3 WEDDINGS

As in the United States, Spring and Summer are the seasons for weddings. We had the privilege of attending three weddings. Each was unique and special in its own way as are the people who were getting married.

Petr and Wanda Jarkovi Wedding

We were pleased to have our car chosen as the "limo" for the Bride to be taken to the church, and the new couple to be taken to the reception. It was decorated with a doll and ribbons. Petr's family and friends met at his house and we drove together to the bride's house. There Petr was offered other potential brides but he refused until they offered him Wanda. Then both families formed a procession of cars and went to the church together.

Petr Jersak, the gypsy church pastor, performed the ceremony as Petr and Wanda vowed their love and commitment to one another.
After the ceremony there is a group picture of everyone who attended.
And another picture of the immediate families of both the Bride and the Groom.

They did some fun things we have not seen before at a wedding. The bride was put in the middle with her maid-of-honor holding a tray covered with a cloth and the best man held a tray of shots. People danced in a circle around the bride. One at a time someone would dance up to the tray and put some money under the cloth. Then they could choose to dance with the bride or take a shot (or both).

The couple were blindfolded and fed each other wedding cake.

The bride and groom broke a plate and then had to sweep up the pieces together. Among other things this symbolized the separating from their parents and beginning a new family of their own.

Vlasak Wedding

Martin Vlasak was the youth pastor in Liberec with whom we did many activities. He is now the pastor in Rychnov nad Orlici in East Bohemia. His bride, Tereza from Turnov, is Petr Boudny's sister-in-law. They had their wedding in the garden of the Liberec ministry center on Knopna Street. (see October 2009 Liberec English Camp which built the stage used in this wedding) Tereza was also a member of the Frydlant Drama team, hence the live chicken in a skit at their wedding.

As they were introduced as Man and Wife the first thunder sounded and soon we were inundated with heavy rain. Fortunately the food was under shelter on the balconies. The Bride was gallantly carried by the groom from the stage with a children's swimming pool held above her as an umbrella. As the evening fell, the rain stopped and the dancing began and continued well into the night.

Fronek Wedding

Jarda Fronek lives and goes to church in Frydlant, works in Liberec, attends our English conversation group in Turnov and got married in the garden of the Nove Mesto church. These are all towns that we work in also. His wedding was less formal and outdoors. It was a cold and windy day, but thankfully no thunder, lightening or rain!