Sun, 22 November 2009
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Over the past few years I have seen more and more friends hook up with partners who would have once, given the geography, remained holiday flings. Here are a few.It's true. We live in a global village. Over the past few years I have seen more and more friends hook up with partners who would have once, given the geography, remained holiday flings.
I've danced at the marriage of a Frenchman and Spaniard who did away with castanets in favour of a cruise down the Seine. I've cried at the wedding of an Englishman and a Russian, who also chose a watery theme for their festivities, this one a boat on the Neve.
My holidays this summer have been dominated by weddings - and expats, to boot. The season kicked off with my sister's wedding to a Dutchman in Amsterdam. A civil ceremony in a deconsecrated church allowed for a blend of Dutch formality and English tradition, while all legal jargon was translated into English by our generous hosts. If the ceremony itself and the day's proceedings (wedding, followed by boat ride, followed by dinner and dancing) felt very familiar to all the English guests, what was slightly confusing was that almost more attention was paid to the groom than the bride. And instead of a best man's speech followed by the father of the bride, the groom's brothers spoke on his behalf before popular songs were sung with the lyrics changed to fit the misadventures of the newly wed couple.
This Dutch extravaganza was followed by an American friend's wedding to a Brit in sunny Suffolk... Here an informal civil ceremony followed by a hog roast did away with tradition and consequently any perceptible cultural differences. The advantage of this union was the lack of language barriers... at least, none that the guests were aware of!
Expat marriages in France can sometimes pose more of a challenge, especially where the language is concerned. A few years ago, my English uncle found himself obliged to attend a series of coaching lessons with a local Normandy priest in his musty front room as preparation for a friend's wedding. When the big day arrived, the bride could have scarcely been more nervous than my uncle as he stood at the priest's side solemnly translating the binding words "And do you take this man..."
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