Bouquet Madness

So I am now 35 years old. So it is reasonable to say I have been to or been a part of a ton of wedding. This also means I have also had to go through the dreaded ritual of all the single women packing together to catch the bridal bouquet in hope´s that they will get the sign that means that they are the next to be married.

Well, this past weekend Richard and I went to our 5th wedding for 2008. It was a distant family member. I knew a few of his family there but not many. Well, I was sitting at our table in the corner trying to be inconspicuous when his aunts got a hold of me. Richard was okay with my not taking part but his 4 aunts would have nothing of it. So the gringa in too high of heeled shoes in the overly flashy dress tried to blend in with the short, modestly dressed other single women. (Normally weddings here are really formal) There was one who really wanted to catch it in the second row. I told her I would help send it her way.

Anyway, as is the fashion the first to tosses are fake to try to get everyone to lurch for it in vain. But, I was just putting on pretenses and had no intention of ¨going¨for it. The 3rd toss went to the floor so this time she really gave it all she had. I was in the last row, which has traditionally been a good spot for me. The announcer kept saying. Let´s see which woman will be married in the next year.

So she tossed it behind her with great thrust and it started to sail high into the air. It was headed way over my head when, out of nowhere, it hit the beam on the ceiling and came darting right at me. The stems of the bouquet hit me right in the breastbone. I was shocked, surprised and....yes I had the bouquet. So now they start saying.....¨let´s hear it for Laurita who will be married next year.¨So I took the bouquet and my bruised chest back to the table. Richard was laughing but also a bit surprised.

Well, that´s not the end of it. There is also a tradition where the bride has several garters on under her dress and the groom takes them off and puts them on the bouquet winner and other friend´s that the bride has chosen....so yes. I am first. With a Pisco Sour in hand I sit down and this groom is too funny. He is shorter than I am, with my 3 inch heels and he takes his time hamming it up on the video putting this garter on up to my knee.

Oh were are not done yet folks. Then the 2 single man and woman who caught their prizes dance with the couple. So I did a very funny waltz type dance with a guy actually shorter than I am. It was wild as can be! Fun too.

So the next post has the rest of the story.