1.) Getting Ready: We each ask one another, "What should I wear?" Both respond with, "I don't know whatever you would in America, and just be ready to be stared at."
2.) Women's Make-up: For weddings Khmer women wear so much make up that you honestly can't even recognize them. After I finished putting on mine I asked Chris, "How do I look?" He responds, "Well, your face looks different so that is good." Great, but not so great...
3.) Driving: It is so hot that you don't want to drive in your full attire. So once we got to the parking lot we changed shoes, Chris put on his tie, and I my shawl.
4.) Finding the Building: At any given time there is a whole row of weddings on one street or in one place, so they put out these gigantic photos of the bride and groom. Since you can't recognize the bride you have to do your hunting on the groom's photo alone.
5.) Proper Greetings: Upon arrival you properly and respectfully greet the bride and groom. Then proceed to take the group shot photo. The poor bride and groom do this with all 300+ guests and then usher them to the next phase of greetings.
6.) Greetings Phase 2: It usually is best to just keep you hands joined together and placed in front of your face for 2 solid minutes as you are escorted past key family members, wedding party, and then 15 more people. Each person you must greet properly.
7.) Gifts: Cash only. You give your money filled invitation to the guy at the door and wait for either his look of approval or disappointment to see if you have given the right amount of money. It sounds like a game show and it feels like one.
8.) Dinner Seating: You are taken to the next open table, because food is not served to the table until all the chairs are full. You usually end up not sitting with your friends or even people you know, but with complete strangers. Timing at weddings is key.
9.) Dinner: One of the first thing we were taught in Cambodia is, "be careful with wedding food, it will make you sick." So we take the necessary precautions and only eat enough to make sure that it looks like we enjoyed the meal, but then go home to have dinner.
10.) Music: If you have ever Skyped with us you know that weddings that are 1/2 mile away sound like they are in our guest bedroom. They are miserably load, I mean miserable. You have to outright yell just to say something to the person who is 6 inches from you. Makes for a difficult environment to speak and hear Khmer with complete strangers.
However, at the end of the evening we were very thankful for supporting Chanrith and his new wife. We wish them all the happiness and joy together. We also are thankful for the meaningful relationships we are building here in Cambodia.
(Pictured above: 2Five2 staff, but the bright wedding lights washed us all out, and then the outside of the venue we were at)
That is awesome. You guys should renew your vows out there Cambodia style.
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