Trois Ans de Mariage

Wednesday 30 October 2013


Three years ago today, Joe and I were married in Gabon.  At the time, it was a bit of a kerfuffle - the months of struggles trying to work out my residence card hoping I wouldn't be deported finally culminating in the resolve to get married.  The major's office gave us two weeks notice but thinking the ceremony wouldn't be legal anywhere outside of Gabon, we didn't put much thought into the actual logistics of it.  It was what it was and without wanting to take anything away from the wedding we were planning in Canada, we just sort of did it.  These days, the whole idea of it brings a lot of laughter.

When I pull out our marriage certificate for paperwork here I can't help but giggle at the tiny, handwritten strip of paper and when Joe and I get asked about it, we'll often jovially relay the story.  We'll share that our driver was one of the four witnesses as we were desperate for attendants that had legal residence in Gabon (something many of our friends were also struggling to attain.)  I'll recount, whilst shaking my head, the struggle to find any sort of suitable dress in Port Gentil however, not wanting to show up underdressed, I purchased a $12 white dress from a local shop that I detested.  Joe, leaving his formal wear in Canada, borrowed a suit from his boss!

We'll talk about arriving that morning to city hall waiting in the back of the room for the ceremony to start only to be beckoned to walk down the aisle to Rihanna & Eminem's 'Love the Way You Lie.'  Our Moroccan friend Tarik, also an attendant, translated the entire ceremony for us through a microphone as the mayor was adamant that we understand every single word.  We all laughed as they reiterated that we decided upon a monogamous marriage and what that entailed and we sat smiling and nodding as we endured a twenty minute long speech as to why we should bring all of our friends and family to Gabon.

Quite unlike our reception in Canada, we immediately left city hall for an oceanfront restaurant where we sat, sweating, in plastic chairs, batting away flies and sipping champagne.  Currently sitting on our bookcase here in Stavanger is the cork from that first bottle of champagne with a Gabonese coin wedged in it, a tradition relayed from our British friends who joined us.

While we didn't have a photographer to capture all of the details, those memories are etched in our minds and although I can see a million things I would have done differently, I love that every time it comes up, every anniversary, every story we tell, it brings a smile to both of our faces.

{If you're interested, you can read the first post where we announced our wedding to family & friends via this blog here and of course, our more typical Canadian wedding is here.}

23 comments:

  1. Happy anniversary!! Our 3 year anniversary is next week :) And so interesting, I didn't realize you guys got married in Gabon! Such an interesting story!

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  2. Congrats, Jay! Your Gabon marriage ceremony/experience may have been quite different from the 'typical' Western experience, but isn't it those things that make for the best memories down the line? I really enjoyed reading about it and wish the two of you the best for the future! :)

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  3. Happy Anniversary and what a unique and interesting story. You'll always have something fun to tell people when they ask about your wedding day :)

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  4. That is quite the story to tell! :) And such great memories don't always need photos, in some ways it keeps them even more special and intimate :) :) Congratulations!

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  5. Sounds unforgettable :) happy anniversary again!

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  6. this is definitely a good story to tell!! happy anniversary!

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  7. happy anniversary you guys! your little wedding sounds like the best kind of memorable :) hope you're having fun celebrating!

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  8. Happy Anniversary! Lovely post!

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  9. Happy anniversary!! At least it's a good story :)

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  10. this has to be the best wedding story i have EVER heard! no it's not the wedding you probably dreamed of when you were little but it's a unique story that no one can ever compete with! happy anniversary!

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  11. Happy Anniversary ! You have such a unique wedding story that it is impossible to hear and not smile.

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  12. Such a unique and special memory! Happiest anniversary wishes to you :)

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  13. Happy anniversary! I can picture you smiling as you recounted all these details (I can't believe you walked down the aisle to that song haha)!

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    1. Hahaha - I can't believe I walked down the aisle to that song either. Apparently, they didn't know what the song actually meant ;-)

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  14. Happy Anniversary!!! Looking back on my wedding I'm so glad that it was filled with one mistake after another, because we can laugh for hours about it now!

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  15. Happy anniversary Jay!! Could not help smiling as I read it and I bet it brought many smiles back for you as you wrote it. Three years goes by in a flash, doesn't it?

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  16. Happy wedding anniversary Jay!

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  17. Happy Anniversary! I love your story! I think the non traditional experience we have are the ones that we remember the most vividly! Thanks for sharing!

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  18. oh my gosh Jay, i LOVE this! I'm literally laughing out loud and just think it's such a special memory for you guys. seriously how many people get to say they got married in a dress they HATED!! hahah such an adventurous life you lead. i love it

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  19. Congratulations! I have enjoyed reading this post. You have such a unique wedding. Happy anniversary to the both of you.

    http://jaomonline.com/

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  20. I love this so much! More often than not, the days I smile about the most are the ones I didn't plan, weren't what I was expecting or as you so eloquently put it: a bit of a kerfuffle :) Cheers to you on your anniversary, friend!

    nouveau | a londoner's lifestyle blog

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