Wedding

Yesterday, we went to our first Nicaraguan wedding. Our friends Kerin and Isaac, from the first church we attended, were finally getting married, after years of dating. I can still remember talking with Kerin, a few months after we arrived and she was 16, telling me she couldn't wait to marry Isaac. She was a very patient woman!

And we're ready!



The invitation said the wedding started at 3 pm. But did that actually mean to arrive there at 3? That was our big question. Most people told us, no way. Sometimes the bride doesn't arrive for hours. Our next door neighbors related the awful story of waiting 4 hours for the bride to arrive. I told them they should have ordered pizza!

The one main difference between Nicaraguan and American weddings is that here, there are 2 ceremonies. The first one is called the civil ceremony, and is done with a lawyer. Only lawyers have the power to marry a couple. This is done the same day, the day before, or even a week before the ecclesiastical ceremony. Usually only the family is invited to the civil ceremony.

The ecclesiastical ceremony is more like our ceremonies in the States. There is a pastor (or priest, if you're Catholic), with a sermon, the bride wears a wedding dress. The main difference here is that the set-up was more like a reception. We walked in and sat down at our table. The pastor preached, vows were said, rings exchanged, and the couple was "married" by the pastor (although he has no legal power).

The bride, Kerin.



There was food, music, and cake, just like American weddings.

Joel and family work on the food.



The cake.


The other difference we noted is that the cake was served on napkins. It always is. No matter where we have gone, for some reason, they always serve cake on napkins, never on a plate. I don't know why.

Typical Nicaraguan child. They can sleep anywhere, anytime. No matter how loud the preaching or music. Marlon (MacDonald's brother) holds his daughter, Cristel.