Saturday 28 May
Susan and Oscar's wedding day at last. The weather could have been kinder as it was overcast and cool, but they say that is better for the photos and it certainly didn't spoil the day.
Those who were to be diddied up for the event left at 8.00am and spent the day somewhere nearby getting makeup and hair done. The rest of us had a quiet morning at the property until it was time to get ready.
I had just got my dress on when Oscar and Troy arrived with the photographers who had come to take photos of Oscar getting ready. Ours was the best room for that. Tim and Andrew also popped in to collect their clothes as we had the only wardrobe. This was good timing because Oscar had no idea how to tie a tie. He needed quite a bit of sorting out clothes-wise and Tim was the hero of the hour. Without him there could have been a serious wardrobe malfunction of the pants-falling-down kind in the middle of the ceremony.
The wedding venue was only about 15 minutes away down a pretty scungy dirt road, but when you entered it was amazing - manicured green lawns and gardens with colourful floral arrangements, paths, a fountain and a lushness contrasting strongly with the land outside its boundaries.
The little flower girls (Teagan, Ella, Torah and a couple of others) wore brightly coloured Mexican embroidered dresses and led the way with baskets of flower petals to strew. The bridesmaids wore black dresses and each held a different coloured bunch of flowers. Susan looked lovely of course, with a multicoloured bouquet. Her son, Troy, escorted her down the steps, across the bridge and along the path to Oscar.
It was a relaxed and happy ceremony with a couple of special touches: a pause so that the tech-happy pair could take photos on their phones and a traditional native Mexican blessing, with the man blowing a shell horn and doing a smoking ceremony not unlike our own indigenous ones. There was a only one moment of angst. Would you believe it that when it was time for the rings no one had them!? A classic comedy moment, but the wedding planner came to the rescue by radioing HQ at the top of the steps and they were quickly brought down on their floral cushion.
There were pre-dinner drinks and nibbles in the gorgeous gardens, accompanied by a mariachi band. Then it was into the marquee for the party.
I felt like I was on a movie set. The tables looked gorgeous with colourful flowers and chillies decorating each place. In one corner was the cake and an amazing array of desserts and at the other end was the dinner buffet. Everywhere there was colour, including the lighting effects on the ceiling of the marquee.
Dinner was delicioso. Anne is going to make a wall hanging with messages from all the people who attended so she and I went round the tables gathering contributions on little pieces of fabric. There were a few speeches. The groom's parents spoke in Spanish and I picked up a few words. Troy did a terrific job and so, of course, did Anne. It was a moment when we all thought of, and missed, Brian.
There was a DJ, apparently famous, and much dancing. The cake was cut and distributed. Off to the side was a photo booth. Anne and I went to check it out and had our photos taken in a variety of funny hats. Bizarre, but great fun. Towards the end of the evening we were advised that there were tacos so I went over and got a couple. I was a little generous with the sauce, which set my mouth on fire, but the tacos were delicious.
Throughout the event, 2 year old Torah stole the show as only a flower girl can. Her flower-strewing was determined (!) and once the party started she followed Susan around like a little shadow, sometimes holding onto the back of her dress and sometimes gazing at her with a wrapt expression. The rest of the time she was on the dance floor with any family member she could find. When the music stopped at about 11.30 she burst into tears, insisting that it should go on. Look out Andrew and Lana, that girl is a party animal!
It was a great party and the most multi media wedding I have ever heard of. (Oscar works in event management and they met on the Internet through their love of music.) There were internet hotspots on each table so that guests could tweet photos or upload them to the couple's wedding pic ap. The ceremony was streamed live on Facebook and the photographers used drones to capture the scene from above.
We got home just before 1.00 with Torah still protesting loudly that the party was over. All in all, well worth the long journey to Mexico!
Posted with Blogsy
