"Sure," she voiced after he had looked down to give her an expression of understanding. In the earliest stages of their relationship as friends, she had come to be irritated with his silence, but now she was seeing it as a form of communication in itself. It had made her feel bad before, realizing this, but now she had moved on and enjoyed his silent behavior. 

She pressed her palm to his cheek and took in a breath as she thought.

"Weddings in my land are huge events. They are a matter of survival and are a matter of great importance to both families. We read the stars for compatibility in our matches, ask the Gods for wisdom in our choices, and lay out great wealth to ensure weddings are as perfect as possible. Most girls dream of the day they are married and can provide more for their family. Most of it comes down to money exchanging hands between the parents, but occasionally people marry for love too. Once the parents have sat down and discussed with the groom's parents, they come to an agreement after a lengthy interview. Once money changes hands from the bride's family to the groom's, the two are betrothed."

"After that time, the woman is purified and the man begins his journey in the desert, seeking after Yahal. The guests for the party start to arrive at that time before the wedding and the bride greets them. They can arrive up to a week early, which usually betrothal is a week before the wedding. If the husband's journey to find Yahal is under a week, he too will greet guests as they arrive, but the bride will not see the groom from betrothal day until the wedding."

As the wedding party is being set up by the groom's parents, it is customary for the bride and groom to be sat on a throne. At the actual ceremony, the bride greets all the guests who show up from the throne and the groom is surrounded by those who have arrived, who then sing to him. At that point, a clay pot is shattered by the bride's mother, which symbolizes a showing of commitment-- just as a pot can't be repaired, so too a broken relationship can never fully be repaired."

"Next comes the veiling of the bride by the groom and his family. This shows his commitment to cloth and protect his wife. The couple is married in the center of the group of people instead of at the front like our wedding, and shows unconditional hospitality to others in our lives and is always held outside unless you are a priest."

"The bride then circles the man in a single ring to show unity and that she is figuratively building a wall or hedge of protection around her husband, then the bride sits next to the groom on his right hand side. The officiant then says some words and blesses us. Then he brings two cups of wine to us. The first one we are taught by the officiant our responsibilities to one another and we drink the first cup in understanding, the second we are led in prayer to Yahal for purity and faithfulness, and we drink to understand to that."

"Next is the giving of the mangalasutra, and in clear view of witnesses, declares his vows to the bride, places it on her head, and at this point, they are married. Then comes a reading of the Penita Scrolls, showing why this bond is sacred. A document is made, showing two witnesses have stood up with the couple in legal binding contract, and it is beautifully and artistically made on a piece of hide and given to the couple. A second copy is given and written on a scroll that is delivered to the temple in Yahebah for census reasons.

Next is a customary dance the bride performs around her husband's throne as she and everyone sing. The couple is then escorted to a hall where a meal, designed to bring joy is. There is music, dancing, and much celebrating with feats of acrobatics, juggling, and wooden swordplay. After the meal, we are given another lesson in the Penita scrolls on devotion to each other and how to do right by each other in our bond, and then the festivity ends by sending the groom to be with his wife on their wedding night."

"The feast itself consists of all kinds of local foods, wine from different areas, and lots of flower petals spread over the floor."

Elann knew it was a lot to take in, so her explanation was slow, and her hand would drift to his chest to lightly play at it to keep his attention as she explained. Focus wasn't his problem. Noah wanted to know what the wedding party was like. It was the whole thing, and that explained it all to him. It showed how much she sacrificed to marry him and what she had set aside from her customs for him. She figured he would think them silly, but to her, they meant a lot. 

"Are you asking because of the party coming up? You know I don't require anything like that...Just a celebration with some food and drink is fine."