Wedding of Wa and Kae on April 14, 2012

Wa and Kae's Wedding

April 14, 2012

The songtaow we followed up to Wa's village.

A rest stop along the way...cooling the engine and
adding water to the radiator.

Slumber Party Time.
Wa's husband built this new house for them as a surprise.

Meal time.  Rice was wrapped in banana leaves
with three Karen side-dishes.   The whole village showed up.

The guests of honor were given chairs
to sit in while enjoying the meal.

Wa is second from the right with Kae sitting on her left.
Kae's sister is next to Wa and Kae's mom is on the far left.

The wedding procession on its way to the church.

The procession continuing on its way.

The wedding party and guests arrive
at the church and are about to enter.

The groom and the bride in the middle back row.
The two attendants on either side.
The two boy ring bearers and the two flower girls.

Kathy, Michaela and Don
as representatives of Wa's family from Chiang Mai.

The guests all seated and ready for the service to begin.
There was another set of benches on the right
and people sitting on the floor on the other side
of the those benches.  It was a packed house.

Don and Derrick getting ready
for their parts in the ceremony.

The wedding party during the ceremony.

Wa and Kae being instructed to
hold each other's hands during the vows.

Kae being instructed by the pastor
to look into Wa's eyes as the pastor shared
Kae's vows asking him to repeat what he said.
Kae was a bit distracted as it wasn't unusual
to hear comments from the audience.

Next it was Wa's turn and then it was time
to give each other the rings.
The little boy behind wasn't too keen
on giving up the ring.
They almost had to wrestle them from him.
I think he thought he was to protect them
at all cost and when the pastor was trying
to take the ring from him
he wasn't going to let that happen.

Here's the proud and happy couple
being presented to the church.

Aren't they a handsome and beautiful couple?

The ceremony ended with a prayer of blessing.
The smallest boy thought that Don was saluting
so he saluted back.

The older boy grabbed the younger boy's hand
knowing that it wasn't a salute but a gesture of blessing. 

Here we are with the with the wedding party.

And here we are with the bride and groom.
Such proud "parents".

Here's the bride and groom with the Persing family.

The bride and groom with more guests
from the church Wa attended in Chiang Mai.

So happy we were able to be with Wa and Kae on this special day.

Don talking with Wa's mom on the far left
and Wa's sister between him and Wa's mom.

Introducing Mr. and Mrs. Kae Suseena