It seems to be wedding season here in Tana - the roads choked with convoys of cars, complete with ribboned mirrors like recently-groomed poodles (thanks Sue Midgley for that description), crawling along from church ceremony to reception. I generally don't venture onto the streets on Saturdays as a result, but yesterday I enjoyed my second-ever Malagasy wedding, that of our good friends Tanteraka and Jaela.
And what an experience it was! The day started early for them with their official, very traditional engagement (yes, you did read that correctly) and civil ceremony on one side of town, followed by the church marriage ceremony on another side, and then the reception downtown.
The ceremony itself was reasonably sedate, but then came the assault on the senses at the reception. The food was excellent, the music eardrum-splittingly loud and incessant, the karaoke unceasing, the dancing untiring, the pastry a work of art, the cake-cutting ceremony confusing, the paparazzi-like photographers unshakable, the wine heartburn-producing, and the joy unmistakable!
(As usual, click on the photos for better versions. They are very grainy because all the pics were taken without flash).
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| Unbridled Celebration! |
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| Speeches |
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| Karaoke |
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| Cake, cake and more cake |
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| It's official! |
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| Everyone and their aunty with a camera |
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| Joyful Dancing |
