A Wedding in Pictures

Apparently this is a good weekend to get married because I have not one but two weddings to go to. One was very easy as it is held in our local church as part of the Sunday morning service and the reception is held in our hospital chapel. The bride is a nurse in our maternity unit and the groom serves with our village health department. 

Most of these pictures however are from the wedding held on Friday. Pak Yahuda is a local pastor who has worked in our mission office for many years now helping with our visas and keeping the books. He is officially retired but still works many hours helping us out. He is also the pastor of the Baptist church about 20 minutes away. His oldest daughter, Nosi, is a nurse in our pediatrics unit. She attended our nursing school and was one of my students when I served here previously. On Friday she married, Juliadi, who serves in our village health department. They were married in the village church where her dad is the pastor. 

About a week (or sometimes only a couple of days) before the wedding you get your official invitation. This invitation is actually for a wedding on Sunday but you get the idea. 

Before you go, you need to get your gift ready. People don't give appliances or household items here but instead you give money in a small envelope that can be used to help pay for the wedding and to help the new couple start their lives together. 

The church is all decorated and ready to go. All of the decorations here are rented. Most of the time you rent a set package that includes clothes (like the wedding gown), decorations, etc. There are six chairs in three sets. One at the center for the bride and groom and then for the parents on either side just slightly farther back. 

Our first glimpse of the bride!

Here come the parents of the bride and groom. The moms are carrying the candles they will use to light their family candles. In this case, the groom's dad had passed away, so an uncle stood in for him. I should mention that smiling during formal events is not the norm here. 

And here comes the bride! She is absolutely gorgeous with beautifully done hair, dress, and jewelry. Most if not all of it is rented. 

While the dress may have been more suited for a wedding in a cathedral than one in a small village church it was beautiful. Because it is rented, it is important to keep it as clean as possible and not damage it. Two women (like bridesmaids) are in charge of that. 

Even though this wedding was held on a Friday morning, it was just like a Sunday morning church service with worship music and taking an offering. 

There was also a special music selection.  

Then came the sermon - on Matthew 7 - about building a firm foundation for your house. 

Then came the wedding ceremony. Here the pastor is reading the wedding proclamation. Both the bride and groom and their families have to agree they feel no pressure to get married. In this picture the bride is sneaking a peak at her parents - who I am pretty sure were shedding quite a few tears. 

Then came the vows. They had memorized them, which is different! 

The rings - ready for their big moment. 

And the exchanging of rings. 

Then a blessing and a prayer. 

Then the moment everyone waits for - the revealing of the bride. 

I love this picture! The bride has just been revealed and she is blushing. 

But then the "paparazi" got in in my way for the big shot - the kiss! It is on the forehead and not on the lips!! 

Then came the lighting of the unity candle. 

And it is tradition here for the new couple to give their first offering together during the ceremony. 

And don't forget to sign the marriage certificate :)

Then came the moment that brings many to tears - the bride and groom spend time with their parents saying thanks and being blessed. 

With the groom's family. 

Typically the cake is cut at the reception but this cake had been specially prepared by a family friend and decorated by the bride. 

Then the bride's family says thank you and invites everyone to their house for a reception. 

The house is decorated and there is a meal prepared. First you sign the guest book though. Sometimes you give your gift here and other times you put it in a small box near the bride and groom. I always ask that they not open my envelope and write the amount of money I am giving in the guest book. 

This was a Dyak family - so the main dish was pork. They had killed 5 pigs and several chickens for the event. There is also a special area for those come who are Muslim and don't eat pork - their food is prepared separately and they eat in a different area. Most people take a large heaping plate because they don't get big meals with lots of meat all that often. For those of us with more sensitive palates and stomachs though it is best take small portions because you don't know how spicy things will be! Coming early also helps because the plates and silverware weren't just recently washed and not had a chance to dry. 

Then comes picture time. The happy couple are flanked on either side by their parents and you go through and shake all of their hands and then depending on how well you know them, you take a picture with them (or in my case as a westerner you almost always take a picture).