The Double Down Wedding

The ASAPH Brass Band was invited to play at another wedding. We arrived and set up. As the service began (not at our church), I noticed that the traditional things were happening, but they seemed strange. The ‘pastor’ did the promises with the couple, but was very relaxed about it…off the cuff, kind of. I remember thinking : « Is this going to be a legal marriage ? » Well, the ceremony worked its way to the conclusion. We were readying to leave when a man on a motorcycle arrived. He was the real pastor. And he had the real manual from which ceremonies are performed. He took the mic and apologized for being late. He had forgotten the manual apparently and had to return home. SO, he said : « This won’t take long, but we must make the marriage official. » He proceeded to do the ceremony…again! This time it was more professional, but the folks gathered to attend the wedding had lost interest. It was a noisy finish. AND, our driver was pressuring us to leave, so we ended up skipping the very last portions.

I’ve never attended anything like it. And probably never will. A double down wedding. This is one marriage that has got to stick, I’d say.