The reception was at a bar called the Saloppe. It is an outdoor bar with a gypsy/travel circus theme. A site absolutely perfect for their group of friends, the Kölner Bunch, who grew up together camping, travelling, & partying together. Dinner was provided by a Ukrainian Restaurant owned by a friend of Jan & Julia's. The theme was simple: different, interesting, & fun. The food, people, & setting all fit the 'stimmung' perfectlz. We danced, played foosball & Ping Pong, and mingled, while the kids swam & bounced in blow-up toys. The night highlighted with a fireworks show put on by Jan's mother. We taxied home around 4am.
SATURDAY
Unlike American wedding receptions, Jan & Julia's friends woke up Sunday morning and made their way back to the Saloppe to clean up. There is a saying, "Viele Hände macht schnell zum Ende" (Many hands finish quickly) and we had the entire Saloppe cleaned up and ready for business within an hour. In the heatwave that Dresden is currently battling, having to work for a few hours in the sun would've been crippling, but with 20+ people helping, easy was the work. For a final get-together, we all went on an hour hike into the Dresdener Heide, a large forest across the street from the Saloppe. An easy walk through the woods with friends & family that ended in the Weisse Hirsch, where there is an old Concert Hall and Beer Garden. There we hung out & chatted with one-another as people slowly started making their way home.
Everything considered, this was a perfect wedding. Pun not intended, but the one minus, the heat, provided a fantastic ice-breaker and created much conversation.