Peruvian Wedding

It´s Monday morning here ... and I am sneaking a little time on the computer (hoping that none of the other 11 people here tonight urgently need to use the computer because I MUST write about the wedding today). Why the rush .... well this morning we are off on the honeymoon with the bride and groom... unusual - Yes, but so is everything here in Peru. Their planned honeymoon had to be postponed due to Visa issues, so this trip is al alternative ... and we´re not here for very long so, we´re joining them. In fact 9 of us will be heading off together this morning in less than one hour.

The fantastic wedding day started off with breakfast in an amazing surroundings .... Royal Inka Hotel in the Pisac Valley, surrounded by high mountains, Inca terraces and ruins, quaint mud brick houses and gum trees!!!! Breakfast was individually cooked omelettes ... with ingredients of your choice. Chef was a real showman as well.

After breakfast the procession of people in the hotel´s salon began with 2 family friends taking over the salon and for makeup and hair styling. ... I was first in line. Interesting ... with no common communication - all good.

Getting ready was a communial affair as people moved between the ´grande´rooms - sharing whatever they had, and other guests arriving, beging introduced etc. The boys looked spectacular.... I was very proud of both of them. The eyes were starting to leak already ... and in my head I could hear Milka saying to me ...´no woman no cry!´. I was trying very hard, but it didn´t work.

Party and celebration mode was already in full swing ... but Peru time was also working overtime. Things just don´t always go to plan. A bus organised to pick up many of the guests in Cusco didn´t arrive on time with some guests then arranging taxis so they would arrive in time. Some, including members of the official wedding party didn´t make it before the ceremony began ... but made it by the end - all good. They were there to sign paperwork and take part in photo sessions.

The bride and groom just beamed with happiness and emotions all round were overflowing. The service, in a very small 16th century church was in both Spanish and English ... and was very emotional. Milka did a reading in Spanish and Zac did one in English. The priest included the Australian visitors throughout the service, even commenting on the great distance we all travelled to be here etc. There was much standing and sitting sitting -no room for kneeling, and when the ceremony was over, many photos were taken IN the church - so much shuffling took place as various groups took their place beside the bride and groom ... with this amazing church background.

Many photos were taken in and around the hotle grounds, before Zac and Milka took off to have more photos taken around Pisac surrounds. Guests drifted off to the reception area to await the arrival of the bride and groom. When they arrived, they were introduced, champagne flowed and the wedding dance began - Zac and Milka danced together and then family members were introduced to dance with them.

Can´t remember the sequence of events - there was lots of champagne, wine and Zac´s beers (several different brews), good food, loud music and MUCH dancing. Somewhere in the middle of it all there was another ceremony - a civil service, cutting of the cake, boquet throwing, Zac taking off Milka´s garter, which was then trhown for the guys to catch, something else with a lot of ribbons hanging out of a large glass, and much more dancing. Pervuians certainly can dance!!! The music continued non-stop until about 9pm - not bad for a wedding that took place at 12.30pm. Some Aussie guests were even seen to be getting dance lessons throughout the night!

It was a great party - which continued the next day with a cricket game, golf, swimming, local markets(for some) and some crazy 4-wheel bike racing.

Sorry - have to go - look for more photos whenever I can. Love to all.