Monday, October 30, 2017

Wedding Reception #1

On that Monday morning, when the all-staff meeting at the school was over, I was approached by a teacher who gave me an invitation to her wedding reception.   November marks the beginning of wedding season in Cambodia because it doesn't rain as much any more.  It's not November yet, but close enough.  Yesterday there were four wedding parties within five kilometers from our home (that we could see.)

But you know how in the US weddings "the list" is a big deal?  In Cambodia, the bigger the party the better, so everyone is invited, whether you know them for 15 seconds or not.  The party tents, tables and chairs are set up the day before.  But before any of it goes up, giant speakers go up.  Up in the air 40 feet or more.  They start playing music to remind you that the party is here. VERY LOUDLY.  Starting at 4:30 a.m.  Not kidding you.  Yesterday morning we heard three different converging clickety-clackety sounds pouring into our dreamy states.  There is no way anyone would forget to go to the party!

I borrowed a dress to go to the wedding and we were taken in a car.  Our friend said that he would want to give us a ride and drop us off at the door so that we wouldn't get sweaty riding bikes in our nice clothes.  He also gave us a ride back.  I think everyone in our village was at one wedding or another.

Party favors: gum and
a nifty key chain pen.
The invitation.


The bride and groom were at the entrance of this party.  They greeted us with a party favor: a compact pen/key chain that looks like a little submarine.  The party was a reception of food, drink and music.  They had at least 150 round tables of 8 - 10 seats each.  There was a stage with three young ladies providing live music entertainment.  As the tables were filled, the platters of food started to arrive together with the ice and as many cans of drink as we wanted.  There was no need to get up off the table because the staff was scurrying around bringing it all to us.  The music played and when the meal was over, staff brought grapes for dessert together with envelopes for guests to make a gift to the wedding couple.  On the way out, we took our gift and put it through a heart shaped slot in exchange for another party favor: a stick of gum.

This was our first wedding invitation and as I understand it, there will be many more.  I can't judge them all by this single experience, but I'll use it as my baseline.  More to come as I get more information!

1 comment:

  1. Toda una experiencia para conocer mejor la cultura.
    Un abrazo para los dos

    ReplyDelete