Egyptian Wedding

So, the Palace Hotel staff pressed our rumpled clothes and brought handfuls of toiletries to our steamy cabana room so we could emerge ready for the wedding at the super swanky Four Seasons. Even though the invitation said 9:00 pm, Amr assured us that nothing would get going until much later. He told us he'd meet us at 9:30, as we were arriving at the hotel, he texted to say he'd be coming at 10:15 because he was stuck in traffic. We went to the bar and it enchanted Will and Willy with its over the top atmosphere and service

The boys particularly enjoyed having their coke poured from a can into a class pitcher than into a slender rectangular glass.In fact, they ordered a second round just to experience it again. .

Amr arrived at 10:45, and his 22 year old girlfriend Rowana (who we've decided is the prettiest girl in Egypt) entered at 11;30. As we walked into the wedding there was no recieving line, but a video camera filmed entering. On either side of the dance floor, which took up a third of the ballroom, were tables for ten set with silvery white tablecloths with tall three and four foot gold candelabras covered with flowers, votive candles and strands of crystal drops. Behind these were tall fabric covered cocktail tables for the latecomers. Behind these were enormous screens that would later project live video of the bride and groom, the guests, the dancing. Between the massive chandeliers, a rectangular fringe of silver beads hung over the dance floor. The ceiling was covered in theatre lights and a green laser beamed its light erratically around the room. Later it would project the name of the wedding couple "Kareem and Hager" on the walls..

At midnight the bride and groom descended a staircase in the lobby to the sounds of tamborines, bagpipes and singing. Men dressed in tradtional barb serenaded the couple while women in silver sheaths with candelabras on their heads with real candles danced in front of the them. The couple made their way onto the dance floor where their young friends, family and we surrounded them clapping and swaying to the arab music. Then they slow danced to Its a Wonderful World.

We met the groom's brother, father, uncle, and assorted friends who were all warm, gracious and elegant. At 12:45 they served the first course, salad, shrimp and salmon. We danced at the insistence of Amr and Rowana. Then when the elaborate buffet was set out we had to say our good byes at 1:30 am for our 3 hour ride home.