Mass brawl after Catholic wedding

Escalation in the Sauerland

Mass brawl at wedding – bride hospitalized

So much for the happiest day of their lives: A brawl broke out among guests at a wedding reception during a tie-throwing game. Up to 30 people attacked each other in North Rhine-Westphalia. It was all too much for the bride.

A wedding celebration in the Sauerland region degenerated into a brawl over the weekend. According to police, disagreements arose during a so-called "wedding game," leading to a full-blown fight involving numerous participants. A 39-year-old guest and the bride were taken to the hospital. The newlywed suffered a nervous breakdown, a police spokesperson said.

Initial emergency calls reported around 30 people involved, prompting a large police response to the celebration in Hemer, in the Sauerland region, on Saturday evening. By the time officers arrived, the main altercation had already ended, but the situation remained tense, the spokesperson said.

According to initial witness statements, the fight broke out during the "tie-throwing" tradition, the equivalent of the more familiar bouquet toss. In this tradition, the groom's tie is thrown into the crowd to mark the next groom.

Police are now investigating four men, aged 19, 28, 39, and 47, who are accusing each other of assault. The celebration took place at Christ the King Church on Am Sinnerauwer. Even after the initial report was filed, several patrol cars remained in the vicinity of the event until midnight to monitor the situation.

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