Did you know that sunflowers turn their heads to follow the sun? I learned about that when we drove through many sunflower fields to the Domaine de la Colombière. This lovely country estate is not far from Vienne, Rhone Valley in France, where our nephew's wedding took place last summer. Mattias, the groom, had met Vanessa at a conference in Geneva two years earlier. The groom's parents' family, ourselves included, used this occasion for a family get-together since none of us lives close to each other. Mattias and his bride came from Lausanne, his brother from Cape Town, our family from the East and West Coasts, and the others from all over Germany.

We arrived on Friday and that evening we met the other guests for dinner at the Domaine's restaurant

A brilliant sun shone in a cloudless sky as we arrived at Vanessa's family home situated in a small village, Sorlin de Vienne, about 20 miles southeast of Vienne. From there it was only a short walk to City Hall where the civil ceremony took place. In most European countries a civil ceremony is required before the church wedding. As many guests as the small room could hold crowded around the couple to hear the mayor, who looked like he was out of a French movie. He gave solid advice to the couple about how to treat each other and raise their children before he declared them husband and wife. The groom's father did a great job as English and German interpreter.

Most of the village population had already gathered in the church close by and waited patiently for the ceremony to start. Most of the female guests wore hats with their elegant outfits, while the men were dressed more casually to be better suited for balmy summer weather. At the end of the ceremony, Vanessa invited all of the church attendants for a toast at the nearby multipurpose hall, where refreshments and drinks were served.

The reception began around 8 pm in a large converted stable close to the Domaine's main house. Vanessa's bouquet consisted of red roses and white lilies, held together with gailux leaves. The same flowers were used as table decoration. Relatives and friends stretched the courses of the delicious menu with toasts, songs, sketches, and a cute video collage about the couple's first meeting and their courtship. A wonderful band brought young and old to the dance floor. The traditional French wedding cake, croque-en-bouche, ended the meal. The celebration and the dancing lasted into the wee hours of the next day.

A hearty country brunch of charcuterie, pâtés, cheeses and French bread ended the three-day weekend.