For the Dancing and the Dreaming

[crystalized_hope]

Sender: G'raha Tia (and Madhuri Qalli occasionally)
Subject: An announcement & inquiry

Hello, Reverein. This is G'raha Tia, and I am pleased to announce some exciting news.

[Ignore the fact that his writing seems to be hesitant. He had it in his mind to make this announcement with the intention of asking for some help. It just seemed so daunting now that he was actually doing it. In fact, there is some pause in between writing the next portion.]

Right then... Out with it... Madhuri Qalli and I will be getting married sometime this upcoming spring. While we have not settled on a date just yet, we would ask for a favor from all of you.

Despite the beautiful wedding that Eustace and Tifa put on, we are -- unfortunately -- unversed about how to plan for such an occasion. We did find some inspiration from the wedding not to long ago, but we would ask for your help.

How do you celebrate matrimony in the world you come from? What about cultural differences? This information would greatly benefit us to plan our own special day that suits us best. If you have anything to share, please feel free to contact either one of us. Thank you for your time.

[OOC: Both G'raha and Madhuri will be responding to this. If you want to speak to one of them, please let us know in the subject.]

Comments

[herewardbound]

Congratulations.

I've never personally been to a wedding, but I believe red and black are customary colors, though those desiring a more western influence may wear white. It's not exactly popular though- white is traditionally seen as more to do with priesthoods.

[songbird_slayer]

This may come as a shock, but I'm not as priestly as I seem.

[crystalized_hope]

Thank you. Is that a bad thing to associate with?

[He's honestly not sure. But he'll write a few notes down for that on the side.]

Sender: Emet-Selch

[recreator]

All of which comes as a surprise to absolutely no one at all.

Honestly. If you've no idea where even to begin, might I suggest you find yourselves a wedding planner? And make the most of the season. Spring practically demands an outdoor ceremony. Lots of flowers and greenery with the exchange of vows taking place in a gazebo or in front of a picturesque body of water.



Congratulations, I suppose. I half expected this to be a different sort of announcement.

[crystalized_hope]

[Was it really no surprise? It was to him that they'd come this far.]

Does Reverein have wedding planners?

[He should ask Tifa how they planned theirs...]

We had thought of an outdoor wedding, but that is an excellent idea. What kind of announcement where you expecting?

sender : mei lee

[itsgunnabe_mei]

NO WAY you guys are getting married two?! I can't believe I get to see two other-wordly weddings! This is so cool!

[crystalized_hope]

I can hardly believe it myself. Thank you for you enthusiasm. We will do our best to make it the best we can.

[songbird_slayer]

[Arrows are drawn to both Mei and G'raha's responses.]

Both of you are to cease and desist this merciless positive reinforcement before I declare a snowball war!

[senorita_perfecta]

Hi there. Perhaps I can help in giving some ideas of what Colombian weddings have traditions.

First off, weddings in Colombia have candle ceremonies that takes place after exchanging rings where each partner carries a candle and lights the third larger candle up before extinguishing the individual candles to symbolize the notion that they are now together as one.

The couple would then keep the candle as a keepsake and a reminder of their vows to each other and they would try to keep it alive by dancing in excitement as they leave the chapel.

[crystalized_hope]

[Writing all of this down on the side because this is very helpful.]

That's a wonderful tradition. What exactly "dancing in excitement" be considered like? Is there a specific type of dance?

Sender: Hythlodaeus

[nomoresharks]

Congratulations!

I'm afraid I haven't the slightest idea where to begin when it come to planning a marriage, but I do hope you'll consider me one of the guests (assuming that it isn't rude to ask, of course)!

[songbird_slayer]

Thank you!

And don't be silly- Of course you're invited, Hythlodaeus.

Perhaps you'll get a show, on account of my probably not being able to keep myself in one piece the day of.

[crystalized_hope]

Of course you're welcome to attend. It would be a shame if you did not.

Sender: Eustace

[flamekthunder]

[Aah, so he finally did it.]

Congratulations. If you need any assistance, I can give you some of the contacts we used for ours.

[songbird_slayer]

[You were in on this... you fiend.]

Thank you! I think we would like those very much. We tried first to think of what our respective people do for their Ceremonies of Eternal Bonding, but they're both so impersonal that I feel it would do our union a disservice.

To wit, I'd like not to be exchanged and escorted into my husband's home like a prized horse.

[crystalized_hope]

[It was a mess, but he managed it somehow.]

Thank you. That would be very much welcomed. Your experience would be invaluable to our planning.

Sender: Thancred

[censorshipnutkin]

[Somewhere, Thancred is laughing his ass off because FINALLY. But he'll get his shit together long enough to comment here.]

Well now, congratulations are in order.

[songbird_slayer]

[You get the trophy for putting the idea in his head in the first place. You deviant.]

Thank you! Now comes the part of figuring out how to possibly train carbuncles to whisk rings down the aisle.

[crystalized_hope]

[Look at what you've done. You monster. Actually, no, this a good thing... BUT STILL.]

Thank you. Mayhap someday you might settle down as well?

Sender: Ken Amada

[whatsamada]

I don't really know much but I know in Japan, you have to go to a shrine and say your vows. Kind of like how people go to churches sometimes to get married.

And the guest can bring money or other things to the couple to help them.

But congratulations!

[crystalized_hope]

Ah, I see! I'm sure that there's plenty of differences like that without other cultures. It's fascinating to hear about it. Thank you very much.

[songbird_slayer]

Thank you so much!

The gifting is common, too? I thought that was rather generous. I'm more accustomed to things like dowries, or a gift of goods and money from the bride's family to the groom's.

But gifts from friends sounds much more personal and sweet.

Sender: Ace

[donfire]

Congratulations! I can't really help much, considering I'm a pirate, so all the weddings I've seen have been done on decks of ships.

But I guess the vows and the party afterwards are the same?

[songbird_slayer]

As I understand it, yes! Even among my people, there is festivity after the pair are wed, though in my case it was solely among family. Seldomly is it a tribal affair.

Sender: Alastor

[lonelysmiles]

Taking Miss Madhuri off the market, are we? Ah, this old broken heart will be slow to mend!

In all seriousness, congratulations! And there are quite a few marriage traditions from the city I grew up in that you might find appealing! Specifically the wedding parade!

It's a journey by the wedding party and the guests from the venue to the site of the reception. The happy couple in the front with a brass band while the rest of the wedding party and the guests follow behind as everyone dances their way to the celebration!

There's also the wedding cake pull where little charms are placed in the cake with ribbons attached to them. The bride's friends pull out the charms which symbolize bits of good fortune. One might have charms for iconic places to represent travel or stars for wishes to come true.

The couple might hire a dancing krewe to perform at their wedding and many leave the reception via mule-drawn carriage!

[songbird_slayer]

I'm sorry it had to be this way, Alastor. But your smiling face will be sorely missed if it isn't in attendance to the festivities.

Gosh, I'd need to find some mules, huh? Would chocobos do?

Sender: Alisaie

[leveillpier]

You both were made for each other.

Congratulations.

I knew there was something going on with the both of you.

[crystalized_hope]

My thanks. It was never intended to be a secret to begin with.

[He's actually surprised she didn't already know. He wasn't exactly subtle about how his mood would dramatically shift whenever Madhuri was around or even talking about her.]