Wedding post...the first of many

So, about a month ago we had the 2nd wedding since I've been here. So far we've had 3 and I here that in the summer there will be more. I know that for the people who are from my village, the engagements are really short (anywhere from a week to a few months) and the weddings follow the same format. The families wake up early and decorate the cars with balloons and what not. If the bride is from the village the groom goes to her house to sort of barter for her with her family members. This is just in honor of tradition the groom doesn't actually buy the bride anymore haha. If the bride is from another village or town they drive caravan style to pick her up and come back to the village with her. The weddings are usually held in the village of the groom. After that everyone in the village goes to the center of town to wait. The bride and groom and the closests relatives go into the mayor's office where the secretary performs a sort of ceremony and they sign the marriage certificate. When they come out they pop champagne and dance the horo. We then all walk together in a big happy mass to the school. Outside at the entrance of the school the bride and groom break a glass and then break pitka (it's sweet bread in a braided mold) over thier heads. Whoever gets the bulk of the pitka broken over thier head will more than likely rule the house. The bride and groom and relatives then go to wait inside the school in the foyer as we come in one by one giving gifts and money. Then we proceed to one of many rooms to eat together. The teenage boys who aren't married act as waitors. We hang out at the tables and eat for an hour or two. Afterwards we all go outside and dance the horo and kuchek until dark. Not a bad way to spend a Sunday.


Everyone eating @ the school




Me with one of my favorites on our way to dance some mad horo




Everyone waiting on the bride and groom

The bride and groom

The band stands outside and plays where the whole village waits for the bride and groom to come out of the mayor's office...they continue to play until the wedding finally ends around...well, dark.