The master of ceremonies

A man enters the yard, wearing a top hat with ribbons (8) and carrying a colourfully decorated walking stick (9). The whole family comes out. The man recites a poem and raises a glass together with the family. They all toast to the party to come. Then he leaves again, with a tip in his pocket. The man is known as the 'neuger': usually a farmhand, who on the wedding day acts as a master of ceremonies of sorts. 

Getting married means a big change in the lives of the prospective wedding partners, which is extensively referred to during the wedding. For example, the proclaimer picks up the groom at his parental home with a decorated farm wagon and takes hum to the farm of his soon-to-be in-laws. Everything is quiet there and all doors are closed. Standing on the farm wagon, the proclaimer again recites a poem in which he claims the bride on behalf of the groom. He also tells about the family the groom leaves behind, and about the parents-in-law who will take care of him from now on. After claiming the bride, the barn doors are opened, and the groom is allowed to come in and look for his bride. And after he has found her: party time!