Johan and Charlotte's Wedding in Denmark -- 17 May 2003
Photos taken by our friend Chris Mullis. Click on the images for a closer view and captions

  Mabjerg Church on Saturday, 17 May - Johan and Charlotte's wedding day! We drove out to the old church a few hours before the wedding to make sure we could find it We found the church unlocked and very empty Johan (obscured in the background) and his Best Man (his brother Hans) quietly reflect The beautiful bride Charlotte escorted by her father  

  And it begins... Notice the interesting arrangement of the four chairs Johan and Charlotte's father would eventually exchange places The chandelier provided a wide view (Chris and Rita are top-center) The entire ceremony was of course in Danish (though we did detect the words for molecular chemistry and astronomy...the bride's and groom's respective expertises)  

  The priest pronounces them husband and wife. Congratulations on a cool May afternoon in Denmark Congratulations on a cool May afternoon in Denmark Dr. and soon-to-be Dr. Fynbo Making their getaway  

  Very nice... Very nice... The reception at Anlaegspavillonen in Holstebro The groom's mother is on the left and the bride's is in the middle The family portraits...  

  The family portraits... Having fun... Having fun... The family portraits... The family portraits...  

  The picture of happiness Johan and Chris first met in 1995 during an astronomy summer school at the Vatican Observatory After cocktails, some introductory speeches, and a review of the wedding gifts, we headed into the formal dining room Rita and Chris were strategically placed in an overdensity of English-speaking Danes In addition to copious toasts and speeches, families wrote songs about the newlyweds which we all sang together  

  It was a delicious meal Another interesting ritual... If the bride goes to the bathroom, all the ladies run up and kiss the groom! (and vice versa) The wedding waltz is performed shortly before midnight and the crowd slowly closes in on the couple Watch carefully - that's Johan's foot!  

  ...and those are scissors! The traditional cutting of the groom's socks !?! The original motivation is not clear but some say it's to catalyze the sewing prowess of the bride Lightweights, Chris and Rita, pose with Charlotte and Johan shortly before bidding their adieus around 12:30am. The celebration would go on into the wee hours of the night with soup served around 1 am!