My dear friend Emily got married 3 times in 6 weeks, good thing it was to the same guy! The first one was in San Jose, California, the second was in Koh Samuai, Thailand and the third Taipei, Taiwan. I was lucky enough to witness all three, each unique, heartfelt and memorable in their own way. The progression went something like this: a small gathering of family and friends in California then to a beautiful beach setting in Thailand and finally a Taiwanese production in Taipei! I wish I was joking but I’m not. Being Indian I have been around production weddings all my life, they are usually a week or so long and consist of lots of festivities where the bride is the center of attention. But this was different. Anyone who is anyone important in Taiwan was sitting at one of the few tables closest to the stage awaiting the grand entrance of the new couple and passing along their h0me bau (spelling? its the red envelope). 15 hours, 4 dress changes, photo shoot sessions, speeches and lots of smiles... it was the grand finale!
But first let me back up to my first morning in Taiwan at Poetree resort… I wake up refreshed and ready for the big day. I head downstairs to explore the fitness center which consisted of three treadmills and managed to get in a nice run and then walk over to the beautiful (barely used) yoga studio and immerse myself into a strong, sweaty power practice… ahh all cleansed.
Its 10:30am and CK and I are out the door, umbrellas in hand, and headed to the hair salon to get our hair did. Note: It finally makes sense to me why many Asian women walk around Milpitas with their umbrellas, it’s an important accessory in Taiwan, I would have been a fool not to use one considering how sharp the sun is here.
We are on a very tight schedule given the events of the day; after our hair and make is done we make the umbrella walk back to the brides’ house as fast as possible to avoid a makeup meltdown. It’s close to 2pm and time for the cultural tea ceremony. (The bride outfit #1: back into the bridal gown, hair and makeup done and accessorized with a beautiful flower in hair.) The tea ceremony is a cultural event where the bride serves tea to the elders and her husband showing her nurturing and caring quality. In return she is presented with gifts and tokens of love (a nice tradeoff in my opinion). It’s now close to 5pm and time to head to banquet hall. We are greeted by a beautifully decorated personalized with pictures of the happy couple and equipped with a mini bar AND a candy bar!!!
The guests arrive on Taiwanese standard time (only an hour late) and take their seats... lights, camera, ACTION! The bridal party walks down the aisle... I felt like I was going down the "red carpet" with all eyes on me! We stand at the front of the stage with big smiles on our face and let everyone take pictures of us. Emily wasn't joking when she said " the banquet is to show off the couple and their friends... so you BETTER dress up! " when she said it, its sounded more like a threat... eeek. Luckily I listened. Everyone stood in awe as the bride walked down the aisle and was presented to her husband. ( p.s.this time she didn't faint!) .
The night kind of reminded me of bollywood music just with speeches in the background and people picking at their buffet plates but in between Emily would disappear and then reappear on the aisle shaking her hips in a new gown and hairdo and the same glowing smile! She transformed from the American bride in her white gown to the Taiwanese Barbie dressed in a traditional high collared red and gold dress and hair in an up do. After visiting all the tables and “showing off” the new look, she was out the door only to return a few moments later danced down the aisle once again, in dress # 3 of the night, a dark blue gown . Each dress had its own matching hair flower accessory (Em loves her accessories!) and shoes. This dress was the lucky winner to end the banquet.
Unlike Indian weddings where dinner is not served until late (its incentive for guests to stay late!), the Taiwanese were nice enough to not keep their guest waiting which also meant they began to clear out and home on the earlier side. The formal banquet came to an end and after a few playful photo sessions we headed for the local jazz bar to unwind and sigh over a drink, they are officially married… AGAIN!
Big props out to Jens’s parents who came out to the after party and enjoyed the festivities…. They are German and speak very little English but spoke a lot of love and affection… funny how much we can communicate when speaking in that language!
Spontaneity adds LIFE to life… especially in a foreign country. After the after party it was NOT the poetree lobby instead it was a search for food which led Cory, Ck and I to local wine bar/art gallery / revolution repose. Owned by Daniel, this place was a cool little spot with a lot of flavor. Unfortunately the kitchen wouldn’t open up for us at 2am ( how dare they!) but we were offered fruit and peanut butter along with a tour of the new exhibition which would be showcased the next day. I still can’t understand why the same piece of art was on the wall with 3 different background colors but the pieces got their message across even though I didn’t know much about the Taiwanese –Chinese history being portrayed. We said our good byes, promised to stop by the showing tomorrow and headed home after a very very loooong day.
Tomorrow’s forecast a whole lot of rest and relaxation!
