I went to world's greatest destination wedding ever in September - the marriage of the sister of a life-long friend to her soul mate whom she met in college. For four fun-filled days and nights, we ate German pretzels, clinked beer mugs, and danced both the Hora and the polka, at this celebration of the union between a blonde-haired, blue-eyed German beauty and a tall dark and handsome eastern European Jew.
As we wound our way through the narrow, tree-lined streets of Bavaria, I couldn't help but think, "There's no way any other wedding I go to will compare to this one."
Right before the big day, we drank cocktails at Katrina's bachelorette party in charming Riedenburg, a quiet town set on the Danube and about an hour outside of Munich. The men toasted at David's bachelor party at a beer hall just across town before the groups of men and women met up to share a pint at the end of the night at a smoky pub in the center of the village.
Pre-wedding festivities also included a trip to a Bavarian monastery claiming to serve the oldest beer recipe in the world - which, by the way, is also organic (cheers for a healthy brew!)
The rehearsal dinner itself was better than some actual weddings I've been to, with a live band, dancing, and flowing local beer on tap. Guests couldn't help but wonder how the actual wedding day would beat that evening.
But beat it, they did. The wedding ceremony and reception was held at a beautiful castle set up on a hill. Perfect Operatic notes filled the air as the bride walked down the aisle in a small garden ceremony. Traditions from both cultures were included as they said their vows in front of friends and family.
Around 2pm, the champagne was popped and the festivities began (and didn't end until 3am). The food and beer flowed throughout the night, including a "snack" (huge spread of food) again at midnight for the guests still tearing it up on the dance floor.
Germans certainly know how to throw an incredible wedding.
