9:30 a.m. Friday - 12:15 a.m. Saturday
There were four musicians involved in the wedding. Josef Hanáček, the young man who was the regular organist at the church, had the task of explaining the workings of the organ to me with his limited English and my limited Czech (we used lots of gestures!), a flutist and a singer. Some stress was removed from me, since Josef was going to play the organ music required during the wedding mass and accompany the singer, and the singer was going to accompany the flutist.
After Lucie had a chance to listen to the various pieces we had prepared, it was determined that I would do music while people gathered and play the processional and a short piece while the marriage license was being signed; the young organist would play the recessional, and after that I would play either loud music, if the weather was nice and the receiving line could be outside, or quiet music, if the receiving line would be indoors due to rain.
Since the weather on the day of the wedding was hot with scattered thunderstorms, it was uncertain, even until the wedding started, where the receiving line would end up being. All told, I needed about an hour’s worth of music prepared to be ready for whatever might happen.
First rain in my eleven days here.
Snacks for the bridal party before the service. Homemade slivovitz in the clear bottles.
Wildflowers in the church lawn.
Wedding flowers.
The getaway vehicle.
Martin and the other two organists.
Service in progress.
Receiving line.
Since the sky was clear after the marriage ceremony, the receiving line took place outside, with no music needed, as everyone was outside by the time the recessional was over.
Heading to the first reception.
Then there was a car shuttle to get everyone to where the afternoon reception was going to be held – the Olympia train park (Parková dráha Olympia Brno - http://www.olympiavlacek.cz/index_en.html) a place Lucie’s extended family has been heavily involved in as volunteers over the years. Part of this reception also included belly dance performances, as Lucie is part of a belly dance company (as well as chair of her department at the music conservatory and a teacher of Zumba). Skies were threatening, but this part of the festivities was hot and dry.
Arriving at the train park.
Trials before they could enter.
Large shots of slivovitz.
Needing to work together to sweep up a dish that had been thrown on the sidewalk.
The wedding wagon of the miniature train.
Some table snacks.
Toasts.
Lucie getting tucked into her seat in the wedding car.
The bridal party takes a train ride.
Bridal train returns.
The wedding cake - each layer a different flavor.
Cupcakes for those who couldn't wait for cake.
The meat station.
The two-person band.
The cotton candy station.
A heart-shaped ginger cookie.
First dance.
Serving the wedding cake.
Chocolate.
The belly dance portion of the reception.
A short video (click to play) - A portion of the belly dance performances.
Storm approaching.
A final train ride.
Towards evening, there was another car shuttle to the evening reception on an 8th floor terrace overlooking the city of Brno and Špilberk Castle, which fortunately included a large (though un-air-conditioned) indoors area where guests could retreat during the repeated thunderstorms that passed over during the evening. The views of the storms from the terrace were amazing. The evening included more belly dance performances and later about 40-50 people doing Zumba routines together lead by Lucie in her wedding dress and a couple of other instructors. I’m not sure how she avoided not passing out from the heat? But she was very successful is sharing with all of us the parts of her life that she cared passionately about. I left the reception shortly after midnight and then was able to rest until the luncheon for immediate family and special guests the next day.
Thunderstorm with hail on the drive between the first and second receptions.
The 8th floor rooftop terrace where the second reception was held. Large indoor and outdoor spaces, so we could move back and forth as the rain came and went.
Outside on the terrace after one of the storms had blown through.
The mini bacon cheeseburger station.
The evening belly dance performances.
More rain.
Špilberk castle illuminated.
The Zumba portion of the evening.
Another short video (click to play) - Lots of folks knew their Zumba routines.
Lucie leading Zumba in her wedding dress!
Zumba in heels!
My Zumba bracelet and boutonnière.
A few instant print photos. I'd used up my camera battery by this point, so I'm glad for these late night additions.
Gifts for the wedding attendees - mini-kolaches and cookies, perníčky (decorated ginger cookies), and homemade slivovitz from Martin's uncle.
These cookies from the wedding are so cute!
I left the reception shortly after midnight and then was able to rest until the luncheon for immediate family and special guests the next day.
I left the reception shortly after midnight and then was able to rest until the luncheon for immediate family and special guests the next day.
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