Let's Meet the Lovely Bride- Part 1

Today, it is finally time to meet our lovely bride. This will be a very hard day for her. I have asked numerous brides about their wedding days- not one has said that they enjoyed it. How incredibly sad to me that a day that should be her happiest on earth is tainted with hard work and uncomfortable situations, all without the support of her family or other loved ones.



Normally, the bride is accompanied only by her best friend. Everyone else at the wedding will be people from the groom's side; friends, his family, collegues, etc... It is their opportunity to "introduce" her to the wedding guests; but it is done in such an odd manner! I am still asking many questions about the tradition, but have yet to receive a clear answer.



After all the guests are seated and have begun to eat, the bride, along two women from the grooms side enter the hall. Hidden from view, a huge white veil is laid over her head and a long piece of cloth is attached, to which a stick is tied to the other end. An unmarried man from the groom's side holds this long stick about 10 feet away from the bride and somehow this helps keep the veil from slipping as she gives her bows.



Here is the bride being readied to be introduced; I'm not sure her escorts approved of a pre-unveiling picture, but we really wanted the whole process documented.

Now before I show you the bride in full get-up, there is one more character you need to be familiar with. This is the Master of Ceremonies that presides over the entire evening. In this case, he was also present at the party at the groom's father's house the next day also. He calls out the names of those being introduced, coordinates the timing of all things pertaining to the entertainment, where the guests sit, when the various dishes come out, and generally sets the tone of the event.

It was incredibly amazing to us to find out that his payment for services comes from those he introduces to the bride, as you will see in video a little futher down. Here is a sampling of his work. You can see behind him, the bride is being readied.

Here is the bride all ready and beginning to give her bows to the various relatives and guests that the calls out. The very first "person" that she must give respectful bows to are the "arowak"- spirits of the dead ancestors of this family. It is believed that they will give peace and blessing if properly respected.

The next video will give you a taste of what this girl will stand (in high heel shoes) and do for the next hour! Over and over and over, she will bow to those the "tamada" calls out. The mystery lies in this: how does this poor girl know WHO she is being introduced to, if she is all covered up?!?!

Well, that is all the space I have for this post, I will continue the last 2 paragraphs and video/picture right now, in the next post.