Tobago's Old Time Wedding
by Paris Permenter & John Bigley
Tony and Tina's Wedding may be the darling of Broadway,
but Tobago's Old-Time Wedding has been drawing crowds for a decade. Every
July, this reenactment of 19th century nuptials, complete with men in
tails and top hats and women in satiny splendor, draws visitors and locals
alike to the community of Scarborough. Traditional Tobagonian touches
abound: a bride's trousseau trunk balances on the head of one guest, another
transports a wedding cake safely tucked beneath mosquito netting.
 The
ceremony takes place within the walls of a historic church to a standing-room-only
crowd. Even those visitors who can't see the bride and groom need not
worry: the action continues outside as well.
A grand party follows, and visitors "chip" or
shuffle dance down the street, later joining in traditional dances such
as the reel and jig or the quadrille. And, of course, the event wouldn't
be complete without a taste of the wedding cake and, in this case, the
island's special delicacy: curried crab and dumplings.
The Old-Time Wedding is part of the annual Tobago Heritage
Festival, scheduled for the second half of July. For more information,
call (800) 595-ITNT or check out out the official website: http://www.gotrinidadandtobago.com.
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