The Lada Legend: The Colonel Goes Down the Aisle - Part 1
Weddings in Azerbaijan are special events in every sense of the word. Families spare no expense in making sure their son or daughter has a wedding that will not warrant any disparraging remarks from family members and friend. The only thing worse about people not talking about your wedding after the fact is people saying bad things about your wedding. This simply is avoided like the plague.
One of the primary wedding decisions to be made is the car that will be used to pick up the bridge and groom and ferry them to the wedding palace. It's a big business in Baku, as evidenced by the Rolls Royces, stretch Hummers, and gulf-winged doored-Mercedes that can be seen cruising around the city. Once you've chosen the car, it must be decorated to the hilt. Flowers, ribbon, shiny accessories. Anything to make sure everyone in the city knows you are getting married.
The Colonel has become somewhat of a celebrity amongst our friends circle in Baku. Many people have requested to ride in it, have their photo taken with it, and even ghostride on top of it. What had not yet been asked of the ol' boy was to be an official wedding car. Imagine our reaction when our friends soon-to-be-married friends, Kyle and Leyla, enthusiastically suggested that the Colonel drive them to their wedding. But of course!
This particular wedding ride was going to be a bit different than usual. Firstly, we would have to go to a town (Xachmaz) two hours of Baku to pick Leyla up and drive her back. Secondly, the wedding was to be held at the sea port restaurant, i.e. not your typical wedding establishment. Much more informal, to be sure.
Decorating the car up in Xachmaz was a blast. The guys at the decorating place were used to making Mercedes and BMWs look nice, so when they saw the car I wanted decorated, all they could do was look incredulous and giggle like schoolgirls. Sure, it is not uncommon for newer Ladas to be used as wedding cars, but thirty-year-old Zhigulis with dilapidated bodies are a whole other story--and surprisingly comical. Despite the laughs, the decorator did the Colonel justice. Rose petals and mesh on the seats, gold sparkly things sticking out the sides, a giant ribbon from front to back, a bouqet on the hood. It was pure class.
Next top was Leyla's parents' to pick up the bride and groom. We were met with much fanfare. Videos cameras recorded our every move, a band played traditional music as Leyla and Kyle emerged from the house, the entire extended family danced to said music. It was wonderful to see everyone so genuinely happy.
Festivies over, the bride and groom settled themselves in the car, while the extended family piled into a minibus. At last we got the all clear and began the ride back to Baku. It was time to see how the ol' Colonel would be received.
One of the primary wedding decisions to be made is the car that will be used to pick up the bridge and groom and ferry them to the wedding palace. It's a big business in Baku, as evidenced by the Rolls Royces, stretch Hummers, and gulf-winged doored-Mercedes that can be seen cruising around the city. Once you've chosen the car, it must be decorated to the hilt. Flowers, ribbon, shiny accessories. Anything to make sure everyone in the city knows you are getting married.
The Colonel has become somewhat of a celebrity amongst our friends circle in Baku. Many people have requested to ride in it, have their photo taken with it, and even ghostride on top of it. What had not yet been asked of the ol' boy was to be an official wedding car. Imagine our reaction when our friends soon-to-be-married friends, Kyle and Leyla, enthusiastically suggested that the Colonel drive them to their wedding. But of course!
This particular wedding ride was going to be a bit different than usual. Firstly, we would have to go to a town (Xachmaz) two hours of Baku to pick Leyla up and drive her back. Secondly, the wedding was to be held at the sea port restaurant, i.e. not your typical wedding establishment. Much more informal, to be sure.
Decorating the car up in Xachmaz was a blast. The guys at the decorating place were used to making Mercedes and BMWs look nice, so when they saw the car I wanted decorated, all they could do was look incredulous and giggle like schoolgirls. Sure, it is not uncommon for newer Ladas to be used as wedding cars, but thirty-year-old Zhigulis with dilapidated bodies are a whole other story--and surprisingly comical. Despite the laughs, the decorator did the Colonel justice. Rose petals and mesh on the seats, gold sparkly things sticking out the sides, a giant ribbon from front to back, a bouqet on the hood. It was pure class.
Next top was Leyla's parents' to pick up the bride and groom. We were met with much fanfare. Videos cameras recorded our every move, a band played traditional music as Leyla and Kyle emerged from the house, the entire extended family danced to said music. It was wonderful to see everyone so genuinely happy.
Festivies over, the bride and groom settled themselves in the car, while the extended family piled into a minibus. At last we got the all clear and began the ride back to Baku. It was time to see how the ol' Colonel would be received.
posted by kent @ 7:07 a.m.
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