By Derinda Kuehn Stickel

The bride dance is a tradition here in eastern Montana among people of German-Russian descent and others, too. I don't think it is money grubbing at all because it is usually only a few dollars involved.

A tradition from my North Dakota and South Dakota relatives is for an older member of the bride's or groom's family to smash a plate on the floor during the dinner or recption and declare loudly enough for everyone to hear, "Hochzeit!" which, as you probably know, means "Wedding." I don't know the origins of the tradition, but I wish that I would have had it done at my wedding 30 years ago.

Best wishes to your son and his new bride. It is commendable that they are mindful of tradition.