Wedding of the Year - Lao style!

Laurie Godfrey and Timothy Neal, both of San Francisco, decided they wanted to have a wedding that was ... well, out of this world! On November 24th in Ban Sopjam, Luang Prabang province, Laos they did just that. The village went all out to create a traditional Lao wedding for loving couple - definitely a first for all of us.

The women of the village dressed up the bride in Lao attire and arranged her hair in a traditional conical bun. Then the entire village became the bride's entourage as she paraded down the street to where the ceremony was to take place.

Shortly thereafter the townsfolk went back up the street to escort the groom in a traditional "hae keui" or Groom's Procession to the bride's home.

Traditionally at the door to the Bride's home, the groom must present the dowry, but in this case proceeded in. An older woman washed the groom's feet before entering as a sign of respect and acceptance into the bride's house and family. Then several other village woman blocked the entryway until receiving a few thousand kip as a gesture of the groom's intent to contribute to the bride's family, both physically and financially.

Then village elders lead the couple through a Baci ceremony, where errant spirits which reside in the body are called back to the elaborate conical floral centerpieces, lured by snacks and food at the base. Then the strings hanging from the centerpieces are tied around the couple's wrists to return the spirits to their hosts and bring about balance, well being and good fortune.

Then the entire village took part in a pig roast, 300 pounds of pork! The festivities also included a karaoke sound system powered with a car battery and belting out Lao rhythms late into the night. By midnight, the entire village's supply of Beer Lao was depleted.