Adventures in Weddings ~ The Wedding of Artin and Meganoosh

"Have you ever been to an Armenian wedding?," Megan asked me, back in February.

"No," I said. Then she smiled. Now I know why.

I met Megan during Italian 1, two years ago. She was our S.I. (Student Instructor) She was only one class ahead of us, but was so brilliant that Flavio asked her to help out us beginning Italian students. After that, she took a semester off so we all ended up in Italian 3 together. As you can see, she is gorgeous as well as being brilliant, and very sweet. I was so honored to be invited.

My friend Karen (also from Italian) was invited as well and being that we are both single ladies, we decided to go together. (Much better to go with your friends than some random date guy!)

We were hoping it would be a unique experience and we were not disappointed!

We are, each of us angels with only one wing;

and we can only fly by embracing one another.

~Luciano de Crescenzo

When we got to the reception, instead of the usual western "cocktail hour," it was time for tea and a huge assortment of cookies.

This guy looked like he belonged in a French film like "Triplets of Belleville!"

Karen and I had so much fun trying all the cookies and trying to figure out what the flavors were ... "I taste almonds ... and maybe lavender?" For a moment, I thought with the tea it might be a "dry" wedding, until we got inside the main reception room and saw vodka and wine on all the tables.

Let me just say, I have been to a lot of weddings. In fact, I have been in a lot of weddings. I was my sister's maid of honor, as well as being a bridesmaid 8 other times, I have played the harp, done several readings, sang 5 times and officiated twice. So, I know my weddings.

Well, I can say without hesitation, I have never seen more people on the dance floor (and they could actually dance!) or more food in my entire life ... weddings or otherwise.

This (below) was just the first course! The table was covered!!! Veggies, cheeses, hummus, salmon roe, crab salad, shrimp, olives, smoked salmon, cold cuts, three different kinds of eggplant ... it was crazy! And on that little plate that is above the others ... they brought out these warm, savory pastries with cheese in them. OH MY GOSH. SO good! Karen and I are on a mission to find them around town somewhere. Then they brought out green salad. Then they brought out the flaming cheese ... and we still hadn't had any entrees.

The groom cutting a rug! Many of the ladies had those little organza handkerchieves (?) on their fingers that would sway as they danced ... OH and I have never seen so many sparkles and beads and sequins in my life. It was beautiful!

Karen and I on the dance floor!

There were 28 tables of 10 and I swear I don't think (outside of a few toasts and the throwing of the bouquet) that there were less than 150 to 200 people on the dance floor the whole night.

Unfortunately, I didn't get a photo of the glazed salmon, (which was out of this world amazing!) But after the glazed salmon came the chicken (which was SO good) and beef with these yummy potatoes. They are at the bottom of the photo below, but difficult to see. After that, came the rice and lamb, although honestly with the spices, I am actually not sure if it was lamb, but that is my best guess. That came around 11:45 pm or so, and the gentleman who had been explaining all the food to us had gone home with his wife and very young daughter shortly before, so we just ate it and called it lamb.

The yogurt dip was so good I wanted to poor the whole thing in my mouth and I probably would have done it, if my digestion hadn't been so crazy lately.

I ate so much and so many different foods that at one point, I turned to Karen and said, "Well, I've had 3 Advil and 7 digestive aids." We laughed so hard and she said "If I have to take you to the ER, what in the world would I tell them you ate?!"

After that, an enormous platter of beautiful fruit came. I had to skip the cake. I was worried I bust the seems of my dress. Well, it wasn't actually even my dress!

I wasn't sure what to wear. I realized my dresses didn't quite fit the occasion for an evening wedding in May, so I borrowed my friend Shannon's silk chiffon dress. (All the more reason not to bust the seems!) I was with her when she bought it and she had told me, "If you ever want to wear it, it would fit you!" It did ... until the 3rd or 4th course!

They even had a video camera on a crane over the dance floor!

I always have to do a few wedding photos in black and white. :)

Their initials projected over the head table ...

It was a beautiful wedding and Karen and I were so thrilled to have been invited. What an amazing time! And of course, the bride and groom were adorable and so gracious.

I would suggest that if ever you are invited to an Armenian wedding, GO!

Congratulations Megan and Artin!

Thanks for including us in your amazing nuptials!

Where there is love there is life.

~Mahatma Gandhi