Best Day Ever!

Well Rick and Chan's wedding day was preceded by the arrival of Becky and her boyfriend Shawn. I was so relieved to see them at the train station. We had a pretty chill day...rented Thai outfits, ate curry and got massages. We eventually made it out to the hotel where the wedding was taking place. It was a gorgeous hotel called Mae Rim Lagoon. It was nice and full of plants and ponds and just lovely all around. We met some of Rick's family and talked to Chan about the plan for the next day.

We had to wake up at 5 AM because we went to the temple at 6. The monks need to eat their breakfast before 7 because they will have another meal before noon after which time they don't eat for the rest of the day. We gave the monks food that Chan's family had prepared. Then the 40 monks began to chant. It was such a beautiful, powerful sound and I was completely mesmerized. We all got some special "sai sin" for the wedding day.

We went back to the hotel and chilled out for awhile, ate, went swimming with the kids. Around 1 Chan and the women in her family came to our room and Hilary and I helped to her hair. It was really simple: loosely swept back in a bun and surrounded by white orchids and baby's breath. She looked stunning. And then of course Hilary and I had to figure out how to get into our crazy Thai outfits. Luckily there were some Thai women in our room who put us together. We got Becky and Shawn ready and all went downstairs.

Chan had asked Hilary and I to wait with her family so we didn't get to participate in the parade. We heard it coming down the road because there was a huge gong and lots of Thai horns and men shouting. There were people throwing flower petals everywhere and Thai women dancing. When Rick approached us, I had to explain to him that if he wanted to pass through Chan's family, he would have to give them some money. There were various points set up like this along the way. The idea was that Chan was hiding and Rick had to pay the family members to help lead him to her. Unfortunately, Rick wasn't prepared for this and so he had to borrow money from his family. Chan was hiding in a little open-air sala by the lake. Once Rick found her, they kissed and posed for pictures.

We moved inside where a village elder chanted some words of wisdom for Rick and Chan. Although I couldn't understand what he was saying, I got a bit teary just because I could tell Chan was really choked up. The elder tied Rick and Chan's wrists together with sai sin and also attached a big rope to both of their heads. It was connected and I think it symbolized being mentally connected. Afterwards, all the friends and family members got to tie sai sin around them and then they were lead up to the bedroom where they presumably sealed the deal.

It was a lovely afternoon. We waited for Rick and Chan and drank Boone's farm and some crazy tropical wine which only Hilary enjoyed. Then it was time for dinner. The hosts had thoughtfully prepared some veggie food for us. The dinner was lovely and Rick's speech was particularly mushy and emotional. It was very clear that he absolutely adores Chan and I know that Chan really enjoyed hearing all of those nice things about her. After dinner and speeches, there was a Thai dancing show, a fire dancing show and then we all lit off Thai hot air lanterns over the lake.

After that we pretty much just danced and hung out with everyone. Hilary and I desperately tried to communicate with Chan's family and we spent some time with Rick's family as well. A lot of people from Lampang were there so it was nice to catch up with everyone after the long break. I went to bed smiling and thinking that it was the best day I've had in Thailand and feeling so lucky to have such amazing friends.