Before
I was kindly included in a last-minute plus-one to the wedding of a family friend who I'd never met before. At the rehearsal dinner (or the German equivalent, the Polterabend) the guests smashed ceramic and porcelain items on the ground. I was fresh in Germany, so this was all pretty out of context and frightening, but my boyfriend explained that it's a tradition - reminding the couple that life is sometimes difficult and you have to work together to clean it up.
The bride kind of half-heartedly motioned to the groom to sweep it up. He did a little bit, then just moved on to talk to his friends, leaving most of the shards strewn around the yard. Additionally, I don't think I saw the couple talk to each other once over the next three days of celebrations.
It was a gorgeous wedding, and I'm so grateful that I was invited (really good way to begin living in a new country), but it wasn't surprising to hear that they'd divorced a few years later.
After
I was given a plus 1 at the last minute and I had never seen a family friend’s wedding before. During a rehearsal dinner (or bachelor party), guests threw ceramic and porcelain items on the floor. I was new to Germany, so everything was out of context, scary, but my boyfriend explained to couples the tradition of remembering that life is sometimes hard and that we need to clean up together.
The bridegroom went halfway to the bridegroom to take her away. He worked for a while, then talked to his friends and distributed most of the broken pieces to the garden. Also, I haven’t seen the couple talk to each other in the next three days.
It was a beautiful wedding, and I am very grateful to be invited (a good way to live in the new country), but it is not surprising to hear that they are divorcing a few years later.