The bride and groom are friends of my host family. This was the first of two weddings I went to on the last day of 2011.

And, I might add, these weddings had nothing to do with the two big weddings that are coming up this month (the one where I’m the best man–in two days. And, my host sister’s wedding at our house–in two weeks).

My host mother sent me alone to Khmer Wedding #8 because she and the rest of the family were busy delivering wedding invitations by hand for my host sister’s wedding.  As a stand-in for my host family, they gave me $80,000 riel ($20 usd) to give to the bride and groom.

After I ate a big meal and put the cash into the heart-shaped money box at Khmer Wedding #8, I headed to…

KHMER WEDDING #9

The groom is a teacher at Puok High.  The guy on the right is one of my co-teachers.

Khmer weddings are becoming the main part of my life lately.  As a testament to how important the ceremonies are, the school director prefers I go to weddings I’m invited to, even when they interfere with class time.

I’ve got to run.  Time to prepare to be the best man in a wedding in two days.