New Experience

 Last Saturday we were invited to a wedding. Here is where I learned a bit more about marriages in Ghana. There are the traditional tribal marriages which are recognized by family, friends, and other villages, etc. For many this is the extent as civil marriages are expensive.  After traditional, there is the civil marriage that is recognized by the government and for official documents. And then there is the sealing in the temple that is recognized by God and the church. 

Brenda works on the same floor and side of the area office that Jeffrey works in. She invited him to come to her wedding.  This is the first wedding in Ghana that we have been invited to. I have since been invited to one in December. Nice!

I found out that Brenda had been in the traditional wedding the day before. It has lots of very formal parts, including the groom asking the father (in front of everyone) for her hand in marriage (actually negotiated beforehand) and giving them bride price etc. Then there is lots of celebrations depending on the tribe. I have never gone to one of those, so it is all description and speculative on my part.

Then on Saturday Brenda and her groom went through the civil ceremony. The came to the Stake Center and probably had their Bishop marry them - (it wasn't our Bishop).  Lots of people were dressed up and I was especially noting the fascinators that the family wore. Lots of people in the audience too. I saw that many were wearing white and found out that close family or very close friends wear white. It is an auspicious color of life. 

She was solemn as she walked down the aisle with her father. A bridesmaid and her mother followed. Her groom turned around and waited for her and then they sat in chairs right in front of the pulpit with his groomsman and her bridesmaid. 

They stood took their vows. Then went up and signed a register. The couple, her parents, his parents and I think a witness or two. Then they had an exchange of rings and more music and a prayer before she walked back down the aisle to the wedding march.

Later that day they were sealed in the temple.