Irene's wedding (2)

Christine, Annie and myself. Hard to believe those two were already mothers to a 6-month old and one year old.

Finally taking the bride's maid dress off. There were 2 red line encarved below my breasts down to my waist, connecting to another red mark around my waist. The dress was so tight, trying hard to squeeze the meat up to my chest, also preventing from falling off.

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The very next day, I woke up together with Irene’s mom. She was very nervous and can only thought of the issue that there will be a lot of people coming to the house, she needs to prepare some breakfast. I accompanied her to the convenient store to get some milk and bread, reassured her that no one will get hungry. I then went up stair to check out Irene. She was dressed in a red traditional Chinese long dress. The make up artist is setting her hair. Very elegant and pretty, more beautiful than most movie stars. Emily came to help me put on my make up. My hair is really helpless, so she gave up. Aoki and his family came as scheduled, Irene, Emily and I had to stay in the room. There was a match-maker who speaks Japanese and Mandarin. He introduced Aoki (and his family) to Irene’s family and Irene’s family to Aoki’s. Then Irene had to come out, holding the tea tray serving tea to Aoki’s mom, sister and niece. Because this is supposed to be the first time Aoki and Irene met, Irene had to behave like she is very shy. After serving tea, Irene had to retrieve to the room, of course, Emily and I came back in with her. Of course, we kept our ears open for any conversation going in the living room.

A lucky woman is also very important role that I had to explain. This middle age lady has to be married with kids, preferably with grand children. It would be even better if her parents in law are still alive. We called this lady a “five complete lady”. She basically has to instruct the bride what to do during the ceremony. The “five-complete” lady is Irene’s aunt. She knocked on the door, indicating Aoki’s family has finished their tea.

After Aoki’s family drank up the tea, Irene came up with the tea tray to kneeling down in front of them to collect the empty tea cup with red envelop in it. This indicates Aoki’s family has accepted Irene as the daughter-in-law to be. Irene then retrieved to the room, waiting for the time to exchange the rings.

The time was calculated according to Irene and Aoki’s date of birth. They have to finish the ring exchange before 9am and Irene has to leave the house, before 9:45am. The ring exchange was done alright, pictures were taken. Irene then retrieved to the room and getting dressed in the western white dress (yes, the one we took back last night). Everything was running according to scheduled then we realized that we have left the white head cover in the hotel room!!! We have got only less than 45 minutes, Irene’s dad has to cover her up with the white head cover at 9:40am and then she has to walk out the door before 9:45!!

Getting the head cover from the hotel room is out of the question, we called the wedding photo company hoping they can send us another one yet it is too early no one answer the phone. The make up artist rang up her students living nearby. Yes, she’s got one heady. She is going to put the head cover on the cab and the cab will come around right away. We were panicking like ants in a wok. What if the head cover couldn’t arrive before 9:30? What can we do? Using a white bedspread instead? Luckily, after 20 minutes nail-biting wait, the taxi arrived with the head cover. The ceremony can go on and Irene can now leave the house now.

Aoki and Irene walked out the door without looking back (that is forbidden). She boarded the car and drop a fan from the car, which symbolized that she has dropped bad habbits behind (leave them to her sisters, ha ha ha). The tradition requires Irene's family's male member (not the dad) to pour a bucket of water while the car drives off. This is to symbolize that a married daughter is like the bucket of water pouring out of door, which can never be collected back. However, nowaday not many Taiwanese people do it since a daughter is always welcomed home, even if she is divoiced with kids.

(to be continued)