Loc and Hoi's Wedding, Day Two

The second day of the wedding was devoted to the traditional Vietnamese practices of matrimony. Loc had already traveled several days ago to Hanoi and went through a similar ceremony with Hoi's family. Today the ceremony was centered around Loc's famly.There are three parts--thanking God, thanking the ancestors, and thanking the parents.
This is the altar in Loc's family's home.
Loc's parents put a ring, a necklace, and a bracelet on Hoi to signifty her acceptance to the family.
Here Loc's younger sister and her husband pose after putting a gold band on Hoi's finger. Loc's brothers similarly put rings on her finger.
After the ceremony we sat out in the patio area for a few minutes visiting with neighbors, and then we made our way to the assembly hall where a baniquet was held in honor of the couple.

Loc and Hoi lit candles on a heart shaped candleabra. Elaborate food was served by waitors whose movement was choreographed. In a part of the evening where Loc and Hoi's parents stood up on the dais and spoke we were also invited as honored guests to stand with th family.

Folllowing this various guests stood up and sang songs karaoke style as Loc and Hoi made their way from table to table to pose for photos.
The next morning we all went out to eat a hearty breakfast--beef steak and eggs.
While my mother rested Loc and Hoi took me and Hoi's father and uncle to Marble Mountain.
We observed various statues that were sculpted from the marble. We also climbed to the first cave pagoda. It was very steep.
The wedding was a wonderful experience. It was really an honor to be included as members of the family in so many intergral parts of the ceremony.