My sister's wedding

This was honestly the most amazing time my family has experienced together.  My father died in 2006 and that was the last thing that truly brought us together, but it was a sad and painful time.  Last weekend was the antithesis to that heavy cloud! I am the second of four sisters and number three, Singalakha, took the pressure off the rest of us and tied the knot during one of the most auspicious and unforgettable weddings last weekend.

She married her seriously sweet sweet heart Athabile at a Christian wedding at Inkwenkwezi Game Reserve in the beach town of Cintsa some 30km from our home town of East London and the following day, we drove 6 hours to Mount Ayliff, a small mountainous village in the Transkei where Athabile's grandparents have their family home to have the traditional Xhosa wedding. Despite the rain, the mud and the unfamiliar but exquisite surroundings, this was one of the best day of my life. I have a few pics to share with you guys. I'm not cool enough to say that this did not just melt me into submission and admission that I want to get married, the Xhosa way.   It is significantly much more than just the romance and love between two people, it's the marriage of two families. 

Singalakha about to put on her make up before the Christian wedding

Maid of Honour, my older sister Vuyokazi

Yes I broke my bridesmaid virginity! The two girls in the front are Singa's friends Ntyatyi on the left, Luvo on the right and Bridget Bardot over there in the back is Athabile's sister, Minikazi and to her right, another friend of Singa's Asanda.  This is when we were getting our ''bridesmaid'' on.

This image and the one above were taken by Full Circle Photography

That is a real live elephant in the back hence our not concentrating and looking at the camera. We were trying so hard to not be bothered that our backs were turned. Our bridesmaid dresses are by Doreen Southwood at MeMeMe. 

Wish I had taken more pictures of the beautiful Transkei landscape. This is just after the village of Qunu, made famous by Nelson Mandela whose home is there. 

Athabile in his traditional Xesibe attire

Singalakha was lifted from the car and delivered to her husband by Athabile's brother on the right and relative on the left. 

 That metal bucket is meant to have water in it to symbolise the makoti's new duties as a wife which include providing food and water for the family, looking after the homestead etc but in this case, because my sister doesn't know the first thing about carrying water, let alone on her head and how to fetch firewood from the hills, there were just sweets in the bucket which she dispersed to the little children that were there, almost causing a mini stampede. It was so cute. She did spend a few extra days in Mount Ayliff learning some makoti duties.

Xesibe dancers performing or what we call ukusina

This is how the new bride looks the day after.  This is a typically new Xhosa makoti.