We pulled all the weeds we could and gave up the ghost around 1130, had some lunch, and then cleaned up to go to the wedding. As shown above, the wedding was at 2PM at the Redeemed Christian Church of God Restoration Chapel. We scouted out the route last night so we would know where we were going. Arriving a little bit before 2, we proceeded to one of the two buildings there which was, of course, the wrong one, and were directed to the other by a man dressed in a very traditional-type outfit. Once inside the 'church', we were met by a lady with an enormous turquoise hat that matched her full length costume - it couldn't really be called a dress. She asked if we were here for the wedding. We assented and figured we'd sit in the back somewhere. That wasn't what she had in mind; she led us all the way down the center aisle to the second row on the left and motioned for us to sit there. There weren't very many people there. After a few minutes, Sneed got up to make sure the wedding was to start at 2. It was.
There was a fellow playing on a keyboard. Some time later, a drummer and guitarist joined him. Four ladies walked into the sanctuary, stood behind microphones, the band started to play, and those in attendance stood. I motioned to Sneed that we should stand as well. Thus began a round of singing a song, over and over and over. While singing they were dancing in the pews. When that song finally ended, another began, and another, each with several repetitions. A few more people arrived. A man,we later identified as Pastor Sanusi, stood behind the podium and began to address the assembled. When he finished, he yielded the spot to a woman, Pastor Modupe, who also began talking to the assembled. She asked the band to cease so the recorded music for the processional could be played. The bridesmaids entered. They took their stance at the front as did the groom and his men. Next the bride was to process down the aisle. Pastor M waited and finally had to ask for the music to be played. A few minutes lapsed before the tape was found. The bride, Chika, came down the aisle unaccompanied. She walked very slowly, measuring her steps to the slow metered strains of Pachibel's Canon in D.
Smiling husband to be, Ikenna, patiently waited...and waited. This was the low key part of the afternoon. More singing and dancing, Hallelujahs and Amens rang out. After awhile I joined in singing and swaying, Sneed didn't quite feel that comfortable. It was so much fun. Finally the actual ceremony was conducted by the Pastor K culminating with the exchanging of rings (you can see that on the screen above Ikenna's head.
Pastor K then explained several passages of the Bible, not once but twice. This occured a few times. The bride and groom together with their parents then danced out of the church to sign the wedding register. While they were gone, we were singing and swaying again. They came dancing back to the front. We were taken by surprise that the next part was the Thanksgiving Offering where we all, starting at the back of the church, left the pews and deposited any dollar bill denomination into a velvet-lined 'golden' urn. The line then snaked around behind the wedding couple and turned to go around in front of them to congratulate them. Sneed steered us back to the pew instead. I forgot to say there was music playing this entire time and it looked as if a conga line was wrapping around the couple. Then Pastor K gave another long sermon exhorting that divorce was not an option and this marriage was for life. Of course, this required audience participation as he would make a statement, then repeat it leaving out the last few words at which time we were supposed to fill in the pause. If it wasn't loud enough, it would be repeated again and again until he was satisfied. At long last, Pastor M made some announcements and said the reception would be at 'that place' - she wasn't going to attempt saying 'Chateau Crystale'. But...it wasn't over yet. Another prayer...singing, and then finally the song to which the bride and groom would dance up the center aisle and out of the church.
Okay, that part was over, two hours from whence it began. But wait... all this wasn't really over. Pastor M came over to thank us for coming. Someone took our photo with her. She wanted to know how old Marque was. When she learned it was built in 1953, she said "I was born in 1954." Chika and Ikenna posed for photos with their families.
Chika and Ikenna were on their way in Marque's back seat. A happy couple. I went to my car and drove to the Chateau. After I was there for a few minutes, Sneed called to say that they had stopped at the Hilton Hotel where the phtotgrapher was going to take a few more photos. Few to us and few to them meant two different things. I was waiting outside as we weren't attending the reception. The guests came, went inside, came back outside, went to McDonalds, to Starbucks, etc. It was just shy of 7PM when Marque deposited them in the porte cochere and Sneed waited for me to look up from my book to notice him. This wasn't the quick 'attend wedding and drive to reception' that we had intended. We finally got home at 8 but the day didn't end there.
That sounds like such a fun wedding!! I wish that I had been a guest!
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