When I played in Germany in April, I was asked to return as a surprise guest performer for a  wedding in July!  I was delighted to get to play at Bente and Max’s big day!   Their celebration took place in the grounds of a gorgeous school, by the sea near Kiel.  

I snuck in before the speeches and grabbed some dinner, sitting with her friends, hiding out down the back of the room.  Dessert was finishing ane everyone went outside to listen to the speeches and I hide in the toilets, no less! Bente’s mum announced me to the crowd (the majority of them knew there was a surprise!) and I kicked off with my wedding song, causing tears all around!  I performed for about an hour before the dancing and games kicked off indoors.  There were a few gorgeous traditions that I’d never seen before – the first was the presentation of gifts on the corridor – mostly gifts containing money – but each note was folded into a shape or character and presented in a unique way!  Before the first dance – there was a pass the parcel sort of game.  Every time the music stopped, the person holding the box would take out a piece of paper and read what was on it – each time an instruction for a gift to be given to the bride and groom within the first year of their marriage. The gifts were generally spending time with them in one fashion or another – a totally cool idea! 

On this trip I also got to play in the Spieker in Eckernfoerde and a lovely little house concert in Leezen, outdoors on the patio! I also got to swim in the Baltic, which contrary to how that sounds, it was glorious!