Some of us from the project were very kindly invited to a traditional Albanian wedding on the weekend down in the seaside village of Durres. Our good friend Edi eventually decided to tie the noose knot. The celebrations are so different from any other wedding that I have been to. Not that I have been to a lot of weddings. Hmmm. We were not invited to all the festivities but we did get to celebrate the big night. It’s a weekend affair.
(For the full rundown, click below!)
I stand to be corrected on the rules and regulations but the account below is what I understand based on conversations:
Friday and Friday night is the groom’s time. Party all night with friends and family. Lucky for the brides, there are no strippers in Albania so it just ends up good clean fun. Saturday and Saturday night is the brides time. She spends her time with all her friends and family. Somewhere along the line the groom gets invited to visit with the family for an hour or so. Then he gets sent away again. Sunday is the big day. Some time in the afternoon the groom goes and fetches the bride from her family’s house and takes her to the wedding. After the wedding he takes her back to his place. Quite kewl really.
The party itself is also quite different. It basically starts without the newly weds. Either that or Edi was late as per usual. Food was already on the table when guests arrive and it’s not too long before the music starts and people start dancing. They really love to dance. You have to be very careful though. There are rules about who dances when and you don’t want to be caught up in the wrong dance that turns out to be family members only. There is no way of telling either so it’s best to befriend a local who knows when you can get up and shake your booty!
The newly weds arrived and all the dancing and eating stopped while funky music got played as they walked up a red carpet to their table with people clapping and cheering and snapping away like Chinese tourists. Erm I think I have about 200 photos. They sat apart from everyone, even family, on a ”table for two” overlooking the entire party. Everyone was then allowed to go and take photos of them sitting in their thrones quite like a press conference. The father called silence and made an announcement that lasted about 20 seconds greeting everyone and welcoming everyone to the celebrations. End of speeches! Now THAT’S the idea! Music kicked back in and the festivities continued. The couple are not allowed to dance for a long time. Instead they are required to sit in their seats and look onto the party and acknowledge the guests by watching them dance. No garters and no bouquets.
There was so much alcohol and food. There are about 8 different courses that get served all through the night up until about midnight. There was chicken, veal, cheesy beef rolls, fish, cheese, ribs and loads more. My God it was a lot of food. Us silly foreigners were not warned of this. We ate our fill on course 1 and 2. They got so annoyed at some of us (Stoo) requesting whiskey after whiskey that they eventually just brought it by the bottle with an ice bucket. When the bottles were emptying faster than normal, they just brought out the 1litre bottles! Beers were served by the case. Now that’s what I call service!
Without incriminating myself or any other innocent bystanders in the party, let’s just say a VERY good time was had by all. Photos will probably not make it onto the WWW.
Back to work yesterday in Tirana and a the long drive back to camp yesterday afternoon.
ALL RIGHT. Interesting article and interesting to read smth from a foreing perspective and Congratulations to the new wedds…I want to clarify a couple of points though just to be culturarelly correct…First, in an Albanian wedding you can dance with whoever you want to unless the other person refuses to dance with …or the other person is super ugly looking …j/k there is not really an order on who should dance first…it depends on people’s preferences…Second…The couple are not allowed to dance for a long time. Instead they are required to sit in their seats …..WHAT???? The couple can dance as much as they want to and they are not required to sit …NOT AT ALL…unless they choose not to dance or are bored to death….and third I think you do have great rythem HooX…I remember you dancing on the table at the Irish B..Saint patrick day or other parties…so stop being modest heeh….cheers…
Its Me – Thanks for clarifying that. So basically what you are saying is that everyone at the wedding were lying to me and now I look like the fool? Hehe. I’m sure a photo or two will show the couple sitting there for a LONG time! Maybe Edi has no rhythm either so was too shy to dance?
I have never been to an Irish bar. Where? Huh? It wasn’t me. I dont know what you are talking about. What is St Patrick’s day? Deny Deny Deny!
There were some quite ugly people at the wedding. Hahaha! Also some very good looking ones. I can assure you though, people (US!) were told to sit down and not dance cos we were not family. This went on for 2 songs (about 45 minutes!!). I don’t think anyone actually dances with anyone in particular. Everyone dances with everyone. Big circle stuff. Hectic!
Yes…those bastards did ly…shame on them…Don’t worry my friend. When You will be invited in my traditional albanian wedding and you’ll realise how South Africans are honored and how much i’ll dance ( don’t know about the groom yet). And i am sure there will be some strippers for saterday night…who search finds ////
Its Me – I will be there with bells on, all singing all dancing! You know any good strippers?
I will also be present at the wedding so I can get honoured as a South African. Yes, I am white AND African! When will you be married? In 5 days time? That’s all the time I have left here… 
I have to go to a wedding in September.
You want to go with?
Snavs… That would be SO kewl! Is that a date?
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You two had a long conversation there…. Albanian weddings are the best… and tradition changes quite drasticaly from north to the south of Albania. however in most places the couple is required to sit down … or should i say they save the best for last.
I danced aaaaaaaaall night at my wedding ..and had the best time…im not watching other people at my wedding!!! what is that about…other people should watch me..hahahaha
Kela – You go you good thing!
Lovely blog! Thanks for the useful information.
Well…..I agree with most of the things you said. Anyway, thanks!
John / Bobby – Thanks for the spam! Big on you guys!
Well, it depends on what part of Albania your from. It also depends on if you are even from Albania, you could be from Montenegro. Besides that some parts say that the bride and groom cannot dance at the ceremony while others think it’s okay. At more religious parts of Albania they don’t even drink alcohol. So they weren’t lying to you it’s just that “It’s me” is probably from a different place than the people you went to the wedding for. The is even a difference if your from the mountains or on the flat lands.