It was a beautiful day for a beautiful wedding!
My host family started dressing after lunch. Before leaving the house we made some minor adjustments to Christophe's attire, lending him a pair of Max's stylish shoes and making him roll down his socks. Everyone looked so nice! Even Max, who was wearing a bright orange vest and directed traffic in the parking lot. (He did change afterwards!) We walked to the church and stood outside, watching as everyone arrived, and "oo-ing" and "awe-ing" to see our friends from Youth Group transformed and looking their best with elegant details that hinted at their unique inner qualities. I looked nice in the plited skirt my parents sent for my birthday, but my favorite accessory was the flower that Elise gave me before the service. Hand made decorations and bottles with roses lined the railings up to the church, and the family and groom stood at the door, leisurely shaking hands and giving kisses; taking a moment with every person.
Some important pastoral presences at Oron blessed the couple and spoke about marriage. Everyone was so happy and positive! We all know that Salomé and Etienne are perfect for each other and represent everything that Christian love and partnership should be. The church was filled with shared loved-ones who support and care about them. We all sang worship songs together because Salomé and Etienne lead the worship band for Youth Group. At the end, two of their friends came up and did announcements dressed in a ridiculous sombrero and surfing suit, each sporting a terrible accent and making terrible jokes. It was fantastic!
When the service ended we filed outside onto a lovely hill by a balconied apartment where we gathered to take the wedding photos: everyone, Youth Group, worship band, extended family, etc. When the photos were over, all the guests joined in a parade line that wound tightly through the Swiss hills, ribbons streaming from car antennas, and car horns merrily honking down to a green park where the reception was held.
The sun had been blazing all day, so as the evening came and the heat began to lift off, we gathered under the shade of trees to eat appetizers, drink, talk, and take selfies with the bride and groom. The children threw water in the air and danced in the grass, and the ladies went around in their pastel dresses, complaining about their stiletto heals getting stuck in the lawn. I could hardly keep from throwing off my shoes myself, and dancing through the lawn barefooted! There were candies, fruit salad, macaroons, juice, tarts, and lots of wine. There were mirrors covered in quotes, flower vases, and all sorts of lovely decorations at the basses of the trees. Strings of wooden hearts drifted lazily from the tree boughs above, and seemed to set the mood for the interaction below. There was a man playing the alphorn, a traditional Swiss instrument that looks like a giant smoking pipe, resting with it's base on the ground. The sound it made was noble and large, but peaceful and lovely through the happy chattering of the wedding guests. As the sun began to announce the hour with its golden shading, the closest family and friends of the couple left for the wedding dinner, and the last of us began saying our sweet goodbyes and taking leave. All the way home I saw the parading cars with their streaming ribbons, across the Swiss hills like phantoms in my vision.
What a beautiful day for a beautiful wedding!
