Annie And Sean's Wedding: The Sukhouan

...Continued from yesterday:
     On Sunday afternoon we drove an hour east from Los Angeles through the beautiful hill country of Ventura County,

...to the small city of Moorpark in which was located Annie and Sean's wedding venue, the Walnut Grove at Tierra Rejada Farms.
     We turned off the highway into the Tierra Rejada Farms, then drove back through farmland until we reached the Walnut Grove,

...where the wedding ceremony and reception areas were set up in a clearing among the walnut trees,

....surrounded by farmland with a view of the hills off in the distance.

     While waiting for the ceremony  to begin friends and family socialized,

...while we enjoyed drinks from the bar,

...and  the  juice and iced tea bar.

      Many of the family members and guests were  in traditional Lao dress.

     Mother of the groom on the far right.

     My brother, father of the bride, with his grand son.

     The bride with a friend.

    When it was time for the wedding ceremony, the bride's and groom's friends and families separated out of sight from each other.  This was the beginning of the Sukhouan.
     In the Lao culture, each person has 32 souls. When these 32 souls are united in one's body they help with the proper functioning of body and mind. During important life events, such as a marriage, the Sukouan is the ritual performed to invoke the 32 souls.
       The ceremony began with the bride's family and friends gathering together, symbolizing the bride's house, where we waited for the groom to arrive.

     The groom arrived in a procession with his family and friends,  

...the groom carrying a bouquet of flowers.

     When the groom and his party arrived at the bride's house the two families bargained,

...until the bride's family decided that the groom was worthy of the bride,

...at which time a deal was struck between the two families and sealed with a drink.

      Then the groom was allowed to enter the bride's house and a sister of the bride took the groom by the hand,

...and led him to where his bride waited with her parents next to the Phakhouane, which is a large tray of flowers, candles, and other offerings placed on traditional carpets.

   The wedding party and guests followed.

      During the ceremony the Officiant chased undesirable spirits from the bodies of the Annie and Sean  and called on noble spirits and the gods of earth and sky to bless their union.

      The bride and groom then shared some rice, an egg, and alcohol to symbolize their union.
      Then the Officiant tied white cotton threads around Annie and Sean's wrists as a wish for a long and happy union for them.

       Annie and Sean's families also tied cotton threads around their wrists as wishes for happiness.

     Next the guests with last names from A-H were asked to stay to tie threads on Annie and Sean's wrists and the guests with last names L-Z were invited to return to the reception area for hors d'oeuvres.

     In addition to the hors d'oeuvres the was a beautiful cookie and candy table.

    After the first group finished tying their threads it was the turn of the second group, of which we were a part, to return to the ceremony to have our turn tying threads for good wishes on Annie and Sean.

     Then we returned to the reception area and everyone took their seats.

  Then the happy newlyweds danced into the reception,

...for their first dance as man and wife, a traditional Lao dance,

...which we all joined in.

     After the dances there were heart-felt speeches full of love and good wishes,

...by Sean's Uncle from Paris,

...and from Annie's father.

     Then the beautiful, delicious dinner was served.

My plate.

     The children, of course, preferred to be out on the dance floor.

    Soon the rest of us joined them,

...or otherwise enjoyed the evening.

     Later Annie and Sean changed into their outfits from their first wedding (see previous post),

...then cut the cake,

...and some pies,

...all of which were delicious.

     The favors were exquisite origami ornaments from Japan.

     It was a beautiful wedding,

...of two beautiful people.