Robyn's Wedding Week

  Oakland, California, United States
Monday, August 4, 2008

The Wedding!!

From the Proud Papa to everyone: Robyn you make me so bloody proud! (That is an Australian expression!) Now, as a wife with a husband, you have given me my first son-in-law that anyone would be proud to say I am related to that person.

Adhi, intelligent, charming, caring, and a good person. What more can be said?

I am a very lucky father!!

Wedding Week was nothing short of a full on experience from day one until the last day after the wedding party had departed. Wow!

While the photos speak for themselves, here are some of the highlights:

Robyn and her step-mom, Jackie

Robyn's Bachelorette Party attended by Robyn's two mothers and Robyn's friends.

Robyn's Henna Party

Robyn's henna party; this is a description of a traditional henna applicaton: "Bridal Henna should be applied 1-3 days before the wedding to allow the henna stain time to mature and deepen. Traditionally the grooms initials are hidden in the patterns. The groom must search for the initials on the wedding night, if he can't find his initials he is expected to give a gift to his new bride!

This little game of "hide and seek" has served as an icebreaker for generations of couples in arranged marriages. In traditional families where arranged marriage is the practice often the couple has never met before the wedding day and they may be quite young. The hiding of initials among the intricate henna patterns is one of many tricks to help the couple break the ice and feel more comfortable, as well as to initiate intimacy. "

Hey, these guys were living together; who needs an ice breaker! Can you find Adhi's name in one of the henna photos?

Deb and Jon host a sockeye salmon feast

A sockeye salmon (fresh frozen from Alaska) feast at our cousin Jon and Deborah's home. Jon and Deborah, being geographically closer to Robyn than either her mother Sherry or me, are not only great friends to Robyn and Adhi, they are like another set of parents. Sherry and I are very grateful for all of the support the Krasses give to Robyn and Adhi.

A visit to a Chinese herbalist

On a cousin's day out we all went to a Chinese herbalist for diagnosis and treatment. $300 later and ten days of gagging I gave up the treatment for good!

Morrocan feast and festivities

The cousins followed up the herbs with delicious Moroccan food.

The Sangeet

Robyn and Adhi's Sangeet: Sangeet ceremony as the name suggests is all about dance and music. It is one of the most enjoyable ceremonies before the wedding.

Sangeet ceremony comes as a time for joy and merriment amidst the hectic hustling bustling activities before marriage. Traditional the family of the bride invites female relatives and associates for the sangeet, wherein all of them sing folk songs dedicated to marriage and bride.

Amidst celebration, the particpants - in this case friends and reletitives from both sides, crack jokes, teased the bride and groom, merrily reminisce their youthful days and bless them for a prosperous married life. After all the dance and singing is done, its time for refreshment.

The Wedding!!

The Wedding!

Post wedding party that evening

The Wedding Post Party

Next day farewell breakfast

The next day farewell breakfast; depicted are special gifts from my brother and sister-in-law, Steve and Mary, imported from Israel.

Newlyweds entering home first time ceremony

Finally, there is a ceremony the first time the newlyweds enter their home. The ceremony is being performed by Adhi's sister, Archie.