Nunta!!!

A couple weeks ago I went to my first Moldovan wedding(nunta) ever. It was so amazing. Moldovans are known for their extravagant weddings (well to those who know where Moldova is). There are many traditions that Moldovans uphold at their weddings causing many weddings to last late into the evening or early morning. This particular one that I went to started at 6pm, though Moldovans love to be fashionably late. My family and I showed up around 7:30 but we were "early" because most of the other guests didn't show up until 8:30. Moldovans do weddings differently than we do. Of course they go to the church first and do the religious bit but only close family is invited to this part. It is at the reception afterwards that everyone comes to. So after everyone showed up and greeted the new couple with warm wishes and flowers we moved into the dinner room to watch the signing of the marriage certificate, the dance and exchange of the colac(traditional bread), the "buying" of the bride, and the breaking of the bread over the married couples head. We didn't actually sit down to eat until 10:30(P.M.!!!). So we sat around eating late into the night. Dishes kept coming out until 2:00am!!!! Oh my goodness. Since no one can actually eat for four hours straight there was dancing in between dishes. So we danced, ate, and drank all night long. Around 2am is when they began collecting the money. The wedding party goes around to every single table with a microphone and allows everyone to wish the new couple well and to say how much money they are giving the new couple (a little tacky, I know). This lasted forever. It takes a long time to have a hundred people each wish the couple warm wishes. Luckily, I didn't have to talk or give money. But the crazy thing is is how much money these people give. Most of the people were giving $100/100 EURO. That is A LOT of money for Moldovans!!! That is a lot of money for me. I think the couple made at least $6000 that night. And what is funny is that they actually gave dollars or euros, not Moldovan lei. Definitely a show of status and "wealth". So by the time this ended we were beyond tired and left around 3am. At this point they still had not yet "undressed" the bride which involves the passing of the veil from her to someone else. I found out the next day that the wedding ended around 6am(what!?). As I have said many times before, Moldovans love to celebrate and party!

The bride and groom tied together to dance.

The bride and groom walking under the flowers to their table.

The signing of the certificate.

The bride and groom greeting their nanaşi (like a maid of honor and best man).

Me!