We were invited to a mixed marriage on Easter Saturday. Frank, is from Germany and has been the chief engineer at the power plant that recently went on line. His job was to oversee construction and get power to the area. Since that is complete his contract was terminated. Christoph is a very good friend of his and 2 other Germans in country were his best men at the "Introduction" which comes first. It is like an engagement when the grooms family pays the dowry. The bride is free to live with the groom then. The following story is in pictures...
One of the German groomsmen was too short for the gown so he gave it to Tom, and it fit. So Tom was a groomsmen. All happened at the last minute...Christoph's wife Heidi and I, thought they looked like Muslim mafia together....
The first set of women come for the groom and his men to make a selection of a bride from.
They bring gifts and bow before the groom to see if they will be selected.
The next set of women are a bit older, but still no bride is selected...
These are usually the aunties that the groom looks through, and still no bride. Each of the gifts the women carry mean something too but I forgot...All the maids now go back and then come out again with the bride in the center
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| The groom and groomsmen now go look for the bride from the whole bunch |
The bride is found
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| The groom now takes the bride to the head table and they together preside over the celebration. |
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. Heidi and I had made the German Food for the wedding the day before so that all the traditional foods were present for the guests.The party lasted for another 4 hours, then the mosquitoes and the uninvited mosquitoes came and ceremony over. Wed. They had a small courthouse ceremony and another party. And Last Saturday we were invited to the wedding. Not the norm. But, Frank wants to take his bride to Germany and Germany will not allow visa's unless you are married AND the spouse can speak and read some German so they can maneuver in the country. Queen has been practicing and doing very well.
These are the wedding pictures...................
The church, the German and American guests arrived at 10, the groom arrived at 12 and the bride at 12:30
Inside the church
Outside the church at the borehole. Life continues
The choir with traditional instruments. If you look very closely in the L hand side you can see a tube. Christoph and Heidi played a duet in one part of the service. With this large loud harmonized choir, when the brides maids and bride come down the aisle they sway back and forth in the gowns and they look like flowers swaying in a gentle breeze. It is so pretty.... That is our Scottish friends on the R. David wore his kilt for the occasion.
The bride arrives she has the veil over her face
They are pronounced man and wife
The reception has a beautiful ceremony where the bride kneels at the grooms feet and gently feeds him. This is a sign of the care she will always give him. Makes me pause and wonder if I could rapturously look in Toms eyes and agree to this...
Then clothes are changed by the bride and she goes around and hands out wedding cakes made for some of the special guest that influenced their lives. After this is done the food is served and then the gifts are carried in.
They got a living room set from some well wishers, but I didn't see a chicken or goat given... Then we all go home.
It was fun to be included and participate.
FRANK AND QUEEN
APRIL 6, 2013
