HUNGARIAN WEDDING

Last week we attended our first Hungarian wedding. It is the law that all Hungarian weddings be performed by the government first. The government magistrate performed the wedding with some interesting traditions.  The couple sit on a bench in front of the magistrate while he or she reads the ceremony.  The couple each have a lighted candle and both together light a large candle on the podium.  The couple walk around to the front of the podium and sign their names in the official registry book.  The book is leather bound and about the size of an extra large family bible.
After the ceremony at the hivatal (government building), the couple can go to a church or other location to have a private ceremony if they like.

Hivatal in Old Buda where the wedding was performed.