The wedding and more...

Wow - my first Indian wedding and potentially my only. It was a very interesting experience and I really enjoyed it. Since I have never met the groom or the bride (the bride works with John and we think it's customary for employees to invite their "managers" to the wedding) I felt like someone had given me a "free pass" just to watch or be a bystander at a very vivid, traditional Indian family experience. What a perfect way for me to people watch. I think the people watching was a mutual experience. A couple times John even noticed the not so subtle "Up and Down" looks I got from a few woman. It was always in good taste - just curiosity. I know that I'm tall but usually I don't "feel" tall. I did that night. A couple times the woman just looked me over and then gave me a gentle smile - I felt as if they were saying "nice job" on the outfit which made me feel good - I'm glad I made the effort to wear Indian appropriate clothing.

So - the wedding... very bright, VERY festive and full of things you would see in a colorful picture book of India. I did not take my camera because I felt self conscience but I took several pics with another fellow googler's camera and she will share them with me. The groom was Punjabi which meant his traditions were a bit different than the brides. The most interesting part of the reception for me was the following...

The evening starts when the grooms family gathers at a separate spot from the brides family who is waiting with the rest of us at the reception (we actually went on time - big mistake). At the groom's gathering, he is placed on a brightly decorated white horse while his family sings and dances and parties is a big way around him. They will party for hours - sometimes into the wee hours of the morning - in the streets - on the way to the reception with no regard for traffic etc. - they own their space. When they arrive, well... they arrive. Until then, everyone waits. The bride stays hidden in a room somewhere in the hotel until after the groom arrives. I'm not sure which entry was more spectacular/colorful or full of song and dance but in this case I think the grooms half won. There were so many moments, nuances that I missed but there was this really nice guy, another Google person who kept stopping by to explain to me what was happening and what the songs were about etc. which really added to the experience. Not sure what his name was but I wish I could say thanks. When the bride came in surrounded by her family, a group of colorfully dressed men stood around her holding a beautiful fabric over her and they all sang songs about her as she slooooowly walked up to the groom (who sat at his throne surrounded by his family) and his entourage sang back - all in fun, love and good humor which was evident in the clapping, laughing and hugging. In Indian tradition, the wife will go live with her husband and his mother, father and extended family after the wedding. In many ways, the wedding felt like the adoption of the wife into the grooms family. All in a loving, very traditional way.

What a fun night. Priyanka, the bride, looked stunning in her full ensemble (I hope to post a picture of them later) and her husband the same. Lots of shimmer, lots of bangles and lots of color. To Priyanka - thanks for letting us share on your most glorious day, and, may you be the mother to a thousand healthy children... (a small twist on a traditional wedding blessing).