Warhammer wedding traditions

By PadreBoniface, in WFRP Gamemasters

Do you know any resources or have some ideas for warhammer wedding games and traditions? Aside from eating and drinking of course ;) Of course I am talking about the Empire, but any ideas are welcomed.

Have you tried looking in Tome of Salvation (2nd Ed.) ? There should be a part regarding festivals, rites and so on...

Try "Sigmar's heirs: a guide to the Empire" (2nd) edition. It either has what you're looking for or it will give you some ideas.

Have you tried looking in Tome of Salvation (2nd Ed.) ? There should be a part regarding festivals, rites and so on...

Ah, that's right! good call!

Thank you guys!

OKAY, I have researched both positions and, have to say, I was disappointed. There were merely some inspirations, no real help. So, I did some internet research about some wedding traditions from various countries and noted down some that could suit Warhammer world. Keep in mind, that some of them may be the traditions that are practiced in your own country, so it wont be anything new for your players ;)

You can use some of the ideas to bring the wedding into life. For example there is this adventure seed: Nastassia's Wedding which you might like.

Here we go, in no particular order:

During the whole wedding ceremony in the temple the newly weds hold candles, than share a fish (eat it.. sometimes people vomit aftear eating unprepared fish, but well, that’s Warhammer!!1) and put bracelets/rings on each others hand.

The bride is covered with temporary, symbolic tattoos.

Brass pennies are thrown over the newly-weds by the guests after the wedding ceremony is finished. They have to pick all of them up.

Groom has to carry the Bride over the doorstep to the ballroom. It is sometimes tragic as the merchants' daughters tend to eat a lot, while 16-old accountants in the Old World might be really fragile.

[During our session the wedding took place in Marienburg] There was a tradition, that the Heads of the families sign a mutual agreement (on paper) which includes all the dowry details, as well as other important deals between both families (adventure seed!). Agreement is negotiated before the wedding, but officially signed, say, at midnight, as the first of 2 acts that "formalise" the relationship.

(Another seed) Bride is usually unhappy with her father's choice and during the wedding runs away with her 'true lover'.

I introduced a dance that 'everyone knows' which is a mixture of folks dance and Rueda de Casino - so characters dance a folk dance, there is a 'leader' who shouts the name of the figure and everyone does it in pairs. Some figures require you to swap a partner. It is nice chance for some coordination tests when you want to impress a lady, provoke her husband etc.

In cities like Marienburg the living space is often limited, so the families rent halls/main rooms in taverns. There is an official invitation from the side of bride's father for all the regular guests to join the party.

The bride wears white dress with a red ribbon/bow, which is a symbol of virginity.

Of course there is an band: chimes, trumpet, lyre, lute, panpipe, primitive fiddle, mandolin, zither... sometimes a horn , clavichord, flute and of course singers.

During the party the most important is Cock/Rooster Dance when people pretend to be roosters, cluck and so on.

Guests are supposed to provide gifts as well as a pot (metal or clay). After, the newly-weds have to take care of the dishes and use them in their household - if it is broken, then it of course brings bad luck.

Hope you can use some for your adventures!

Also in Middenheim its custom for the groom to wear the skin of a wolf he has slain. Actually this has less to do with marriage rituals and more with the fact that in Midenheim your aren't really a man unless you have killed a wolf on your own. :)

Ok here's some I made up:

The bride and groom say their marriage vows while both holding the same warhammer. (Sigmar)

Near the Drakwald it is custom for the groom (often acompanied by his father/ best man) to hunt a wild stag or boar for the wedding feast. Comming back emptyhanded is a bad omen and will usually see the marriage canceled. Of course the drakwald is far from safe...

In Sylvania, if the local lord claims Jus Prima Noctis, don't argue with him. Just don't.

That's why brides wear garlands of garlic and good luck charms.

For folowers of Ranald, it's Ok if the wedding rings are "borrowed".

Also in Middenheim its custom for the groom to wear the skin of a wolf he has slain. Actually this has less to do with marriage rituals and more with the fact that in Midenheim your aren't really a man unless you have killed a wolf on your own. :)

Ok here's some I made up:

The bride and groom say their marriage vows while both holding the same warhammer. (Sigmar)

Near the Drakwald it is custom for the groom (often acompanied by his father/ best man) to hunt a wild stag or boar for the wedding feast. Comming back emptyhanded is a bad omen and will usually see the marriage canceled. Of course the drakwald is far from safe...

In Sylvania, if the local lord claims Jus Prima Noctis, don't argue with him. Just don't.

That's why brides wear garlands of garlic and good luck charms.

For folowers of Ranald, it's Ok if the wedding rings are "borrowed".

About Middenheim - you may want to check the "City of the White Wolf" from 1st edition. I think there could be a few lore snippets concerning marriage and such.