Bridal house
Additions to various smaller North German churches from the early 17th century onwards are referred to as bridal houses . Mostly it is a matter of subsequent additions to one of the long sides of the church with access to the nave .
The reason for these additions is given, on the one hand, that it was used for the civil marriage of the bride and groom before the consecration in the church, and on the other hand, the bride should be led to the altar through this side entrance, where the aisle between the rows of pews is so narrow in small churches was that two people couldn't walk side by side. In such cases, the bridal house also carried out the coffins at funerals.
Examples of churches with a "bridal house"
St. Severini (Hamburg-Kirchwerder) from 1649 with attached half-timbered bridal house
St. Nicolai Church (Hamburg-Altengamme) with two bridal houses from 1637 and 1837
Bridal house of the Church of St. Johannis (Curslack) from 1646
