of these things whether you are attending a destination wedding or one for a friend from a different cultural background. In Germany, using water to toast is unlucky. By doing this, you are wishing the married couple and yourself death or bad luck. Keep that in mind if you don’t want to consume alcohol at a German wedding. If you don’t drink alcohol, you should select something other than water, such as lemonade or another soft drink. Another tradition in Germany is a night called “Polterabend.” The night before the wedding, this involves going to the bride’s house and shattering ceramics outside her door; the couple will clean this up the next day as proof that they can get along and have a happy marriage. You are not being forced to join your buddies for a night of vandalism in front of the bride’s house; instead, you are doing the bride a favor! In Venezuela, it is traditional for the newlyweds to make an effort to leave the reception unnoticed by the wedding party. Good luck to the couple if they can pull it off, and even better luck to you if you spot them. Watch for them, but don’t be surprised if you can’t find them.
