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enthusiast
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enthusiast
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or Epithalamium, a poem in honor of a bride and bridegroom.
June will be upon us soon and somewhere between the beach and mountain retreats will be heard wedding bells.
I'd like to think so inspite of Jane Fritsch essay in today's New York Times titled "Matrimony: the Magic's Still Gone", where she says "So, at the beginning of the 21st century, there are very few truths universally acknowledged on the subject of men, women and marriage."
And then at the other end of the spectrum (actually on the opposite page of the above essay)is Nicholas Wade's essay "Birds Do It. Bees Do It. Some People Do, Too." A brief scientific look at monogamy, polygamy, polygyny (a males acquisition of many females), polyandry( a female's taking of more than one partner).
In this thread, I would like to see if there are exotic wedding rituals you have witnessed in other countries that you would like to share or is there a wedding you attended that was so special or extraordinary that you cannot forget it.
Quotes and epithalamiums are welcome, too.
chronist
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old hand
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old hand
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The surest way to be alone is to get married.
Gloria Steinem
Marriage, n. The state or condition of a community consisting of a master, a mistress and two slaves, making in all, two.
Ambrose Bierce
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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"Marriage is a great institution, but I'm not ready for an institution yet." -Mae West
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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i have had the pleasure of two extremely interesting wedding-- One wedding, was the son of a good friend, and it was at the bride's temple. She was hindu. The temple alone -- a complete Hindu temple-- stuck down in the middle of Queen's is a tourist attraction on it own. The wedding-- had one or two elements in common with western religions- Flowers and a wedding tent (similar to the canopy used in Jewish services)-- but everything else-- was new and unexpected... The service was in chanted sanskit-- and include burnt offering of ghee.. The bride (and groom) wore flowers similar to a lei, and the groom, a white loin cloth! It was memorable (and the receptions-- even better)
my sister wedding in a Soka Gakkai budist temple, also in Queen's, less than ½ mile from the Hindu temple. (in a two mile stretch of one street-- over 30 religions are represented) One interesting aspect of the wedding ( which had the participants wearing traditional "western wedding garb" ) was the "Picture taking ceramony" at the temple-- my side of the family was at a disadvantage-- we didn't know the routine, but we quickly learned to watch the japanese guests-- who sorted them selves out in anticapation of the next photo -- But at least we were back to wearing shoes-- since in the temple proper no shoes ( or hats ) were permitted. Several guest were caught with holes in the socks!
My son & daughter in law's wedding, in a field, in the mountains west of Santa Cruz-- with a minister of a "home grown sect" was in many ways, conventional and conserative for my family-- They wrote the own vows-- but the bride walked down the aisle, in white, with bevy of flower girls before her, and the service simple but very recognizable western (christian)
My wedding was not to unconventional-- except my dress was red-- american beauty rose red velvet-- just the skirt part-- the bodice was white crepe-- and the sleeves white georgette. I carried red roses.. (it was in late december-- between christmas an new years) But it was unusual enough.
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enthusiast
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OP
enthusiast
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of troy>>>>
My wedding was not to unconventional-- except my dress was red-- american beauty rose red velvet-- just the skirt part-- the bodice was white crepe-- and the sleeves white georgette. I carried red roses.. (it was in late december-- between christmas an new years) But it was unusual enough.
I really enjoyed the weddings you described, some exotic, another, conventional and then a truly original, yours! It must have been was so richly colorful, judging from your gown and your flowers.
My own wedding cannot be judged from the photographs, which made it looked conventional in everyway, but it was a comedy from beginning to end. I do not have the vocabulary to give the comedic justice it deserves.
chronist
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Our wedding (March 4, 2000, March 4, 2000, March 4, 2000 - I must remember that date!) was fancy dress. I was Obiwan Kenobe and my wife was Dana Scully. The celebrant was Judge Judy and the bridesmaid was Jane Austen. The best man was a Waffen SS corporal in full-dress uniform. The photographer was a MIB.
And it was also a comedy from start to finish, not unhelped by the fact that we started the wedding breakfast - or at least the "refreshments" part of it - a full two hours before the ceremony ...
The idiot also known as Capfka ...
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Carpal Tunnel
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I've heard of wedding breakfasts but I don't think any UK wedding I've ever been to has included breakfast. I think they've all been afternoon affairs. Have I been missing out?
Bingley
Bingley
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Indonesian weddings are different. The day before, the bride is given a ceremonial bath by close female friends and relatives from her and her husband's family. The water has flowers (I believe jasmine is the flower of choice) floating in it and is poured over her.
The actual wedding is a religious ceremony but is usually only for close family and friends, most of the social focus is on the reception. A small wedding reception will have about 250 guests. Big ones run into thousands. Basically you just invite everyone you've ever met.
The format varies from ethnic group to ethnic group but the basic model goes something like this. As a guest you don't have to arrive at the beginning of the reception, but if you don't you'll miss all the ceremonial bits. There's usually a line of up of members of each family to greet you and collect the present (in Jakarta the present is usually money, but in other places people do still give presents). There's a guest book for you to sign and you get a small souvenir (a notepad with the couple's names on the front, a small pot, or something like that).
The couple and their parents (or stand-ins for deceased parents) arrive in procession and sit on thrones (much too grand to just be called chairs) on a sort of dais at the front. Performers give traditional dances (for people from S. Sumatra the bride dances in public for the one and only time in her life). The couple kneel before each set of parents to thank them for their upbringing, and then feed each other with a handful of rice. Javanese and Sundanese then have the egg ceremony. The groom steps on and breaks an egg and the bride then washes his feet. The couple then sit back down on their thrones and you line up to shake hands with and congratulate the parents on both sides and the couple. Latecomers do this when they arrive. Once you have done that, you can go and get something to eat from a buffet meal laid out (these meals are usually excellent). While eating, you keep your ears cocked for the photo calls. An MC will call up various groups to be photo'd with the couple. "And now could we have the bride's classmates from elementary school." (This is not an exaggeration).
Clothes vary from ethnic group to ethnic group but the bride and female guests usually wear a flimsy blouse called a kebaya and a very tight sarong. They wear their hair in a bun (and get a wig if their hair isn't long enough). The bride wears special make up which is supposed to represent shadows from foliage on her face. She also has a tiara with lots of waving dangly bits. The groom wears a batik shirt,a jacket and a sarong. Male members of the family wear the same and carry a kris in a sheath at their backs. Members of each family all have the same pattern on their sarong. Male guests wear batik shirts, and ordinary trousers.
Bingley
Bingley
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addict
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addict
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I've heard of wedding breakfasts but I don't think any UK wedding I've ever been to has included breakfast. I think they've all been afternoon affairs. Have I been missing out?Bingley, weddings and affairs are quite different things. If you've been having afternoon affairs, I don't think you've been missing out.  Rod
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Do you mean to tell me after all these years that they were not auditions for best man  !? Bingley
Bingley
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