This past weekend in Dormagen reminded me of a church social in Düsseldorf more than 32 years ago.

Saturday evening was a special occasion for a special couple and the Dormagen congregation. Joerg Habich and Helga Moos were married late Saturday afternoon, and a wedding party of some 80 people enjoyed a sumptuous meal and a dance to celebrate the wedding. When Joerg and Helga first talked to me about getting married, Joerg indicated that he wanted to have a very small wedding with just a few people present. Then he thought it over and wondered whether it wouldn’t also be a chance to share their special event with his and Helga’s many friends and acquaintances in the church. So with some coaxing from their friends, they decided to invite the whole church! A group of dedicated helpers planned and prepared the entire afternoon and evening event. On the big day, the Dormagen congregation was present, along with guests from the Darmstadt, Hamburg, Switzerland and a number of young adults visiting for an activity in Belgium.

When I wanted to get married in the summer of 1974, I had the same idea as Joerg. A small wedding, a short reception and then take off – as is often done in the USA. The only problem was, I was living in Germany and Monica and I were getting married in Düsseldorf. My boss told me that things were done differently in Germany, and my wedding would be a church activity with everyone invited. Since he also offered to help foot the bill, I thought it was a pretty good idea, too.

After last Saturday’s event was over, Joerg and Helga were of the same opinion. They enjoyed having the church and their relatives as guests and would have regretted doing it any other way. For our young children it was a special event, too, since they could witness someone getting married. In today’s society where so many people decide to just live together without getting married, that was a good example for our young children and a chance for three of them to participate in the wedding ceremony.