Our Tibetan friend's wedding

A few weeks ago we had the privilege of attending our Tibetan friend's wedding. Our friends are Christians so it was a Tibetan Christian ceremony. A wedding in Nepal is so very different from a wedding in America although some things are surprisingly similar. We received the wedding invitation two days before the wedding (although we had heard through word of mouth that the wedding was happening and that we were invited about 1 week before the wedding). The invitation said 11:00 am for the start of the ceremony but knowing that things in Nepal do not usually start on time we showed up at 11:30 am. We were some of the first people there. The ceremony actually started around 12:45. While we were waiting we talked with people, handed out candy to the little kids as they came, let Keane and Gracie run around outside, etc. The ceremony was very special and it was a time of worship and asking for the Lord to bless the marriage. There was a message, lots of singing, vows and rings exchanged and prayer. There was no, "And now you may kiss the bride" though as public displays of affection are not a part of Nepali and Tibetan culture and are seen as inappropriate here. Also, weddings (and many celebrations and events)are much less informal here than in America. People kept coming in and out during the ceremony, walking up and down the isles, kids were running and walking up and down the isles, people were eating food (I have to admit that the kids and I were snacking too, although it was more secretively)and people were talking loudly to each other during the message. For someone who has never been to a Tibetan wedding (or event) here in Nepal all of these things may seem rude but they are just a normal part of culture here. After the ceremony we were led outside to a tent where the bride and groom and their family's were sitting. The ground was dirt and the chairs were plastic but we were led to greet them in a fashion that was very similar to a traditional receiving line. When we greeted the bride and groom we gave them an envelope of money and put a 'kata' around their necks. (A 'kata' is a traditional Tibetan scarf that is given at times of celebration, at ceremonies, during times of worship, as an offering, when someone is going away, etc. It is widely used in Tibetan culture. Often the Tibetan people give 'katas' to each other the way that we would give a greeting card.) After greeting the bride and groom we greeted the other family members and gave each of them a 'kata' too. Then it was time to eat. We walked from the receiving line to the buffet line for some traditional local food and glass bottled soda (which is the normal way soda comes in Nepal). We got our plates and grabbed a seat outside. We were able to talk with some of our friends and just enjoy the beautiful day and the wonderful cultural experience of it all.

Dhombhu and Injung: Thank you for letting us share in your special day. We are so thankful for you and your heart for the Lord. We pray that God truly blesses your marriage and uses you mightily for His glory.

Gracie and me and some of my Tibetan friends (the aprons we are wearing signify that we are married)

The tent where the bride and groom and their family sat after the ceremony while being greeted by all of their guests

The metal plates and napkins ready for the buffet

Those blue tents in the distance are "toilets". They are just holes dug in the ground (no actual toilets here) and the tent is for privacy. They actually had toilet paper inside which is unusual and they had a different tent for male and female.

Sign for the female toilet in Nepali and English

Keane and Gracie with some of the other kids at the wedding

Some of our friends

The groom (R) and his "best man"

The bride and groom (center) and their "wedding party" on either side

The band who led worship (the instrument you see here is the 'dhomyang' the Tibetan guitar)

Keane and Gracie fell fast asleep in our arms for a few minutes

The line on the left is the line for greeting the bride and groom and the line on the right is for the buffet meal

Glass bottled cokes

Keane and Gracie with our friend Phuchanga. Phuchanga is a Mount Everest 'summitter'. He is has led and participated in world class expeditions and is a great guy who loves Jesus.

Keane and Gracie with the wedding party. Here they have many of the 'kata' scarves on given to them by the many people who have come to greet them.