The wedding was to start at 10:00 am. Weddings here usually start in the morning and go until about 5:00 pm (the reception). It’s much different from our usual North American weddings – starting in the afternoon and going until midnight or so. :-)
We arrived at the venue at 10:20 am, knowing very well that it was not going to start on time. The tent was still not up; more than half of the guests hadn’t arrived yet and the groom hadn’t even left to go and pick up the bride.
The bridal party tent...
The groom goes with his wedding party to pick-up the bride from her home where she waits with her wedding party and parents. The groom remains in the car while the best man goes in to the house to get the bride. The best man lifts the veil of the bride and confirms in front of everyone that yes, this is in fact the woman that the groom is to marry. Then they are all off to the wedding…the jest of that part anyway.
So the groom in this case, left the venue at about 11:00 to go and pick up his bride…which was about 45 minutes away. The choir from their church was there to entertain us for awhile with music. Daniel, Tim, Josh and I played with and talked to some of the street kids who had come to see the ceremony as well as little children who were with their parents. I held a beautiful little baby named Jessica and had her giggling and smiling up at me (yes, I wanted to take her home with me).
This is Jessica...staring up at me...isn't she gorgeous?!?!?
Finally, at almost 1:00 pm (3 hours past the supposed start time), we could hear the cheering from children and the sound of the cars. The bride, groom, wedding party and parents of the couple, had arrived.
The groom walked in with his groomsmen and ring bearers, slowly, toward the special tent and chairs for them. Next were the bride and her entourage, including her parents. She too, walked slowly toward the special tent and chairs.
The groom's entrance (he's in all black)
The bride and her entourage...
The bride and groom sit in chairs across from each other, about 6 feet apart. Then a guest/pastor gets up and reads a bit from the Bible, gives his advice to the bride and groom and then the choir sings.
Because the wedding was almost three hours late and it’s rainy season, we could see from the distance the rain clouds coming in. So what would’ve been a far longer ceremony was being cut shorter and shorter to prevent the dumping of rain on everyone.
The bride and groom were then called up to the front. The groom lifts the veil in front of everyone…to again confirm that this is the woman that he is to marry. They again stood about 6 feet apart from each other, never holding hands and even when repeating their vows, never looking at one another. The only time there was physical touch was after the rings were placed on each other’s fingers, the pastor held up the ring hands and joined them together. The “you may now kiss the bride” that we are so accustomed to in North America was now, “you may now reveal your wife” and the groom lifted her veil. No kiss!
The bride and groom...
The joining of hands...
Everyone stood up and cheered for them at that moment…hooting and hollering!!!
And the rain came….
We all ran for shelter in the school that was there. Daniel, Tim, Josh and I ended up in the area where all the kids also ran for shelter. It turned in to a great time, sitting with a bunch of little kids in the rain. We ended up missing the opening of gifts. Yes, after the ceremony, they then open up all the gifts in front of everyone. Then the reception started; some food was served and I don’t know if there was dancing. We ended up leaving as the rains wouldn’t stop and we were all hungry (we didn’t get any food – too busy playing with the kids!).
My beautiful Evans...I adore him.
Hanging out....
Hanging out again. Yes Kate, that's Collins in the red. He says HI!!!!
Faith & Me...a gorgeous smile - her, not me!
Moses & me - before the wedding started.
Tim & Me...killing time before the wedding.
It was interesting; the wedding as a whole; and very different. I know there is love between the bride and groom but it lacked emotion, lacked excitement. Yes, I guess this is coming from an emotional woman, a woman who fully intends on taking advantage of the whole “you may now kiss the bride” thing. I fully intend on standing close to my groom, holding his hand through the whole ceremony and pretty much looking at him and only him the whole time. So be prepared!!! :-)
I love seeing different things; different cultures; different reactions to situations. I know not all Kenyan weddings are like the one above; it depends on the couple getting married. But I liked seeing a different side of a wedding…definitely different from any other wedding I’ve been to before, especially in North America. It’s another story for me to share with you…to give you a little taste of Kenya and the beautiful people in this beautiful country.
2 comments:
MER! Thank's for the shout out from Collins! I suppose it is bittersweet...knowing that he's still on the street. But, thank you so much for that sweet thought...tell him hi back and Kate says "go to Oasis!!!!" :-)
Miss you and love you!
-k
Thanks for the post on the wedding ceremony. I learned something new.
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