A Summer Wedding

THE sunshine had come out to ensure the wedding of footballer Benji and his wife-to-be Sabine had the perfect backdrop.

For the month before the excitement had been growing amongst the players and supporters of St Cernin de l'Herm, a village in the south west of France, as the day came ever closer.

We had already been out for a meal and made the bride and groom walk around the restaurant whilst eating a banana - with no hands.

A large poster of the team picture had been printed and everyone had signed it and written a good luck message.

So by Saturday afternoon the junction of the small crossroads in Frayssinet-le-G�let was busy with people waiting for Benji and Sabine to walk by.

In France many wedding ceremonies will take place in the village Mairie and then move on to the local church for a blessing.

And we were lucky that the two buildings were close by so that a short procession through the village could take place.

As we waited friends spread out cuttings from roses and other bushes across the pavement on the route the bride and groom would take to the church.

This is meant to bring the couple good luck and fortune and in other areas of France neighbours will lay down sheaves of corn.

Then the moment arrived as the couple stood at the top of the steps outside the Mairie and slowly made their way to the church, escorted by their parents.

Traffic came to a standstill as the procession of guests followed behind and walked the 150 meters to the church.

In the afternoon sunshine people slowly made their way into the church filling up the pews and taking up positions in the aisle for the chance to take a picture.

Once everyone was inside, and we must have numbered 200 or more, the bride and groom slowly made their way through the church.

Camera flashes lit up the dark entranceway as the couple made their way along the aisle; the organist played a tune that softly filled the church.

The priest opened the blessing with a short passage from the bible and then Sabine walked up to the microphone to deliver a short speech.

She thanked the many people that had turned up to see the bride and groom and that it had been an incredible day.

Then the priest delivered a short prayer and a musical interlude with saxophone and accordion was played.

The ceremony of the passing of the rings was undertaken with the assistance of the son of Sabine and Benji.

He carried the rings up to the alter of the church in a small, padded heart shaped bag and passed them to the priest.

The couple spoke a few words and placed the rings on each other's fingers as the cameras again flashed a whirred.

Everyone then began to make their way out of the church waiting for the bride and groom to stand outside the church for some more photographs.

But the players of St Cernin had one more trick up their shirts as we donned our kit and picked up a football each.

We made a guard of honour outside the church and held a ball high over the guests as they made their way out into the village square.

But it was Benji and Sabine who everyone was waiting for.

People passed around rice and confetti waiting for them to leave the church and run under the footballs, as they did the place exploded.

The church bell tolled and rice cascaded down on our heads covering the players and the newly married couple from head to toe.

Then it was time for more photographs, car horns sounding and the children throwing rice and confetti at each other.

As the day drifted into late afternoon it was time for a small aperitif and a few nibbles in the grounds of the Mairie.

Watching the sun slowly slide behind the church tower as the celebrations moved on into the night.

For more articles by Craig McGinty on living in France including tips on buying a home, the legal process and more, visit his website and live life the French way. http://www.thisfrenchlife.com

Malaysia Star

Love happens unexpectedly for Andrea and Paul Malaysia Star THEIR journey to love reads like a romantic comedy: He was a hotshot Australian lawyer happily settled in his hometown of Perth; ...

Same-sex couples allowed chance to win dream wedding Examiner.com Hot on the heels of Massachusetts judge Joseph Tauro declaring part of the Defense of Marriage Act as 'unconstitutional,' NBC's Today show has dropped their ... and more »

Washington Post

Prince Albert and Charlene set wedding date hellomagazine.com One of most highly anticipated royal weddings of the last half century is to take place in Monaco on July 9. That's the date when the principality's ... Monaco's playboy prince sets wedding dateSydney Morning Herald all 335 news articles »

A Wedding in the Redwoods Beliefnet.com (blog) This past weekend I had the pleasure of attending a wedding that wonderfully integrated Pagan and more traditional motifs, held within a redwood grove, ...

NDTV.com

Dhoni's wedding a strictly vegetarian affair NDTV.com For 23-year-old Sakshi Rawat, nothing better explains the feeling of marrying one of the most eligible bachelors in the country than being on cloud nine. ... Dhoni wedding with Sakshi Rawat was preplanned, Says Bipasha BasuZNews24.com Dhoni Marriage photos Exclusive Photos and VideosVedicSutra eNews (blog) all 886 news articles »

The obsolescence of marriage Chicago Daily Herald Susan Estrich's July 15 column is supportive of redefining marriage to include same-sex couples on the basis of fairness and inclusivity. ...

International Gay Marriage TIME (Watch a gay-marriage wedding video.) The push to assert the supremacy of secular civil law over a religious authority that once held legal sway has also ... and more »

Lee Kirk's Wedding InfoCuts (blog) Last weekend Jenna Fischer tied the knot with her boyfriend Lee Kirk. Both of them have been dating since 2008 and they are very happy. ... and more »

The Jackson Citizen Patriot - MLive.com

Decades of Devotion: Vandercook Lake couple reflects on 60 years of marriage The Jackson Citizen Patriot - MLive.com Scott Stoner | For the Citizen PatriotWalt and Trudy Mason celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary Sunday at the UAW Hall on South Street. ...

Telegraph.co.uk

Modern marriage ceremonies getting out of hand, says Jane Fearnley-Whittingstall Telegraph.co.uk Modern marriage ceremonies have got “out of hand” as more couples chose extravagant events that diminish the importance of the solemn promise, ...