Viva Espana - The Spanish Wedding

Iris and Paco Wedding Day Well, I haven't made any postings recently as I have been doing a little travelling, the first of which was a visit to our house in Spain and to our Spanish friends daughter's wedding, which was fabulous. I guess all weddings are wonderful, but I enjoyed the 'differences' of a tradtional spanish wedding very much. It was the wedding of Iris and Paco, and this is only my opinion, but Iris could knock spots off Kate Moss. Night before the Big Day ! Or should I say the morning after the night before!

So what do the bride and groom do the night before their wedding? They have already held their own stag and hen parties, so perhaps a quiet night in, slap on a face pack, few beers with the boys, no way, it is tradtional for the Groom to visit the 'bride to be' at her home and serenade her and give a gift of flowers. Perhaps a tranquil romantic love song, oh no, our friends are Valenican's and they love to party ! So this was no gentle romantic evening, the have a party, in the garden (well this is spain ) ! Which didn't start until 11.30pm with the garden having been arranged with a large table for drinks and then the groom arrived with approx 50 - 60 friends and a band ! A tradtional spanish band, with drums, trumpets, clarinets etc etc it was fabulous and everybody sang and danced until the wee hours - including the 4 year old bridesmaid ! The party goers left at 3.30 am and that included the bride and groom - so no early night and lots of beauty sleep required! 3.30 and only going to bed might be ok for the weddings that are held in the evening, but not for Paco and Iris, who are getting married at 12.30 lunch time!!!

The Big Day is here !

On the big day more friends and family arrive at the Bride's House, and whilst all the photos and video action is going, the Groom arrives with his family to meet his 'Bride to be', and more photos, lots of cheering, and then Iris and Paco are driven to town in their beautiful antique convertible car. Not to the church though, but only as far as the town centre and then they walk to the church, with the parents, family, friends all in a large procession behind, it was fab, lots of well wishers lent out of windows and stepped out of doors, just great, eventually by the time they arrive at the Church, the majority of the wedding party has joined the procession and we are all ready to go in, but unlike here, the guests all wait outside until the Bride and Groom are ready and they are first to walk into the church ! They walk down the aisle with the father of the groom and the mother of the bride, Laia the 4 year old bridesmaid (not a happy little bunny bridgesmaid, having only had 5 hours sleep), and then all the family and guests follow in afterwards.

Something we noticed at previous weddings, there is no obligation of the guests to actually go into the church for the ceremonies, and many people simply wait outside until the service is over !!!

Fireworks and Rice ! - Warning it is loud!

This is my favourite part, the Valenicans love their fireworks as well, so whilst the wedding photos are being taken in the church after the service, their friends, arrange for some fireworks to be lit once the bride and groom leave the church and boy does it go with a bang!

If you want to watch the video , you need to turn your head sideways - I haven ' t been able to turn it round !!!! But it is very noisey!!!! So take care where you watch this, as it does sound like gun shots!!!!

As the firwork smoke clears, you can see the happy couple as their friends throw rice over them !!! Well this is Valencia and it is home of the Paella.

Lastly of course is the fun part - the wedding reception which was for 400 guests !!! Which is usually a 7 or 8 course meal and a whopping big wedding cake !

They dimmed the lights and the music came on, and then they wheeled this HUGE cake out, quite a nice effect I thought. If you listen to this, however you will notice the song they play is an sung in English, which I found fairly amusing, as they do not speak any English !! Not a word and nor did the guests (accept us)!

The cake is on the trolley and decorated with little candles and sparklers, looking fab, and the knife used to cut the cake is a pretty big Sword ! Another local tradition.

Oh and no wedding speeches either ! Absolutley none, the Bride, Groom and Parents, all simply walk amongst the guests during the 7 course meal !

If you are ever given the opportunity of attending a Spanish wedding - go, it is pretty good fun!