The first thing you need to know is that in South Africa, you can only have a "white" wedding if the groom has paid the "labola" or "bride price", which is the total value of so many cows depending on what the family decides the bride is worth. The groom's father and uncles negotiate with the bride's family on an acceptable amount that the groom is to pay. Because it is difficult to come up with this amount, many young people just live together for many years before they are legally married. This is the case with James's brother. This couple, in fact had two children, ages 9 and 1. The "labola" was finally paid, and now they are able to be married in a "white wedding" and the groom's family is finally able to meet the Bride's family for the first time.
We picked James up at his home. His wife was wasn't feeling well, so she didn't go. I think James was happy to have some family to come with him. He sort of thinks of Lynn as a brother. We went to the home of the bride's parents. They were putting the finishing touches on things for a yard ceremony. Everything looked very lovely!
As they set up the cake table, they brought out one cake, then another, then another. Finally they had all five cakes there and set up along with the corner flower arrangements.
Almost ready for the entrance of the bride and groom!
This was the wedding party. Our friend, James is the second from the left, the bride, the groom, the girl holding the orange flower is their daughter as is the little one. I think the people on the ends are some other family members.
After the ceremony, they not only exchanged rings, but wedding gifts to each other as well.
This is the gold watch he gave her. She also gave him a gold watch.
After the exchange of gifts, they took a break and passed juice and muffins to everyone.
When everyone was refreshed, they continued with the ceremony.
This time it was prayers for the couple. Just before they started, one of the fellows came and talked to Lynn. Then he started to walk up to the front. The next thing I knew, he was pronouncing a prayer on the new couple. They aren't even members of our Church. But they saw our name tags and knew we were affiliated with the Church and had asked Lynn to come give a prayer for them. He had the camera in his pocket, so I could get no pics of this special moment! Lynn's
prayer was very nice and fitting for the occasion, especially since it was a spur
of the moment kind of thing.
The parents and extended family joined in with the wedding couple.
Then other family members joined in.
After they finished with the prayers and picture taking, we walked to our car to go to the next part of the wedding and discovered they had put lamenated license plates on all the cars in the wedding party.
As we were leaving, the bride's uncle, whose house the wedding was at, came to us and thanked us for being there. He said he knew God had sent us there today to be able to bless this wedding, and that he was very honored that we would come.
Maybe we should send the missionaries to him and have them tell him the whole story! :)
The wedding party vehicles drove over past James's father's house. He is now deceased. Many of the extended family were along the side of the road clapping, singing, squeeling and really welcoming the newly weds. They did some kind of a little ceremony with a pot in the middle of the yard, and everyone danced past and put money in the pot. Then we got back in the cars and drove to the house of the bride and groom where they were busy setting up for the rest of the wedding ceremony. I helped finish tying bows on the chairs, just to have something to do.
This is James's father's old house that the family rents out.
We noticed that they had put all the rinds from the butter-nut squash in a pit dug around the tree.
I guess is acts like a fertilizer. Good idea. Saves garbage space and buying fertilizer.
The wedding party arrives for the next part of the celebration!
They're still making wishes and dropping money in the pot.
The cakes had been boxed up and brought to the next celebration.
The guests continue to arrive.
This part of the celebration consisted of everyone giving tributes to the new couple.
This went on for nearly three hours. Near the end, people brought up their gifts to present to them.
The bride and groom looked like they would die of boredom!
This is James giving his tribute.
This is James giving his tribute.
Finally, it was time to cut the cake!
Following the cake cutting, they had a very nice luncheon which consisted of chicken, pork, pap, salads, potatoes, rice, squash, and cold drinks, and of course, cake!
When we left, it was 4:00. We had arrived at 6:30 a.m. to begin the festivities.
It was a long day for everyone, but it's all a part of tradition -- TRADITION!!!!!
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