Winjama: Goin' To The Chapel, And We're Gonna Get Married...

We had some problems over the past two weeks - one, my firewall automatically reconfigured itself to prevent ActiveX or Flash items from being accessed. Therefore, no blog updates till I got it figured out; two, we went on vacation for four days over to San Ignacio. I'll post pictures of our adventure on the next installment. Right now, I'm playing catch-up. - Dave]
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Going to the chapel

And we're gonna get married

Going to the chapel

And we're gonna get married

Gee I really love you
And we're gonna get married
Going to the chapel of love

CHAPEL OF LOVE
(Written by Jeff Barry / Ellie Greenwich / Phil Spector and recorded by The Dixie Cups in 1964)

Wow! Does that song bring back some memories. Anyway, it will give you a hint of what we've been up to for the past couple of days.

Isaiel Pech and Amarily Quetzal were married Saturday in Guinea Grass. We attended as Isaiel had asked us to be their God parents (Padrinos). What a treat. It was a lot of fun.

We started off with the drive to Guinea Grass Village, which is southwest of Orange Walk Town by a few miles and a really bad pot-holed rough road. Anyway, first place we stopped on arriving at Guinea Grass was Isaiel's father's house, which is also the location of Isaiel's welding shop.

Isaiel's Sign

After a bit, we went back into town to where Amarily's house was located, so we could change and so Dianna could hang with the bride, as is customary.

Viva la Difference - In Civvies

Viva la Difference - All Dolled Up

Our friend Elsie, accompanied us on this trip. Good thing too. At least she remembered to bring her camera. I forgot mine. All the wedding pictures are courtesy of Elsie. Big-Ups to her for shooting the whole thing and letting me use the pictures.

Dianna and Elsie Ready for a Party

Once Dianna and Elsie changed, they went next door to where Amarily was getting prepared for her big day.

Amarily Getting Her Hair Fixed

Amarily with Her Grandmother

Amarily with Dianna

While Dianna stayed with Amarily, Elsie and I headed back up to the site of the wedding. A big part of the preparations is the food. And, there was plenty of that - complete with four BBQ pits!

The Soft Drink Bar

Food Prep Area

More Food

Relleno (Black Soup) Cooking

Escabeche Cooking

the Four BBQ's

What would a wedding be with out sounds? Here's the band arriving.

Speakers Galore

What key was that in again?

They really did go to a lot of work and expense for this wedding. Tents, chairs, etc., etc.

The Grand Pavillion

Isaiel's Mom and Young Sister

Dave and Isaiel

The crowd gathers, the band warms up. Actually, people kept arriving throughout the day, so there ended up being in the vicinity of 70 - 80 people in attendance.

Still Some Seating

The Band Getting Into it

Isaiel's Proud Parents, Ramiro and Marciana Pech

The Flower Girl, The Ring Girl, The Lassoo Boy

El Pastor making some preliminary remarks. Apparently, he's a kind of lay clergy as there was also an ordained minister who conducted the actual ceremony itself. Isaiel's family are members of the Church of God, Pentecostal, so no drinking or dancing at the wedding. A band was ok, but they only played religious pieces, but with a jumping beat and rhythm.

Preliminary Remarks

Now, we get to the heart of the matter. Part of our duties as Padrinos is to escort the groom to the altar. We did that rather well. Then we waited and watched as the bride arrived.

Escorting the Groom

Here Comes the Bride

Amarily was given away (what a phrase) by her brother.

Amarily Being Presented to the Groom

Next, we were treated to a solo by the Pastor's wife. She was spirited and mostly in tune. Of course, the song and the entire wedding ceremony was in Spanish, so we could catch a word here, a phrase there.

Vocal Solo

Now, it gets stared. As Padrinos, we had a couple of other duties to perform. Basically, we acted as Best Man and Maid of Honor.

The Minister Giving the Sermon

One of our duties was to, at the appropriate time, drape a white rope around the shoulders of the couple, signifying they were now bound by a stronger tie. Sort of like a cabletow. The young boy, bearing the rope, came up at the right time, and we did the deed.

Draping the Cord About Their Shoulders

The Ceremony Gets Serious Now

Then came the ring girl. After retrieving the rings from her, we rings to Amarily and Isaiel.

Putting Rings on Each Other's Fingers

I now pronounce you husband and wife (whatever that would be in Espanol).

Kissing the Bride

Of course, it's not over till the paperwork is over. Here, the Bride and Groom sign, then Dianna and I as Padrinos (and witnesses), then the minister. Of course, it's in triplicate and has the appropriate legal stamps too.