In the morning, after he fed the cows, Garry had to go to Zap for flowers for the tables and a bouquet for the bride with white roses (as requested by Oksana- the flowers were the one thing he forgot on Friday evening). I got some of Kolya's pineapple chicken in the oven to finish cooking for dinner after cutting the stuffed chicken breasts in half for serving (that's right the bridegroom made the main course for everyone, they had carried over a huge tub full Friday evening and it was taking up a lot of my fridge space). Daryl went along with Garry, and the team started getting up while I went down to the classroom to make up the pickle plates and put the plastic forks out. Several of the first year boys were already there with Vasha trying out the sound system. I didn't know they were going to do some dance moves later in the day.
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| Kolya was ready |
Soon the Rays of Love gals were doing Oksana's makeup in the living room, while Garry and Daryl and Victor and I ran around doing last minute (it seemed like it, but was two hours in all) prep, like getting the church open and getting the rest of the classroom ready, warming up the meatballs and more chicken and finally bringing food to the classroom before the service as planned.
We raced home just before noon, the girls were looking for a safety pin to hold Oksana's hoops on (they were too big for her waist) under her dress. I found a bigger pin, and they finished getting her ready, while Garry and I changed quickly.
Alona got promoted to bridesmaid, I think because she had a dress. Vika, Oksana's sister in the green coat, thanked Garry after the ceremony for doing this for her sister. The two sisters don't get along very well, we have discovered over the last two years but she was very happy for her sister.
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| Okasan with the Rays of Love team |
We took a few photos outside and then at 12:15 Garry walked Oksana down the aisle as requested (Kolya had told him earlier).
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| Bride |
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| rings |
Victor did a wonderful job of translating the ceremony into Russian for Daryl (from Daryl? so everyone understood) and the ceremony went really well.
Garry and I were surprised that one of the scriptures was the passage from Ruth that was the same verses from our own wedding... whither thou goest, I will go, your people will be my people...
They came out of the church to a shower of rose petals. Afterwards the bride, groom and many of the wedding party walked to the classroom, while Garry checked on the missing food.
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| With Roma the best man |
We took photos while we waited for Garry to come back... and selfies too
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| with Alona |
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| With Larissa (teaches Tuesdays) and her husband |
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| and Vitaly |
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| Vasha finally can introduce them... |
Finally we started with the introduction of the bride and groom and then after the prayer ate a lot of food before the games and presentations.
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| Guess who beat me at the tying ties contest? |
Then there was the first dance followed by some very different dancing...
who knew we had break dancers for students?
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| One Sasha |
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| and a second Sasha! |
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| That's Vitaly and Vasha under there |
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| They had trouble getting out of the costumes and needed help |
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| a very large present from the students |
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| A very large group brought greeting from Jack, too |
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| the bride with Yana (our milker supervisor) and Leila and her cow |
Before we knew it the party was over, and I quick recharged my camera battery before we went to Zaporosia for a few bridal photos by statues - a Ukrainian tradition- before going to Just Youth with Steve since its always the first Saturday of the month with a vanfull- including the bride and groom.
They even got a gift sock from Steve, everyone else who came had fun playing a trivia game. We all were ready for bed by the time we got home. Thanks to Nelly and the rest of the clean up crew who stayed home and cleaned up the classroom and Victor who drove the ray of Love team who we going by bus from Dnepro so we could go to Zap.
A big thanks to everyone who made it a special day for the bride and groom. Garry says it was a lot more work than our own kids wedding (for him anyway).
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