The 3-day wedding celebration - week 1 in El Salvador -

We were invited to attend my partner's friend's wedding party in El Salvador, a trip we never anticipated but were thrilled to experience in this beautiful country. Meeting new people at the party provided a fantastic opportunity to broaden my horizons, and I truly enjoyed it. I heard that locals usually have two-day wedding celebrations, but we had an extra day! Our flights from Japan took about 20 hours, but it was worth it! Congratulations, and thank you for having us! We feel so lucky to have spent such precious time with you all!

1. Day 1 - the dinner party -

We made our way to the top of a mountain to join the first party at a restaurant. The sparkling lights of the nightscape were beautiful, so I couldn't help but take a photo. We began with greeting each other, then enjoyed drinks as the band arrived to play. Soon, we started to dance! I was a bit shy to join in at first, but the ladies urged me, saying, "Taka! Come on!" Once I joined them, I found it incredibly fun! Everyone was so friendly, and music and dance are universal languages that allowed us to communicate joyfully. 

There was a quiz game about the bride and groom. For example, one question asked, "Their meeting spot was next to (Louis Vuitton or Chanel)?" It was fun to know their stories!

2. Day 2 - the wedding ceremony & the after party -

This was my first time attending a Christian wedding ceremony, and I was fascinated by the process and the decorations in the oldest church in El Salvador. While Western-style weddings are popular in Japan, they are usually held at wedding venues unless the couple is Christian. It was great to experience how they do it here. Both the bride and groom looked stunning! They were a beautiful couple, and their joy made us happy too.

My partner has known the groom for over 20 years, and I met him about six years ago when he visited Australia. I was delighted to celebrate such a special moment in his life.

The after-party took place at the top of the mountain, where we could watch the sunset. The venue was fantastic, with perfectly coordinated table settings, food, and drinks, allowing us to enjoy the great vibes. Each person at the dinner table received a letter with a photo in an envelope from the bride or groom, along with a key holder made of engraved leather featuring each person's name and a pair of porcelain shoes called delftware from the Netherlands. Additionally, the white wine served at the party was the first drink they had together. All these thoughtful details added a lovely touch and shared their stories with us.

What amazed us was the dance culture here. We began dancing before dinner, returned to the dance floor whenever we liked, and continued this cycle throughout the night. It was a lot of fun, but I had to take breaks to recharge. I noticed the locals kept dancing non-stop, and I wondered where their energy came from. It must be a cultural thing since I heard they grow up with dancing.

3. Day 3 - the beach party -

The final party was at a beach house, providing a more relaxed atmosphere after the excitement of the previous two days. By this time, we were familiar with each other, making conversation much easier. We enjoyed lunch and drinks by the pool before heading to the beach to swim and watch the stunning sunset. Drinking alcohol was permitted, so we took beers to the beach. I believe alcohol should be allowed at beaches in Australia for social occasions like this.

To our surprise, the music band returned to play for us again, and neither the bride nor groom knew about it! We started dancing again! By this point, I was used to it since this was my third experience—bring it on!

The sight of the sunset and the moon in the same sky took our breath away. Look at the pink sky!

4. Accommodation; Airbndb

This is the best accommodation so far because the owners are so friendly and the room is fully utilised and spotless. 

We came here about 9am after the long flight from Japan that the checin was 2pm, but the owner kindly accepted our request of early check-in. They welcomed us providing breakfast and coffee and so we could already relax so much.

One night the owner invited us to have drinks at their room, they offered us local beers, wine and food. They were so delicious. We carried on talking for about 4 hours! During our chat, we found the owner's wife's birthday and my birthday are the same! Wow! It's so coincidence but I felt like I came here to bond with her from all the way from Japan!

Found a  Japanese Pine tree near Airbnb