Sri Lanka: Thanuri's Wedding Day

Today's the day! Thanuri first asked me to come to her wedding back in February 2013 so it was very exciting to head off this morning. We left the house fairly early to head over to the salon where we had our hair and make-up done (I think I looked a bit scary) then they draped the saris and pinned in place. Mine was tied up so tight I could barely breathe, but other than that it was surprisingly comfortable. From there we headed to the Cinnamon Hotel where the wedding was to be held. We were a bit confused when we appeared to be turned away and asked to go through a different entrance, but were then delighted to see that we were in fact joining the bridal party. Thanuri was sat down with her bridesmaids and flower girls and she looked absolutely beautiful. When it was time to get going, everyone gathered behind Thanuri and her father as the group of drummers/singers/dancers (I should know the name!) performed their traditional Sri Lankan wedding dance I guess. It was really exciting and there was a real atmosphere. Lots of the hotel guests were watching and taking photos so it was nice for us to be a part of it! The procession carried on with the group slowly leading the bridal party into the main function room where the bridegroom and the rest of the guests were. The bride and groom then stand together on Poruwa (an elaborately decorated wooden platform) where a number of rituals are carried out, including the tying together of their wrists and exchange of rings etc). Then there is the cutting and eating of special coconut rice, and things continue in a fairly similar way to what we know - everyone sits down and speeches followed by first dance. Then the food buffet opened up, and it was excellent - as me and mum both agreed, the best food on that huge scale (about 300 guests) that we have had. There were lots of traditional Sri Lankan dishes as well as Western, and my favourite was the tempura prawns fried in front of you! Then it was time for the music to pick up and the dancefloor was soon filled with people, despite the fact that it was only 2pm and no one had had a drop of alcohol! It was nice to see people in such high spirits, and not because they had had their fill of the usual free drinks we would have at English weddings! Inevitably me and mum were dragged (well, I was anyway - any of you who know mum know that she cannot resist a little bop in her seat to a good tune) to the dancefloor where the band were playing a mixture of traditional Sri Lankan music and Baila (popular dance music in Sri Lanka, a mixture of Sinhalese and Portuguese) music.

At about 3:30 we left that room (had to vacate for another wedding - there were about 4 that day that we saw!) and went on board the docked hotel boat bar/restaurant where we relaxed with iced coffee and chatted to some other guests. After about an hour it was time for Thanuri and Yojithi to leave and as they walked out of the doors to the hotel we all threw fresh white flowers over them to wish them well.

So that was the day! It was a brilliant experience, and I have tons of photos but will just post a few here: