Only the bride and groom and their attendants sat on chairs in the church.
23 February 2011 | Butaritari
Another day we were invited to a wedding. Patrick was to be the official photographer. It was a long ceremony in the protestant church. The bride and groom and their attendants were sweltering in their formal cloths and 90 degree heat. They and their attendants were the only ones seated on chairs. All others sat cross legged on the church floor. After the official ceremony was the bash in the communal hut. Lots of entertaining and dancing by the village women and speeches by friends of the bride and groom. Then the lines of food were set out. Again us yachtees were honored guests sitting in the central honored spot and we left with huge bunches of green bananas on our shoulders. Patrick and I gave to the newly weds solar powered yard lights which is a rare, highly prized item in the islands. Also it took 10 hours to create a DVD, with music, of the days events for a “wedding album” for the bride and groom.
Butaritari is certainly one of our all time favorite atolls. The people are rich in food as they are industrious having not been ruined by unbridled handouts from wealthy nations. And their sense of community is strong.