Come To The Wedding

Weddings are major events in our churches here. We generally have one of three kinds of weddings; Catch up weddings - where the couple have never been married and are getting their lives in order having come to Christ, postponed church wedding - where the couple has had a civil service but never married in the church and now would like a church wedding, good and proper weddings - where everything has been done right and the couple is now getting their civil wedding and having a church wedding before sleeping or living together. Obviously we prefer to have the third kind, even the second kind is fine (I "married" a couple once that had had a civil wedding probably 40 years earlier but wanted to have a church wedding following their conversion). The first kind is ok, too, when it's believers getting their lives in order. That's the kind of wedding I was at last Saturday along with Niki and James Wolheter. James did the officiating at the wedding.

In true Bolivian style, the 7:00 pm ceremony got started around 8:30 or so but without the presence of the bride and groom. Instead, the service opened with lots of music (see January 25 entry below for more comments on music). Finally, maybe around 9:00 or so the actual wedding ceremony began. First down the aisle were the Bible bearer, ring bearer and the flower girl. The flower girl and one of the other bearers were the couple's two daughters. Next came the groom escorted by his mother. Finally the bride and her father came in. James had a short message and then did the vows.

In a Bolivian wedding, in one sense the ceremony has small importance and there is not always a large crowd. (The actual legal ceremony takes place earlier at an official office - religious ceremonies are not legally recognized). But it is the reception that people want to be at and there usually are more people at the reception than at the wedding ceremony. The reception begins with lots of loud music, lots of soda, things to munch on and conversation. Everyone is waiting for the bride and groom to arrive. They are off taking a ride around town and possibly stopping somewhere to have pictures taken. It might be an hour or even an hour and a half before the couple arrives. When they finally do get to the reception presents are given to them (and sometimes a small token of appreciation is given by the couple to each person who brings a present). All this is usually accompanied by loud music and general merriment. There may be a time for people to express their good wishes for the couple and even a game or two. Around mid-night supper will be served. In this case it was wood cooked chicken, rice and a type of yummy potato salad. Following dinner you may leave without being terribly rude (that is usually when we leave). The cake will be the last thing served and it may not come until two or three in the morning.

I always enjoy weddings, even catch-up ones, because it is a good sign that a couple (or family) is trying to put things in order before the Lord and I think that pleases him. So our best wishes are with Freddy and Nataly as they continue their journey with Jesus.