Wedding

I attended a Rwandese wedding. It was a two-day affair steeped in tradition. Day one is held at the bride’s home, in her front yard. This is the especially traditional part where the fathers of the bride and groom put on a performance of negotiating the exchange of a ‘dowry’ of cows, gifts etc. in order for the bride to be given for marriage. They sit at tables places on opposite sides of the yard, with guests sitting behind either the groom’s family table or the brides’s. The fathers actually dialogue and act the whole negotiation out, even going outside and checking if the ‘cows’ being given are to the bride’s father’s satisfaction. Once an ‘agreement’ has been reached, the bride will be called out of her home. She parades out behind an entourage of dancers, male family members and bridesmaids and is greeted by her groom. There are dances and songs performed, drinks and gifts exchanged. This ceremony took three hours at the particular wedding I attended.

Day two is a more familiar event - a church ceremony (which I didn’t attend) followed by a reception. The reception was held outside under white tents. Guests are seated in rows of chairs and served sodas, basically acting as spectators in a performance. There were more speeches and traditions, songs sung and a dance performed. They had a wedding cake cutting and passed out cake to the guests. We skipped out a bit early, so I’m not sure how late the reception went. Maybe they had a first dance, bouquet and boutonniere toss, or other elements making up what we know as a wedding reception; maybe not. Either way, a celebration of love and the joining of two people and two families!

The bride's father at his table

View from the groom's father's table

The groom (far left) and his groomsmen. Check out their walking sticks!

Bridesmaids

The bride and groom on Day 1


Reception, Day 2


Quick Update: Little Eric has returned! Also, Eric and Frank's school fees have been paid for by a generous donation and they are now back in school :)