Mom Says I'm Running Away

Day 461:

Of the entire wedding day, I was probably most excited for the Polish wedding reception, which I’ve heard can go on until the wee hours of the morning.
But before you think it’s all fun & debauchery, there was also a lot of tradition in the Polish reception.

In the picture above, it’s not an accident that resulted in broken glass, but the couple toasted with a pair of glasses joined by a ribbon, and they then smashed them. They were then given a broom and a dustpan and worked together to clean up the broken glass: I guess a symbolic gesture to show them working on their domestic life.

I have to say, the Poles know how to party: 60 bottles of vodka for 50 guests (including children), all drank neat in shot glasses. Nope, no mixers necessary here. Does everything degenerated into crazy drunkenness? No, not at all!

The Poles have it down to a science: You do some shots while one course of food is served, dance to your heart’s content, and about an hour later, another course is served. Wash it down with more vodka, dance some more, and repeat for 14 hours.

You will find that the well-timed food plus dancing means everyone’s on a good buzz but never distastefully drunk! (although this depends on your version of “distastefully”)

Besides the overall happy vibes celebrating Lena & Tomek’s wedding, it was also pretty cool that the guy who caught the groom’s bowtie (instead of a garter) actually proposed to the lady who caught the bride’s veil (instead of her bouquet) that night! [They're a couple who have been dating for a good number of years.]

I had a GREAT time, with awesome food, vodka and uber-friendly people. Know anyone else getting married in Poland that need a photographer?

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