Bride and groom Deborah and Amily are in the center with their best man and maid of honor. Deborah is one of my Urukundo daughters.
The wedding was in Kigali City at Sunday Park. The dowry was great fun. I never did find out how many cows were given as a dowry for her. I would think a whole barnyard full.
As is customary in Rwandan culture, the bride and groom give gifts to special people. This gift was given to Urukundo Foundation and handed to Director Jean Marie Ntwari.
Mama also received a gift.
Urukundo was well represented among the guests.
Oliver, Jean Marie and yours truly.
Aunty Betty
Others present were Josephine, Delphine, Oswald, Sarah, Lucky, Claude and John.
Sandra, part of the Urukundo family and Tresor's bride in July, attended the bride.
Urukundo was there!
Sandra, Mama and Oliver
An extra special wedding event
Have you ever heard of a white wedding? I believe this is a first. In Rwanda, I know it is. I was honored when my Rwandan daughter chose to not only have a traditional Rwandan wedding but also, as a tribute to me, to have what she called “a white wedding.”
I was surprised when late the evening before Deborah’s wedding, I received a text from Deborah. All it said was, “Hi Mom.”
This disturbed me no end. All sorts of things went off in my head. I stewed for a bit and then to ease my mind, I called her. Texting was not enough. “Are you ok?” I asked. “Yes, I am ok. I forgot to ask you if you would be a part of my white wedding,” she said. I had no idea what a white wedding was and said to her, “Of course, I will. You can tell me what you want me to do when I get there in the morning.” With that, we said goodnight and I went off to lalaland. During the night, I woke up thinking, "I wonder if she is planning a wedding like Solange had in the US. She might call that a white wedding".
Sure enough, that was the plan. To honor me, her white mom, Deborah and Amily had arranged to have a white wedding so that I could walk her down the aisle. Walk with me.
Tresor officiated and did an excellent job.
Although it was not her custom, her mother agreed to do that. Walk with me.
Deborah’s mother and I walked our shared daughter down the aisle. The white carpet served as the walkway. Very inventive and beautiful.
Her Urukundo brother Tresor had the honor of pronouncing them husband and wife.
I share with you a message from Deborah’s Urukundo sister Solange in the USA. It made my day.
“That is a first for me, too. I have never heard of a 'white wedding.' It may have been created just for you. 😊 This just made my morning. But it sounds like it was a beautiful event, and I'm sure she was as thrilled as I was to have you be a part of the wedding.”
The end of a beautiful day and an eventful month! Wonder what October will bring?