How to begin–so much to tell! Wow is all I can say. The most incredible experience I have ever witnessed. Never again will we attend a wedding like this!

The morning started out at 7:30 AM with an entourage of Audis to take us to Jiao Jiao’s home about a half an hour away. Just inside the town, we all stopped and they got out and decorated each of the 8 cars with bows and then Jimmy’s car had a very large bouquet of salmon roses on the hood of the car! As we pulled into her family’s home (which is an apartment building), about 20 to 30 of her relatives were all standing on the second floor balcony waving and greeting us. As Jimmy got to the front door, he knocked and shouted to let him in. “I am here to take Jiao Jiao away!” They kept saying “no!” After a few of these exchanges, they asked for money and Jimmy gave them a red envelope and then they let him in! Next, he had to knock on her bedroom door! Jiao Jiao’s girlfriends would not let him in until he answered correctly some questions they had for him–what was the floor of the first apartment building they lived in, Jiao Jiao’s birthday, etc. As he entered the room, Jiao Jiao was sitting on the bed, with her back to Jimmy, Minus one shoe, and the girls had more questions. Lots of good laughs! Next, Jimmy had to find the shoe that they had hidden in the room. After he found it, he got to see his bride for the first time and put the shoe on her foot. She was in her white wedding dress and looked ABSOLUTELY STUNNING!

From there, we went into the living room where her Mother had prepared a small meal. Before the meal, Jiao Jiao’s Mom and Dad and Charlie and I sat in four chairs with the bride and groom standing before us. Jiao Jiao’s parents went first and presented them with their red envelope which contained money. Jiao’s Mom then gave Jiao Jiao a very pretty diamond bracelet. Charlie and I then presented them with our red envelope and then I gave Jiao Jiao the Cameo pendant that belonged to Charlie’s Great Grandmother.

Next, Jimmy and Jiao Jiao shared some food, and then our family shared the food with them. Everyone said later that they were the best dumplings they had ever had.

Back in the cars again to go back to our hotel where the wedding banquet was being held. Jimmy and Jiao Jiao were in the first car (which was a black limo) They also had two small children sit between them on the way! As we approached the hotel, fireworks started going off right in the street right in front of the hotel!!! This went on for about 3 or 4 minutes!

Before I forget, all of Jimmy’s friend’s from Lexington and Beijing got to go to Jiao Jiao’s home in the morning.

As we entered the large room in the hotel, most of the guests had already arrived and were sitting at their tables. The most important guests were in private rooms surrounding our large room–including the highest government official, the Party Chairman. We never saw any of these guests! The room was very pretty and all decorations were white roses. There was a stage, with an aisle for all the wedding party to walk up to the stage. They first entered through an arch of roses. Jiao Jiao and her father entered the room at exactly 11:38 (lucky numbers). Jiao Jiao’s Father handed her over to Jimmy and from there, the two of them went to the stage. Meanwhile, there is all sorts of music playing throughout (very loud) and an MC on the stage announcing every step of the way for the whole banquet. Jimmy and Jiao Jiao had some toasts, did some various things, there were more toasts??? Some of this is a blank, there was so much to remember! Did I remember to tell you there were bubbles and blinking white lights on the stage also!!!!

Jimmy and Jiao Jiao then left the room and the next time they came back, they were both in BEAUTIFUL traditional Inner Mongolian dress–including cowboy boots for Jimmy! We cannot WAIT to show you these pictures!!!! Jiao Jiao’s was red and Jimmy’s was blue. Very cool. Jiao Jiao again looked absolutely beautiful! Her head dress included pearls that fell all around her face. I cannot describe how pretty she looked!

Now we were onto the entertainment portion of the banquet! This is going to be very hard to describe, but I will do my best. A man came out with a Mongolian instrument which is best described as being like a viola. It was AMAZING how he played it!!! It was very fast and uplifting and the whole room was roaring and clapping their hands! He played another and it was so interesting!! Just so you know, we are going to try and get some cd’s of this music to bring back to some family members. We then had a couple who were dressed in traditional Inner Mongolian dress as well and they sang for us. Very traditional local songs.

Jimmy and Jiao Jiao AGAIN left the room to change their clothes and this time they came back–Jiao Jiao in a pale blue silk Chinese dress (again, she looked more beautiful than the last) and Jimmy back in his suit. Now Jiao Jiao had another hairstyle–her hair was pulled in a bun to the side with Chinese decorations in her hair! Cannot wait to show all the pictures!

The next part was some sort of ritual where the wedding party went around to all the families tables and we had to put these white scarves on and then drink a shot of 38 proof rice wine from a silver cup! Lots of cheering going on while we did this!

In between all of this, there were trips to the stage for lots of toasts. Local Mongolian beer was the only alcohol served. We also had huge dishes of food on each table–they just kept bringing it out one after the other! We also had trays of cigarettes on each table! Several at our table we NOT feeling well–Anne, Charlie, Andrew. It could have been the effects of the kareoke the night before (from the younger crowd), the fact that the room felt like it was 100 degrees, or the food. Between taking everything in and the fact that some did not feel well, not much was eaten at our table.

Now Jiao Jiao left the room for the last time and this time she came back in a very pretty hot pink strapless cocktail dress with a pale pink belt that was done on the side with an interesting knot like bow. Again, she had another hairdo with pearls and rhinestones going through her hair.

Tons of pictures being taken the whole time. EVERYONE wanted their picture taken with either Anne and I or Charlie and I. The table with all the Aunts were especially thrilled to have their picture taken with us. There was a very wide sample of outfits on all the guests today–from very pretty Chinese dresses, to blue jeans and t shirts.

Jiao Jiao’s family is so welcoming and warm and it is very clear they have all taken Jimmy into their hearts and homes and think very highly of him. Because of the language barrier, there were a lot of “thumbs up”!! All of Jimmy’s coworkers from Beijing also came for the wedding and Jimmy’s boss gave the most beautiful toast at the wedding–he quoted from the Bible. He seems like the nicest man and we enjoyed talking with him very much. He is from Korea, but spent a lot of time in the States, so his English is perfect.

It meant so much to have Jimmy’s friends from Lexington, Beijing, and Brazil at the wedding also. Adam had a little clothing glitch so Antonio (our interpreter), who is about 6 foot 3 also, Helped Adam find some nice pants, shoes and a shirt for the wedding in Hailar!! Shelly and Peter, he looked great!!! I cannot tell you what a joy and pleasure it has been to be spending the time with Adam and Deb–they have been so much fun and everyone is having a great time. We have a lot of great stories! I know it has meant everything to Jimmy having them here and Adam and Deb are loving every minute of it! We haven’t seen Deb for the last few hours however–she had just a little too much rice wine at the wedding! Don’t worry, she is safe and sound in one of the hotel rooms!!

While some of us napped in the afternoon after the wedding, others decided to sit in the bar and drink more shots of rice wine! Every relative that passed by offered a toast and more to drink. Glad to have missed this part! Peter was very cheerful the rest of the evening!

We went out for dinner with Jimmy, Jiao Jiao, and their friends and most have crashed early. Tomorrow we are out the door at 8:30 for more tours of the grasslands, lunch in a yurt and going to a forest for hiking to the top of a small mountain. Some of us might pass on that part!

I am not sure the pictures are going to capture the day–it was so amazing! Jimmy had a huge smile on his face the whole day and many of his friends said they had never seen him happier! I think we are all going to come away from this day pretty happy.

Still not able to post pictures, so the written word will have to do for now. Stay tuned for pictures when we get back to the States!