Thursday, October 1, 2009
Switzerland
We had a fantastic time in Switzerland. It reminded us a lot of home. We stayed with a beautiful family who looked after us.
Youth Pastors and Leaders Seminar
We have just had Ben Hoyle from Wanganui and Paul White from Levin in New Zealand come up and spend 2 weeks with us to do a Youth Pastors and Leaders Seminar in Castellammare and Bari.
My Big Fat Swiss/Austrian Wedding
Two weddings in two weeks! One in Italy, the other in Austria.
We went to Switzerland for 1 week for the wedding of our friends Tabea and Jonathan. Tabea is from Switzerland and Jonathan from Austria.
We arrived in Switzerland on Thursday evening and were picked up from the train station by Nat. He took us to Tabea's parents home where they were celebrating Tabea and Jonathan being married by law. They had signed the papers that afternoon as they need a representative at the wedding from the office so all couples get legally married prior to the wedding ceremony.
On Friday we went to Tabea and Jonathan's home for lunch, it was great to catch up with Tabea after 4 years.
We found out that the bride and groom had a few of their friends help them organise their wedding, and they did not know what was happening on their day.
The ceremony was on Saturday about 1 hour drive from where we were staying, in Austria. The ceremony was in a beautiful old church. The bride walked in with a song sung by Nat and bubbles blown by various people down the isle.
We were all welcomed by the couple and had songs and a short message from their pastors.
After the ceremony we had a bite to eat and each person spoke with the bride and groom. After about 1 1/2, two guys in balaclavas came and kidnapped the bride and drove off in a car. (Apparently this is a wedding tradition - it is then the job of the groom and guests to go and 'rescue' the bride.)
The groom and everyone attending the reception were put on a bus and taken to Lake Constance. We walked to the pier on the Lake and saw the bride in a paddle boat with the two guys. After maybe 10 minutes, the groom was seen on the water on a surfboard swimming to rescue his wife. He saved his wife and then they had to get a whole lot of envelopes off the pier that were put there prior.
We all hopped back on the bus and taken back to the church where we jumped in our cars and made our way to the reception. On arrival, we were all ushered up on to the stage of the hall and were taught a Swiss and Austrian love song.
After about 1 hour we were told the couple were to arrive, so we went outside, all given a hellium love heart shaped balloon and as they arrived on a horse and cart we sung them the love song. At the end we let our balloons go.
We then ate the 3 course meal, but during the evening there were many items by various people. A Phillopian dance (done by family members), an auction to raise money for their honeymoon, a play, photos and stories, dancing. The envelopes were opened and vouchers were read out, they were vouchers from various people saying what they can do for the couple. It went until 2am. When it was time for the couple to leave, we all went outside and lit candles in the shape of a heart, when the bride and groom came out we lit sparklers. They came into the middle of the heart and someone shared how they loved and appreciated the bride and groom and were so grateful that they were in each of our lives.
A truly beautiful day, and one that the bride and groom will remember for all of their lives.
My Big Fat Italian Wedding
At the beginning of September two of our friends Samuela and Deborah got married. Weddings in Southern Italy are an extravagant affair.
The service went for 2 hours, we then went to the reception which started with drinks, followed by photos with the bride and groom. It was in quite a magnificent place with a beautiful garden and fountains.
We were then seated in a very large room for our first course, which was a buffet and had various types of great Italian food, after which we were pretty full. This howver was just the start!
After about 1 hour we were taken upstairs to another room where we were served 5 more courses. Pasta, pasta, meat and vegetables, fruit, desert, cake. This was of course over many hours with a fantastic live band and dancing.
We then went into another room for coffee and after dinner drinks, to the sound of a man playing a grand piano.
After this we went downstairs again for the cutting of the cake where behind the couple was a firework fountain and let into the sky were mini hot air ballons.
We progressed inside for more cake then for more photos with friends and to say goodbye to the newly married couple and receive a beautiful gift from them.
The service went for 2 hours, we then went to the reception which started with drinks, followed by photos with the bride and groom. It was in quite a magnificent place with a beautiful garden and fountains.
We were then seated in a very large room for our first course, which was a buffet and had various types of great Italian food, after which we were pretty full. This howver was just the start!
After about 1 hour we were taken upstairs to another room where we were served 5 more courses. Pasta, pasta, meat and vegetables, fruit, desert, cake. This was of course over many hours with a fantastic live band and dancing.
We then went into another room for coffee and after dinner drinks, to the sound of a man playing a grand piano.
After this we went downstairs again for the cutting of the cake where behind the couple was a firework fountain and let into the sky were mini hot air ballons.
We progressed inside for more cake then for more photos with friends and to say goodbye to the newly married couple and receive a beautiful gift from them.
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