The Wedding Reception

He works in the copy shop where all our educational supplies are prepared. She happens to be one of Po's secretary's best friends. Yesterday they got married and I was lucky enough to be there for the wedding reception. The invitations were engraved on pale pink paper. Imagine a bunch of Lao curlicues announcing: thefamiliesofthebrideandgroominviteyoutobepresentfortheweddingoftheirchildrenon31october2009 and you have some idea of how it looked. (Lao rarely capitalizes and there are no spaces between words.)

The two just happened to live next door to each other, so the wedding was set up in their adjoining yards, open only to family and close friends. Then another couple hundred people descended upon the premises and the Beerlao and the Pepsi started flowing. The reception had begun. Every woman looked lovely in custom-made silk sinhs (Lao skirts) and tops of every persuasion; the men wore suits and dress shirts. Sandals and high heels co-mingled and hair ran the gamut from spiky to exquisite braids.

The groom was resplendent in a white suit and white shoes which went spectacularly with his wide smile. The bride was in her glory in Lao finery of the highest order: Her ivory sinh and ivory silk top were highlighted by a red and gold embroidered sash (worn over one shoulder, the ends meeting on the opposite hip). Her hair was a perfect tight black beehive bedecked with gold filament. She and her new husband looked regal. They greeted each guest, then took group pictures with guest families as people departed.

The food consisted of fifteen to twenty special nuptial dishes, including soups, salads, fresh fruit, and bountiful quantities of kao (rice) and fresh French bread. Delicious delicacies were enjoyed by all. No one went away hungry.

There was a disc jockey and there was a singer and they took turns entertaining the masses with danceable music. Guests formed small circles and moved gently to the music with both their hands and their feet, smiling in a congenial manner.

The catering staff and the valet folks had platters of food delivered to them as well, and when all the ice buckets were full and all the scooters were parked, they ate and swayed in time to the music.

I didn't stay long and I didn't understand much that was said, but I did bathe in the overflowing joy and contentment. May the bridal couple's hearts have captured enough to last a lifetime.