of invites and weddings

i have attended 2 vietnamese weddings for the last 2 weeks. actually only the receptions not the actual ceremonies. they were buddhist weddings and here they do that in the respective homes of the couple's families.

the first thought that came to mind was what kind of gift should i be giving. so i asked a friend who has been here a bit longer than i am. she mentioned of giving at least vnd 100,000 cash which is a traditional present. the viets give cash usually. one can give more depending on the degree of relationship with the marrying couple. to one, i gave cash and to the other, i gave a pair of handpainted dinner plates.

on the day of the wedding celebration, guests were ushered in as they await the newlyweds. the receptions i have attended were held in hotel restaurants and so there were salads, appetizers, soups and of course the main dish. in one, we were served some kind of grilled bird. there was musical entertainment on the side - live singers or in the case of the one, canned music.

the couple sliced the cake and did the toast. they went around to have a toast with everyone, accompanied by their parents. as soon as the guests have finished their meal, they started leaving. the couple stood by the door for the departing guests. all of these happened from 1-1 1/2 hours.

i wondered how it will be when i get married. well, i got to find someone first. Someone who will ultimately say 'yes' and stand by me for all the years to come - no matter what.