bride for free
I gave my daughter away last Saturday.
I walked Anna up the aisle to theme music from the movie, Peter Pan. Didn't trip. When we reached the front, Anna handed me a tissue with 2 peanut M&M's and said, "Dad, I love you a billion peanut M&M's. It's a little thing between us. Then when Jason Hartong asked, "Who gives this woman to be married to this man?" I answered, "Her mother and I," hugged her and handed her over to Ben.
In most Thai cultural groups, families don't just "give" their daughters away. The groom is expected to pay, mostly out of respect for the bride's family, but in the case of the poor, they're also naturally happy for the money. But mainly it's a thing of pride for the family, one, that their daughter is worth something, and two, that she found a decent provider. It's quite common for the groom and the bride's family to secretly agree on a price, then at the ceremony bring a sum much greater. The money is laid out decoratively on a platter, and the total is announced for all to hear. Then after the ceremony the difference is quietly returned.
We gave Anna away for nothing. What were we thinking? Should have been six figures easily.
Oh well. Maybe Marquita and Jaimie will marry wealthy Thai guys.
No pics yet. I'll try to get up a some posted later.
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