You are viewing a low-graphics version of this page. Click the headline to view full version:
Best man's role at a German civil wedding
Info on what his official duties are
What exactly does the best man do at the civic wedding here? What is his official function? Are there any special duties to be fulfilled?
Officially all you do is witness the marriage ceremony and sign that the couple really is married now. That is all.
The duties of a Trauzeuge do go further than the official function though, do you want to know about that as well? (You could just google Trauzeuge, there are several pages about the what they do out there.)
(Oh, and of course you have to have ID with you, I suppose in your case that would be your passport.)
The duties of a Trauzeuge do go further than the official function though, do you want to know about that as well? (You could just google Trauzeuge, there are several pages about the what they do out there.)
(Oh, and of course you have to have ID with you, I suppose in your case that would be your passport.)
I presume you still have to do a speech later at the reception?
Yeah, that is why I asked if he wants to know about the other functions as well... officially a Trauzeuge does not have to do a speech or anything. But it is tradition to do that.
Source: http://www.ballon24.de/tipps-ideen/hochzeit/trauzeuge.html
Another link: http://www.brautkleider.org/Trauzeuge-30.htm
I don't think the role of a best man here differs much from that of a best man elsewhere but the only official function is to witness and sign at the marriage ceremony.
QUOTE
Der Trauzeuge ist der unentbehrliche Organisator im Hintergrund. Er ist die rechte Hand des Bräutigams und kennt den zeremoniellen Ablauf des Tages aus dem eff eff. Aufmerksamkeit und Hilfsbereitschaft gehören ebenso zu seinen Tugenden wie Bescheidenheit und Zurückhaltung. Unterstützt wird er von der Trauzeugin.
Der Trauzeuge ...
* unterstützt das Brautpaar bei der Vorbereitung und Planung der Hochzeit
* organisiert den Junggesellenabend
* nimmt an sämtlichen vorhochzeitlichen Events teil
* achtet darauf, dass die Platzanweiser (wenn vorhanden) rechtzeitig erscheinen und die Sitzverteilung geordnet abläuft
* bewahrt die Trauringe sicher auf und übergibt sie zur rechten Zeit dem Bräutigam
* begleitet die Trauzeugin nach der Zeremonie aus der Kirche
* ist der erste, der einen Toast auf das Hochzeitspaar ausbringt und ggf. die schriftlichen Glückwünsche verliest
* mischt sich unter die Gäste und führt interessante und überaus geistreiche Gespräche
* sorgt, bei entsprechender Vereinbarung, für die diskrete Bezahlung der Organisten, Musiker, Servicekräfte usw. (Briefumschläge vorbereiten)
* kümmert sich um einen zeitlich geordneten Ablauf der vorbereiteten Spiele und Reden
* sorgt für einen bunten Abgang.
Der Trauzeuge ...
* unterstützt das Brautpaar bei der Vorbereitung und Planung der Hochzeit
* organisiert den Junggesellenabend
* nimmt an sämtlichen vorhochzeitlichen Events teil
* achtet darauf, dass die Platzanweiser (wenn vorhanden) rechtzeitig erscheinen und die Sitzverteilung geordnet abläuft
* bewahrt die Trauringe sicher auf und übergibt sie zur rechten Zeit dem Bräutigam
* begleitet die Trauzeugin nach der Zeremonie aus der Kirche
* ist der erste, der einen Toast auf das Hochzeitspaar ausbringt und ggf. die schriftlichen Glückwünsche verliest
* mischt sich unter die Gäste und führt interessante und überaus geistreiche Gespräche
* sorgt, bei entsprechender Vereinbarung, für die diskrete Bezahlung der Organisten, Musiker, Servicekräfte usw. (Briefumschläge vorbereiten)
* kümmert sich um einen zeitlich geordneten Ablauf der vorbereiteten Spiele und Reden
* sorgt für einen bunten Abgang.
Source: http://www.ballon24.de/tipps-ideen/hochzeit/trauzeuge.html
Another link: http://www.brautkleider.org/Trauzeuge-30.htm
I don't think the role of a best man here differs much from that of a best man elsewhere but the only official function is to witness and sign at the marriage ceremony.
Show up halfway sober.
I have been Trauzeuge at a German wedding.
When my wife & I got married just over 19 years ago two friends of ours were the witnesses & when they got married a year later I was witness (as was also their Danish aunt).
As said above you should show up sober & just have to sign on the dotted line. At our wedding the only (short) speech was by my father-in-law & I certainly didn't give a speech at our friend's wedding.
You get a free meal out of it
In each case the wedding pair organised the Polterabend so witnesses only had to turn up then...
When my wife & I got married just over 19 years ago two friends of ours were the witnesses & when they got married a year later I was witness (as was also their Danish aunt).
two friends of ours were the witnesses & when they got married a year later I was witness (as was also their Danish aunt).As said above you should show up sober & just have to sign on the dotted line. At our wedding the only (short) speech was by my father-in-law & I certainly didn't give a speech at our friend's wedding.
You get a free meal out of it
In each case the wedding pair organised the Polterabend so witnesses only had to turn up then...
QUOTE (Mariposa @ Dec 28 2007, 1:59 am) 
(Oh, and of course you have to have ID with you, I suppose in your case that would be your passport.)
And of course, he/she has to speak the language. Something I didn't think about (and no-one reminded me either) when I picked an Italian to be my best man. The Italian was turned down, none of the German guests had an ID with them, so after a bit of discussion I had to resort to some unknown civil servant.
An omen that I chose to ignore .
.
Many thanks for the replies.
Okeydokey, the church ceremony isn't for a few months yet, and that bit's pretty clear.
A round-up would suggest then that showing up sober with ID and a grasp of the German language is the key, presumably to acting as a witness of sound mind, and shouting "Don't tase me dude!" at random intervals not so much.
Okeydokey, the church ceremony isn't for a few months yet, and that bit's pretty clear.
A round-up would suggest then that showing up sober with ID and a grasp of the German language is the key, presumably to acting as a witness of sound mind, and shouting "Don't tase me dude!" at random intervals not so much.
Thanks for the giggle, Punchbear. "Don't tase me dude!" heh heh har.
I like all the other tips above as well, especially the 'modesty' and 'self-effacement'. Sounds sort of Hugh Grant sexy. Don't forget it's also your duty to sleep with at least one of the bridesmaids.
"Don't tase me dude!" heh heh har.
I like all the other tips above as well, especially the 'modesty' and 'self-effacement'. Sounds sort of Hugh Grant sexy. Don't forget it's also your duty to sleep with at least one of the bridesmaids.
QUOTE (Kat @ Dec 28 2007, 9:51 am)
Don't forget it's also your duty to sleep with at least one of the bridesmaids.
That must be a "down South" thing. No-one told me about that up here (Maybe because there were no bridesmaids...)
(Maybe because there were no bridesmaids...)
QUOTE (Kat @ Dec 28 2007, 9:51 am)
Don't forget it's also your duty to sleep with at least one of the bridesmaids.
I was best man at my Dad's wedding to his second wife. That's somewhere I definatly wasn't going.
No one told me you had to dress like a pirate at a German funeral, but I did it anyways. They keep their grannies well fit here.
QUOTE (Jack @ Dec 28 2007, 9:25 am)
And of course, he/she has to speak the language. Something I didn't think about (and no-one reminded me either) when I picked an Italian to be my best man. The Italian was turned down, none of the German guests had an ID with them, so after a bit of discussion I had to resort to some unknown civil servant.
An omen that I chose to ignore .
An omen that I chose to ignore .
Ah yes, I suppose it makes sense that a witness has to understand what they have to certify having witnessed.
Wikipedia says that since July 1, 1998 you do not have to have Trauzeugen any more for a standesamtliche Trauung.
Give the bride one last good time beforehand.
Tradition is to pretend the groom doesn't know about this.
And the bride has to make a big show of wanting to be faithful to him already and such.
But it's expected of you.
We wish you much luck Punchbear. Do report back, with pics.
Tradition is to pretend the groom doesn't know about this.
And the bride has to make a big show of wanting to be faithful to him already and such.
But it's expected of you.
We wish you much luck Punchbear. Do report back, with pics.
QUOTE (Mariposa @ Dec 28 2007, 3:59 pm)
Wikipedia says that since July 1, 1998 you do not have to have Trauzeugen any more for a standesamtliche Trauung.
We didn't need any for ours last year, so I guess the official duties are nowadays approximately nowt. Which is good, since we didn't have a best man, or bridesmaids...
Well, we married on Friday, Dec 28 in Unterschleissheim and we definitely needed the Trauzeugen. We each had one. Neither had to do anything except present an Id, and sign the paperwork. Of course, my friend who was there for me also held my bouquet when we swapped rings.
You are viewing a low fidelity version of this page. Click to view the full page.