Okay, after a good, but shorter night's rest we woke early to start the preparations. There was to be a flurry of activity. Today breakfast was laid out for us continental style...sweet rolls, coffee, and fruit. There was surely no time to really sit down to eat. The helpers started arriving...2 photographers and Maybe 2 videographers, 2 people to do Tariye's long hair into an updo, 3 makeup artists for the bridal party, and 2 women to tie our hair ties. Mary Ann was also around for hair touch ups if needed. Even though we were up early, there was much to be done and people brought flowers to the church and the wicker furniture to the reception area and champagne there as well. We also straightened up a bit from the night before and tried to be there to attend to any details that might arise. Of course just when everything seemed to be sailing along, Miriam discovered that one of Tariye's friends, Dareen Hakim, who was doing a reading, had tried on her dress and it didn't fit. So Miriam set to sewing with less than 2 hours to get to the church. In the end we had all but given up hope that we could figure it out, and Dareen had a backup dress, but we decided to just let it out and sew her into it. It looked great and that crisis was averted. We left for the church, and were the last ones besides the wedding party, at around 10:30. Again we were transported by special buses on loan from the government. We arrived at the Christian Center, a huge modern cathedral and were met on the steps by people who pinned little feathers on out clothes. These folks are unaffiliated with the wedding but do this hoping for donations. Unfortunately we had come unprepared...no naira. Others also unaffiliated took photos of guests while arriving and will tell you later on why. We were escorted in by ladies, all dressed alike with matching head ties, who worked for the wedding planner, We sat next to a woman and her husband who had worked for Turner at the Ministry of Science and Technology, and in front of Ilse, her mother Marie Jose, Diseye and the sweet Hella. All were attired in our matching wedding finery, including Miss Hella. It was very warm, but we had thought to bring water and fans. We waited and waited and were wondering what was happening. At 11:30 or so an announcement was made to have people who were blocking the parking spot for the Vice-President, move their cars as he would be arriving shortly. We didn't really think realize that it would be THE Vice-President of Nigeria, but in fact when he arrived flanked by assistants and body guards, it was pretty clear. Still no sign of Tariye, but by 11:45, we could see members of the bridal party coming in the back entrance and knew that things would be starting soon. While we had been waiting a small combo had been playing music and they started to play Canon in D followed by It's a Wonderful World. It was the most appropriate tune we realized as we looked around to the multicultural, multinational attendees and of course for Melinda, the waterworks began as soon as she saw Ebitari come down the aisle and continued for some time also after seeing Tariye...such beautiful young women...the whole group was of course. The ceremony was great. Dean Thompson was truly at ease in the pulpit and guided us through announcing the wonderful selections by the choir, the readers, and special guests who sang, and offered a lovely service. We were all so touched when our normally outspoken Tariye's voice cracked a bit when she declared her intent to her groom. The way this couple look at each other is so sweet, but it is the same with all of the Isoun children. They all have seemed to have picked their soul mates to share their lives with. Once declared husband and wife, we headed outside and pictures were taken. Matthew and Melinda missed the family photo much to their chagrin, but John made it. They were unaware that it was happening as the 400 or so guests muffled the call for Isoun family. Pictures were taken for some time and then we left for the reception at a lovely park about 20 minutes away. We have never seen a tent this large. It was aproximately 150 feet by 60 and draped with chiffon from one end to another with twinkle lights everywhere. The tables were beautifully set and had the lovely floral arrangements that had been put together at the house and we found a place to sit near the parents of the bride. Hors d'oevres were served tableside and were little bites of Indian somosas and spring rolls and satay. The next course was of course pepper soup, and during these pre main course dishes, to keep us entertained there was a DJ and a very clever jugglerwho did balancing tricks as well. The tent had two large screen tv sets one on either side of the dancing area for those who were not closer enough to the bridal party to see what was going on and there was a live band as well. The bride and groom and their party came in after the appetizers and soup and were introduced and then entrees were served...jollof rice with a cabbage salad and either fish or chicken. Not long after the entrees had been served we got a torrential downpour. Fortunately the tent was large enough that we were able to move our tables in closer to the middle, but the water started going under our feet and we relocated to another table. We inquired about the men at the table how they knew the couple and where they had gone to school...small talk and it was a quite impressive group, 3 or so Harvard MBA's, MIT and Wharton graduates as well. It really got us thinking about how important education played a part in their successes. At this point we started the dancing...special groups called up to dance with the bridal couple after they had danced their first dance and we all joined in the fun. Dessert was served somewhere in the mix and Melinda was asked to cut the cake not knowing that she was just there to cut a morsel for the bride and groom and really there to make a toast. She muddled through it. Ebi gave a lovely toast as did the best man and Turner acknowledged different groups who had travelled far to come to the celebration. An uncle, I think, of Demola"s also toasted the couple as did the best man and then we got down to the more serious dancing. Things started winding down around 7:30 so we boarded a bus back to the house and got out of our fancy wedding attire. We were sure that our evening was over and were just going to chill out at the house, but Ebi and Matthew Larsen convinced us to go to the after party for a while so we cleaned up, changed clothes and got ready to hit the club by 11:00. John and Melinda were, the most senior members of the group for sure. We took our bus to the Hilton to pick up some more revelers. They were having light food and having drinks waiting for Tariye and Demola to arrive. They did shortly and then we headed to a club. The club was in a residential neighborhood and it seemed a bizarre place. It was after the wedding, somewhat anti climactic, but anything would have been. We all commented that the smoke was a bit too much for us and until then we really had not seen anyone smoking at all. At about 1 am, we went back home for the night. It had been a fabulous day and we slept like babies.
Next is our last day and getting ready to go home.
Cheers,
Melinda, John and Matthew
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