I’ve said this before, I LOVE multi-cultural weddings. When I first met Brittney and Vik (short for Viktoros), he told me about his families strong ties to their Lithuanian roots and how they would have to incorporate some of these elements into their wedding. But the wedding would not be without the ambiance, elegance, and fun that Brittney wanted. They picked a charming and unique venue to celebrate their wedding…The Inn of the Seventh Ray in Topanga Canyon. For those of you who put the date of the wedding together with the mountain town of the venue, this happened right in the middle of the wild fires that were raging through the Malibu area just a few miles away. In fact, the roads of Topanga Canyon were closed, and the homes were evacuated the week before the wedding. Someone was smiling down on Brittney and Vik though, because the roads opened up the morning of their rehearsal and the day before their wedding.
With luck on our side, Brittney and Vik were wed under a beautiful canopy of lights and trees. The guests were then escorted to the opposite side of the restaurant while the staff quickly turned the ceremony area into a reception space. Our amazing photographer and videographer, Nicole and Solomon, took the bridal party across the street for a very spirited photo session. Meanwhile, a group of Vik’s Lithuanian family prepared for some of the traditional dances and ceremonies to be performed during and after the Grand Entrance. Brittney and Vik entered the dance floor under a canopy of woven sashes held up by some of the younger family members. Every time the sash holders dropped a sash in front of the newlyweds, they had to kiss. Once inside, I turned the mic over to Vik’s Aunt Vita who narrated the Lithuanian traditions about to be performed. First was the tying of the sash or Juostos Risimas. A special sash was woven specifically for Brittney and Vik in Lithuania, and their parents tied them together to symbolize their new union.
Next was the Salt, Bread, and Wine or Duona, Druska ir Vynas. Brittney and Vik were once again greeted by their parents and were fed dark rye bread with salt. The bread represents hope for their children that they may never experience hunger or need, and the salt was there to ensure that their lives always had flavor. Finally the couple was given wine to symbolize that they should never thirst and that they should have a sweet life full of good cheer and prosperity.
Two traditional dances were then performed by the bridal party and family members. Linas Polikatis played his accordion and first led the girls in a Sadute dance. This is a flower dance done by the girls to honor the bride, to wish her farewell, and to send her off to her new married life. Next, the gentlemen joined the ladies and did a Rezginele dance, or a dance of the woven sashes. The single friends of the bride and groom do this dance to say goodbye while leading them under a canopy of sashes and ultimately tying their hands together. Finally, it was time for Brittney and Vik to break with the Lithuanian traditions and embrace an all American tradition…their first dance!
As the sun set in the canyon, the cool November air moved in, but it didn’t chill this crowd one bit. The dance floor was set ablaze as soon as they were done with dinner. The guests enjoyed dancing to some of Brittney and Vik’s favorites like Country, 90s Pop, Boy Bands, Rock, and Top-40. Everyone stuck around to see what the big “surprise ending” was going to be. At 9:00, the guests were waiting in the parking lot with long sparklers forming one last tunnel for Brittney and Vik to walk through. I guess this symbolized how hot and fiery the rest of their lives will be!
Dave’s recommended vendors from this wedding included:
- Inn of the Seventh Ray – www.innoftheseventhray.com
- Nicole Keller Photography – www.nicolekellerphotography.com
- FilmCinematic – www.filmcinematic.com