Come To The Wedding(s)

During our first month in Liberia, we have had the privilege to attend two weddings, one in a rural setting and the other in the city. Both were weddings of pastors, both were joyous occasions, and both offered us a window into Liberian culture and customs.

The first couple had been living together without having had any kind of wedding ceremony. After the man began to sense God’s call on his life for ministry (he now serves as an assistant pastor in his church) he was counseled that he needed to separate for a time from the woman and then get formally married. Wanting to do the correct thing, they agreed to the separation and then to the wedding.

The wedding was held in Careysburg, a small town outside of Monrovia, where the Liberia Evangelical Mission (LEM) has a new church planted. To get to the wedding, we rode with some of the brothers and sisters and pastor from the Mt. Zion Church in a van contracted by the church. The Mt. Zion church had encouraged its people to attend if possible and to pay (yes, pay, as an obligation) whether or not they attended, 500 Liberian dollars ($5.95 US) as a contribution toward the wedding to show support for the couple but also to help pave the way for church support of future weddings in the congregation.

The wedding festivities began on Friday when the families of the couple formally gave their approval to the union and the bride price was paid. Saturday afternoon was then the church service and blessing of the wedding.

The wedding was held under this shelter which provided protection form the sun.

My bride.

Is this a commentary on the ceremony?

The service consisted of lots of music and movement, offering, a straight forward message on the Biblical expectations for marriage, the exchanging of vows and rings and much celebration.

The ring bearer.

The flower girl was followed by the candy girl who lovingly kissed each piece of candy before throwing it down among the flower petals. The candy girl got scared when she me and didn't want to continue her entrance.

Following the service the crowd went from the church to the reception where a delicious meal was served with more music and celebratory dancing all the while.

Fried chicken, jolif rice, macaroni salad, potato salad and cake.

The young couple.

 Our van was returning so we were not present for the rest of the reception, which included toasts from the families, giving of gifts and cutting the wedding cake.

The second wedding took place the following Saturday. This bridal couple was also a pastoral couple. Their story was a bit different. Five years earlier they had been married traditionally but wanted to celebrate their marriage again, this time with a church ceremony. This wedding was held in the city in a borrowed church sanctuary. 

Lots of music.

The basic elements of the wedding were the same; music, movement, offering, message and vows.

The flower girl kissed each petal before throwing it down.

Here comes the bride!

Following the service the reception was held in the sanctuary with a meal that was similar to the meal the week before. This time we were able to witness the toasts and the cutting of the cake.

Yummy, wedding cake!

I thank God for these two couples and their desire to honor him with, not just their service, but with their marriages and homes as well.