An American/Bolivian Wedding

This Satuday, one of the missionaries married one of the pastors from my church. The prevous Sunday, she made a point of announcing that the service was going to start at the ‘gringo’ time of 4:00 on the dot. “Please don’t be late,” she said, “we are going to start on time.”

When my family and I got back from the Bolivian Farmfest, it was already 2:30. I was a bit nervous because I knew everyone had to shower and get ready yet, but I all I could do was get myself ready, and see what happened. By 3:30, we hadn’t left yet, by 4:00, we hadn’t left. Finally at 4:45 we were on our way. 

“Don’t worry,” said my host mom, “I called one of my friends, they haven’t started yet.”

Sure enough, when we got there we had 15 minutes left to settle ourselves into our seats before the prelude music began. The outdoor service was short and simple.  The American bride´s dress was simple but the Bolivain groom made up for it. He reminded me of a watered down Willie Wanka – lavender suit, pink shirt and a silver striped tie.

Afterwards, we went upstairs for the reception of empanadas, lemon bars, blonde brownies, and cooked and sweetened corn that I can never remember the name of. I think all the Bolivians were confused at the lack of meat. Afterwards we had to stop at a restaurant to get ‘pollo’ chicken for my host sister because she was still hungry.

Instead of a dance, they had a short program of music and friends giving short messages for the couple. I can’t tell you how many Bolivians asked me why all the Americans kept clinking their glasses with their silverware. They thought it was a sign of displeasure or that we wanted the program to stop. Apparently that tradition has not made it to South America yet.

I wish I would have had another Bolivian wedding to compare it to. There were plenty of things that were familiar but just as many that were a bit different.