DANISH WEDDING TRADITIONS

Danish Wedding Traditions

At Danish weddings it is very important that everyone can see each other during the reception. So guests are often seated at long tables, sometimes placed in long horseshoe shapes so that (almost) everyone can see each other when glasses are raised during the many toasts along the way.

Family members and guests are encouraged to contribute during the evening. This helps “mix the pot” a bit and lightens the mood.

Kissing is really important at Danish wedding receptions, but there are rules and protocols to be aware of…

Once someone starts clinking cutlery on their plates or their glass, everyone else soon follows, and the happy couple have to stand on their chairs and kiss (easier said than done after a few glasses of champagne).

If the guests all start stamping their feet, then the bride and groom have to kiss again – this time, under the table.

If the groom leaves the dinner table, all the male guests form an eager queue and get to kiss the bride on the cheek. But fair’s fair, if the bride sneaks out for a minute then all the girls get to kiss the groom too.

Danes love to sing and share stories about the bride and groom, by way of a speech, poem or performance. Some families are gifted with “song writers” and will usually get together and write a song about the couple, using a well-known tune and making it personal by changing the words to make it their own. The song is printed onto paper and presented rolled up in a hat or a basket.

It is a very important tradition that you must dance the wedding waltz before midnight. This avoids any bad luck in the marriage. And it is not uncommon for the bride and groom to take dancing lessons before their big day. For the less proficient waltzers a wedding shuffle is fine too. The guests circle around the couple, clapping in unison as they waltz or shuffle, taking one step closer and closer until the bride and groom cannot move. At this point the father of the bride dances with his daughter and the mother of the groom dances with her son. The guests around find their partner, and everyone dance on the dancefloor.

But grooms, look out! After the first dances the male guests pounce on the groom, hoik him upside down and pull off his shoes. They then cut off the end of his socks. Grooms who value their toes are advised to assist their assailants who may be less than proficient when wielding scissors whilst fuelled by bubbly.

And for those of you who sign up for Gertrude’s Winter Wedding Dinners at Landbogaarden – look out! Any of the above may apply…

Have fun!!