Wedding fiesta for James and Doraneli Torrez

Doraneli made these invitations for the fiesta with our own name printed on them.  

James and Doraneli Torrez have been married for 5 years but now chose to be married in the temple.  They were sealed a couple of weeks ago and put on this great fiesta for us here at the CCM.

The party took place in the little forest of trees here on the 93 acre campus of the CCM.  I'm sure the missionaries didn't even know what was going on.  

They had a catered dinner for all of us with tortillas hot off the grill.  The woman in blue grabbed a piece of corn dough rolled into a ball and flattened it so fast that I couldn't even get a picture of the process.  She then threw in on the hot grill.  The other woman filled it with vegetables (corn and chilies and other good stuff) and folded it in half and heated it on the grill.  They were then put on the little plates and pasted around to all the tables for everyone to eat family style. 

The tortillas.  We see women making and selling tortillas like this in little shops all over the cities

The vegetable filling (for me it was vegetables) thanks James and Dorinelli.

the finished product

There was also a roasted lamb that the others ate in tortillas.  There was plenty to eat for all the group.  

The 10 man Mariachi Band that came from 2 hours away.  They played for 2 hours,  They also sang and danced.  The cost was $275 american dollars per hour.  They were the best band I have heard here so far.  They did a lot of classical numbers plus traditional Mexican songs.

James and Doraneli made an arch and the women formed a snake line and danced while the band played.  We wound in and around and through the arch several times.  Sister Montoya behind me held onto my sweater in order to keep up.  She is 80+ years old and a very active woman.  When the line got to the woman in front of me who is single Dora and James closed down their arms on her as if to say she will be the next one to be married.  She does have a boyfriend who is a teacher here.  

What a delight when the mission president's secretary, Amanda the shorter woman, and Nancy who is also employed by the CCM and literally knows everything about everything around here plus the other two men who we usually see in business suits danced.  All four of these employees attended Benemerito school and danced on the dance team.  Their performance was very professional and polished.  They still all fit in their costumes as well.