Whole NEW Experience

My husband & I got to experience something very different yesterday. We were invited to a Mennonite wedding. It was his coworker that was getting married and they invited us! He has only been working there since around the beginning of the year, so it was a surprise. We did not know exactly what to expect, but I think both of us were excited and wanted to see how they did things.
I am NOT picking on OR making fun of anyone or anything.
They were registered at Walmart for gifts. So, we checked out their list and went shopping. NO big expensive or extravagant items for them. Mostly ALL practical things for them or the house. When we got there, we noticed that most of the gifts were not even wrapped! A few were, some were in gift bags, and others were just brought in as is. The service and dinner were at the same place. So, we went in and walked to the Chapel part. There were two ushers to seat everyone. So we waited our turn and told the man that we were coworkers and got sat. The service started pretty much on time. NO big hubbub about a wedding party walking in, the bride & groom came in together and went up front and then a few Fathers/preachers/elders. Not sure exactly, but they all spoke. There were four of them. So, we sang a few Hymns, they read scripture, we sang a few more, read some more, then one of them did the wedding ceremony part (close to what ours would be) in words anyway. BUT, NO big fancy wedding dress, NO flowers, NO music playing, NO photography and NO wedding rings!!!! Oh, and NO you may now kiss the bride either! From our understanding, no public displays of affection. I did not have a big to do wedding, but I can not imagine 'our' world with out all that big hype. My goodness, what would brides do? lol No thousand dollar dresses and months of planning. No dead flowers!! So, the service was about two hours long then we were ushered out row by row then the rest were allowed to leave as they could. (still by row) We all congratulated the couple on the way to the dinner tables, where we were seated again according to the seating chart. After everyone was seated, another prayer for the meal. WOW, and what a meal it was. Yummmy!!! It was sort of home style. There were a bunch of people serving all the tables. They brought out one thing at a time for each table per side and you passed it down and then it went back to the kitchen. Lots of great food. Oh, and when we saw the new couple we were given a pen with their names and date and thank you for being there. At the table was a 'card' to explain the blank card. We were to write whatever wisdom we chose to share with the newlyweds! That was pretty fun too. There was already cake on the table too. No big to do over one of those either. Then after all the food was passed around and all of us were stuffed, another prayer and then it was over.
I do think they were getting a few pictures taken in the chapel though when we went to leave. It was a great experience and we had a nice time. Really makes you think about all that "EXTRA" stuff we think we need, when all that really matters is GOD and us!