OCT. 26: WEDDING DAY -- THE CEREMONY

Firecrackers, soup and 'I do'

In Chinese custom, the groom's family travels on the wedding morning to the bride's parents' home. The bride serves a sweet soup to the groom's parents, and the father slips a red envelope containing a token sum under the used soup bowl, thus sealing the deal. (Robbie and Samantha actually condensed two ceremonies into one: the engagement and the wedding.)

HIGHLIGHTS

* Donald tossing lighted firecrackers out the window of the wedding car as it approaches Samantha's house, providing yet another traffic challenge early-morning scooters..   * Last-minute morning scramble at Robbie's house.   * Luz and Bob drinking the soup: "It's like a soupy tea," she says.

Top, Robbie and Andy in the minutes before the ceremony. Above, walking across the street to the festively decorated wedding car. Below, a couple on a motor scooter gawk at the non-Chinese groom.

Left, Samantha serves the sweet soup. Above, a view from inside the wedding car. Below, Luz and Olga eat the soup and then watch Robbie and Samantha recite their vows, an event documented by their own pack of paparazzi..

Above, Andy lights one set of firecrackers while at right, Fire Marshall Vicki extinguishes another.

NEXT PREVIOUS BACK TO MAIN TAIWAN PAGE HOME