Dear Bloggers,
We (Paula & I) have just attended our 1st Kenyan wedding! The reception was very interesting! When we arrived just before the bride and groom (who had come to our home and compound to have photographs taken) we discovered nearly all the food had been eaten, the speeches which were to be given by many members of both families were in local mother tongue, and I ended up in the kitchen drying up all the dishes and cups.
It sounds like a moan - it isn't - it was an experience!
The Wedding...a success...
Having been generously invited to the wedding at Christ Church for a 10.30 start, the bride and groom arrived at 12.40pm! It was a huge affair! The 3 flower girls followed by the 5 bridesmaids entered first, swaying to some pop music, which lasted forever! They were followed by 2 pageboys, best man and 5 groomsmen who also swayed at twice the speed!! The bride had to dance (sway) with her parents up to the front which must have taken 10 minutes! earlier she had had to be physically removed from her aunties who had tried to hold her hostage at her parent's home!
It was apparent that the bride's family was ginormous in number and we were asked to vacate our seats 4 rows from the front and were reallocated seats on the opposite side of the church (the groom's side).
The service went vey well. Worship followed by Eric Swenson leading the ceremony, which included the vows, communion for the couple, and the pronouncement they were man and wife...and allowed their 1st ever kiss as a married couple!!!
The procession out of the church took a shorter time!
The bridesmaids and groomsmen were immaculately dressed and well matched in burgundy/gold dresses and charcoal grey suits with matching burgundy/gold ties.
Kisumu is hot and sticky for weddings to take place I've decided especially when you have to wait hours for things to happen! But hey ho this is Africa and we are their guests and they love to keep us guessing what's next!!
Love to one and all!!!
