Tasmania to Tanzania: Happily ever after.....

This last week has been full of fun as Francis and Vicky got married! Both are teachers at Hope. Francis takes my advanced students for Maths (which I'm so thankful for!) and teaches Swahili, whist Vicky is the Grade 1 teacher assistant. It was so beautiful to see these two people come together, and such a honour to be part of a Kenyan/Tanzanian wedding!

The send off
Before the wedding is another ceremony which is about the bride-to-be's family giving her to her husband for marriage. It's a big celebration for the bride, because most of the actual wedding reception is organised by the groom and his family.....including the bride's wedding dress. The invite said 5pm which means it didn't start until 7pm...haha. So of course all the wazungu (white people) were there just after 5...at least we had time for some photos in our pretty clothes :)

HOPE single teachers looking swish

With my cute date :)

All the bride's attendants danced into the room in matching clothes. So stylish! Then there's lots of different rituals, including introducing friends, giving cake to her family and her fiance's family, spraying champagne, and a really cute part near the end where Vicky has to hunt around the room for her fiance. He was hiding in the back corner....I never even saw him there! And of course there was yummy Tanzanian food :) I didn't have my good camera and the lighting was bad so not many photos!

Here comes the bride!

Teachers from school dancing into the room

Wedding ceremony
Another day, another dress! This time it was the actual wedding. Once again we were early so took some photos of our pretty clothes. Often guests try to dress in the wedding colours......so blue dresses it was!

with beautiful Grace

before wedding selfie

This time I had my big camera so managed to get some cute shots of the ceremony. Two of the students in my class were among the group who danced the bride down the aisle. They did such a great job! It was really hot in the church but such a special ceremony for two beautiful people.

Wedding reception
The wedding reception was so elaborate! It was held at Uhuru, a hostel/reception place not far from our house. Just like at the send off there was a traditional goat cake (cakie ya mbuzi)! It was such a beautiful setting but on my goodness the music was so loud! I've learned that here full volume is the standard volume for speakers, regardless of the event or how close the speakers are to where people are sitting. I tried stuffing bits of paper in my ears but still ended up with a thumping headache so exited a bit early. Still, such a special day and I feel so honoured to have been invited to be a part of it :)