Tuesday 7 January 2014

30.12.13 Monday. Amy’s and Francis' Wedding



One advantage of getting married here is that you are guaranteed the weather, and today dawned bright and sunny.  We had arranged for the wedding cars to come to our house first so that we could trim them up with white and turquoise ribbons to match the bride and bridesmaids.  They were all early, (surprise!) and Ruth, John and I trimmed the three cars and two mini-buses with all the ribbon.  A quick change and then we were all ready to go to the hotel for the wedding guests, and more importantly the bride.  Sanna, our bridal driver looked really smart in a white shirt and black trousers, his black range rover was spotless, as were the other cars.  We arrived at Senegambia where the mini-buses were collecting the guests, and I went with the bridal car through the increased security into the Kairaba Hotel where Amy, her parents, brother and girlfriend were staying.  Because of the number of African states represented this morning they would only allow 2 of the 3 cars in the drive at a time, so we quickly sent off Amy’s brother and party to make room for the bridal car in the driveway.  Steve and I hurried back to the Senegambia to climb into a minibus and we all set off for the church.  St Theresa’s church is enormous inside and even though there were more than 50 in the party we looked lost in the huge building.  Francis, the bridegroom, was waiting outside for us all with his two best men, it was explained to him that he should be inside and so he joined us all in the middle of the church to wait for Amy and her father.  Everyone had arrived on time (not Gambian time) and soon we saw the bridesmaids and Amy through the glass doors.  Amy looked beautiful, her dress was calf length, off ground level, (very sensible here) a full skirt and a lace bodice with lace sleeves.  She came into the church on her father’s arm and joined Francis at the front of the church.  There were three bridesmaids, two friends of Amy in turquoise blue, and a young relative of Francis in a white knee length dress, holding a heart on a stick in white and turquoise.  The service went without a hitch and we were all invited to get up and shake hands with the grooms’ family on the right of the church at the end.  We gathered outside for photos, before leaving for the Kairaba hotel for the reception.
The balcony which had been reserved for the wedding party was unavailable this morning because of the security council, so we all gathered on the lawn at the rear of the hotel for champagne, courtesy of the hotel for the inconvenience.  After all the photographs had been taken, we adjourned to the restaurant for dinner.  This part of the wedding was very much like an English wedding, a top table, tables of guests around the room, a table with a cake, and a sit down dinner.  The speeches followed with both Amy and her father getting uncharacteristically emotional, Francis translating for both sides and an amusing speech by one of the best men.  The afternoon passed quickly and soon it was time to leave for the evening at Francis’s compound.  The evening was definitely African,, everyone in the area had been invited,as well as relatives and friends, there was drumming, hip hop music, dancing, and many children running between all the tables.  The compound had been decorated in white and blue fabric, all the chairs had sashes round them, there was a marquee at one end of the courtyard and a top table.  It was very noisy and colourful, typical of events here.  An excellent buffet meal was served later in the evening, lots of drinks were consumed and friends made.  We left just before midnight after a very long and enjoyable day.

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