weddings, weddings, weddings

In the states this time of year is full of weddings, buying gifts, getting dressed up and going to a beautiful ceremony. Well its that time of year around here too except there are quite a few differences.

For one there isn't actually a ceremony that takes place. When the Bride and Groom decide to get married - after the ok from families, etc. - they fill out a marriage license and they are legally married. Then sometime in the summer they have a big reception.

One part of the reception is going to pick up the bride. The groom and his family and friends travel to the brides home and pick her up. Their car is covered in ribbons and bows like a big present. They pick up the bride and then they parade all over the town honking their horns and listening to loud music. It is a crazy time. I sat in town the other night and saw 6-7 wedding parties go past. They were all dressed up and having a lot of fun.

We went to a wedding today in the village. We were told to get there about 2pm because that was supposedly when the bride was going to get there. Knowing how things work around here we didn't get our hopes too high for being on time. We got there and the men were meeting together in one house and the women in another. The women were dancing and laughing together. They love to dance. I can't make my hips move like that for the life of me, so usually I just try and sit and watch. Today I was actually feeling like trying, but Josiah had other plans so I watched the girls enjoy themselves. They are really good.

After about an hour or so of sitting around and dancing they pulled out the tables and got ready for the first meal. We ate lamb with prunes and olives. It was actually really nice. After that we gracefully made our exit to the groans of many people. The bride hadn't actually arrived and as it turns out isn't going to arrive until 8 or so. Joey is on his way right now to help transport people to get her.

It was a lot of fun to see all the women dressed up and to get dressed up myself. I borrowed a dress and got my head all covered in a new scarf I got for my birthday. It was so much fun. I think I might have even enjoyed hanging out for a bit longer, and if the kiddo's hadn't been so tired we probably would have. I don't have to really worry though because its wedding season here, just like back home.