Cypriot Wedding

After the pre-wedding ceremony, I got the chance to go to a wedding, interestingly, not the one for the same person :) I was told that the wedding was semi-Cypriot as there were some differences between the usual ones and the one that I got to attend. Apparently, Cypriot weddings are celebrated in an open air saloon and without serving dinner. We were sitting inside, mostly because of the high number of Turkish participants, and for the very same reason food was served, but I was told that everything else is as Cypriot as it gets.

We got there a bit earlier than most guests, because I was the driver and I can never be late, other wise we would have followed the tradition of being late that everyone else followed. When we arrived in the place that the wedding ceremony was held (a nice and small saloon between Lefkoşa, the capital city, and the main airport, Ercan), the tables were already set, and on all of them there were meze, appetizers that are served with alcoholic drinks in Turkey and Northen Cyprus, and different options of drinks. This was the point where I realized the reason I was chosen as the designated driver for the two hour drive back to the residences!, everyone wanted to drink as it was the start of the traditions. 

After some drinking, the bride and the groom joined the event, they circled around the stage for multiple times for good luck and then went to every single table and thanked the guests for showing up and the participants wished them a happy life together :) There was a very creative method of gathering the money that guests wanted to give the bride and groom as gifts which I really liked. Back in my country people put the gifts in envelopes and gift raps with their names on it which makes it really difficult for a person who does not have a good financial situation, because they have to keep face, but in here there was girl walking behind the bride and groom and people would add their gifts to the basket she was carrying, anonymously. Closer family members would personally hand over the gifts however. 

After talking with the gusts twice, the bride and groom went to their special seats, there was a toast for them and then were invited to the dance floor by the band. After a couple of songs, others joined them in the center and that was the program till dinner time (which was the non-Cypriot part!) Same continued after dinner, which was again a surprise for me, cause back home dinner is the sign that the weddings over.

We left the place at 12.30 mostly because we had to, otherwise I am sure we would have stayed there for a longer time...