The wedding day

Well, we prayed for a nice sunny day because the bride, Marleen wanted to be driven by horse carriage to the church on her wedding day. Marleen's hobby is horseback riding, and teaching at the riding school. She loves horses and thought it would be special to have four black horses pulling the carriage. It rained all day, but it was still beautiful. Tradition in the Netherlands is for all the guests to stand outside the church and wait for the bride and groom to approach the church. Bride and groom enter the church first, then all the guests enter the church. The bride and groom sit at the front of the church between the aisle. They had a female celebrant, a lovely woman who performs weddings in the Catholic church. After the service all guests leave the church ahead of the bride and groom so they will not head out into the streets alone. The carriage was waiting to take them to the reception. Behind the guests were about twelve horses from the riding school, with the riders in English riding costume, white pants, navy or black jackets and black riding hats. Before the bride and groom left they released two doves. They then got into the carriage and left, and all the horses and riders followed them to the reception. The first thing they did once everyone was inside and gathered around the tables was to toast the bride and groom with champagne. We all passed the glasses to the back until everyone had a glass of champaign. Marleen has ordered glasses with Warner and Marleen and the date of the wedding printed on the glass, a gift for everyone to take with them. After the toast, they cut the cake, and Leslie and I helped her mother serve the cake to everyone. People then got drinks at the bar, we sat along the wall near the grandmother, everyone went to congratulate the bride and the groom and the family members. It is tradition to kiss cheek, right left right, 3 kisses. And shake hands with everyone. The young people presented a song for Marleen. All the guests also sang to them. I loved it. Slowly most guests left, by seven o'çlock there was a formal meal for the closest family. All very beautiful. I have so much more to tell.