Oduri's Wedding

One of the teachers at St. Monica's solemnized their wedding on Saturday. I blogged about the wedding planning meeting that we attended a couple of weeks ago. See Wedding Planning.
They had asked to use our car to get the wedding party to the church and we were happy to oblige.

John was to have the car at their house at 7:00 am so it could be decorated. It was an extremely busy place with cooking for the reception going on, car decorating and the dressing of the male members of the wedding party. While they were waiting they were served a breakfast consisting of ugali, fish, and cooked cabbage.

The schedule of events was a follows:
9:45 Arrival of visitors
10:00 Arrival of groom;s party
10:15 Arrival of bridal party
10:30 Mass
1:00 Photography
1:30 Lunch
2:30 Entertainment
3:00 Speeches
3:30 Cutting of cake
4:00 Presentation of gifts
4:30 Vote of thanks and closing prayer
4:45 Guest leave at their own pleasure

As this is Africa, things never occur on time. I was told earlier in the week that the teachers needed to arrive in style together on the school bus. We needed to be at school by 9:00 so we could get there in plenty of time before Mass started.

Over 150 St. Monica's students attended the wedding plus all the staff. Mr. Oduri is the class teacher of Form IV South as well as the Scout Master. All the students from Scouts and his class went as guests. Then other students were selected for entertainment purposes - singing and dancing groups. Our school bus took three trips to the wedding. Teachers were still sitting in the Staff room at 11:00. Needless to say, we weren't there when Mass started!

While I was at school waiting to go to the wedding I stopped by the home science (home ec) room. Mrs. Okindo, our home science teacher and assistant principal, baked the wedding cakes. She was making last minute repairs to the decorations before taking them to the wedding. It isn't expected that everyone will get a piece of wedding cake. Instead the cake is cut into tiny slivers. The bridal maids them come among the guests and if you are lucky you are able to take a taste.

Much of the wedding is the same as our, however there are differences.
* One side of the church is for the groom's guests and the other is for the brides.
* The groom and his men come into the church and take their seats in the front row on the groom's side.
* The bride is escorted into the church by her best maid. They sit in the front row on her side of the church.
* The Mass begins and procedes through the homily.
* After the homily the groom's family and groom's men escort the groom to the front center aisle. Meanwhile the bride's family and bridal maids escort the bride to the front center aisle. Once there the family members greet one another and shake hands. Then they return to their seats. Now it is time for the vows.
*During the exchange of the vows they clasp hands high above their heads for all to see.

*The rings descended from heaven in a basket lowered from the ceiling.

* At this point, the train of the bride's gown was thrown over Oduri's shoulder. It was symbolic of their union like the rings. It remained over his shoulder during the rest of the day. They were't able to get too far apart from one another!

* Next was the signing of the marriage certificate by the priest, best maid, best man and married couple at the altar.
* The bridal party and St. Monica's teachers were then invited to come and greet the newly married couple at the front of the church before the Mass resumed. Now that the couple was married in the church, they could take part in communion of the Eurchrist.
* After Mass was over photographs were taken with anyone that wanted on the steps of the church.

Now it was tme for the reception. Tents were set up in a grassy area adjoining the church. A meal of rice pilau, cooked cabbage, chicken, beef, and chapati was served while more pictures were being taken. After the bridal party was able to get to the reception, they were served their meal and the entertainment began. Entertainment here consists of dancing, poetry recitation and songs.

There was the cutting of the cake. Do you see the train of the bride's gown across his shoulder?

The final part was the presentation of gifts. It was a presentation! The groups that had gifts for the couple danced their way carrying the gifts. It was probably the most fun to watch the groups that brought beds! Imagine a bed swaying above the crowd as it is being carried to the front! This is St. Monica's staff bringing our gift to be presented. We got them a gas cooker (propane stove).

For additional pictures of the wedding, click here.