le marriage de Bedi

(I think that has a good ring to it...)

So this Ivorian wedding started out at the mayor's office, l'hôtel de ville

Cool chairs huh?

First comes the women relatives, who were singing.

Then the bride. (Please notice the woman to the left. This was the maid of honor. She took her job very seriously and was everywhere all the time, powdering the bride and adjusting her veil. I could not stop watching this lady all night!)

Then the maids of honor...

..big train!

The mayor presided over this ceremony, sitting behind a long table in the front of the room, with two other administrators at his sides. The couple sat in chairs facing them and their witnesses sat behind them. To my surprise, the mayor spent a a lot of time talking about the roles of husbands and wives and how important it is for couples to take their problems to their elders and NOT to the courts (our gender based violence coordinator was rolling her eyes and vowing to do a sensitization with him!).

After this the party moved a reception hall where a second religious ceremony took place, and then all the eating and drinking.

The band.

It is hard to keep Ivoirians from dancing. And they make have such good rhythm, they make it look effortless... and then I try and realize it's harder than it looks. (These are my colleagues!)

The happy couple.

The first dance.

The photographers.

The cake.

Champagne toast!