Richard's Wedding

There were 3 office weddings on the same day last weekend. A few people managed to hit all 3. My housemates and I arrived in a caravan of boda-bodas at the church for Richard and Hellen’s wedding about 20 minutes late. When we saw a crowd gathered in front the church, it appeared we

had missed it. But no- when I walked up to take a photo of the wedding party I realized I didn’t recognize the groom. It was an earlier wedding so we were in time. Then several coworkers arrived and suggested we go to another wedding in a different location and come back ‘when the wedding warmed up’. So we got in a car, drove to a different wedding, stayed long enough to see the final vows (this wedding had been scheduled to start 3 ½ hours prior), and returned to the first church. We entered the church as it appeared we were just in time but no- we were told ‘not yet’ as it was another wedding party. Richard’s wedding finally did start about 2 hours late. (I’m not sure in how many countries you would show up late for the wedding, then decide to go to another wedding, and still be on time to see the vows). A reception followed at a beautiful out door ‘reception garden’. Music vacillated between traditional Ugandan music and American country western. There were traditional dancers for entertainment, great food, and lots of beer. There were long, long speeches starting with a testimonial from Hellen’s employer. Despite the employer saying 4 times that she was keeping the speech brief, the master of ceremonies told her an equal number of times to stop talking (it didn’t seem to shorten the speech). The speeches continued with Richard’s employer, a political leader, and Anglican Church leaders before the queue reached the multiple family members on either side. I am going to try to convince one of my children to import one wonderful part of the tradition, when and if they get married, called ‘receiving the gifts’. After the wedding party dances into place, each of the guests dances up to the bride and groom to give their gifts (and yes, we muzungos danced forward).