The Wedding in Wandering Walls - Making a Pledge of Everlasting Love
In the autumn of 2023, Yiling from Taiwan and Lauynas from Lithuania held their wedding at the Wandering Walls. In the autumn of 2022, we received a call inquiring about hosting a wedding at the Wandering Walls. We had long hoped to host wedding events, but with only seven guest rooms, we didn't dare to expect it to come true. However, during the conversation, we found out that the caller actually wanted to host a small wedding with just over twenty guests, and thus we fulfilled the dream of the Wandering Walls wedding.
The main characters of the wedding were Yiling from Taiwan and Lauynas from Lithuania, who met in the UK and planned to return to Taiwan for their wedding in the autumn of 2023. Wanting to exchange vows in front of the sea, the enthusiastic couple set out in 2022 to find the most beautifully designed wedding venue along the southern coast of Taiwan. After selecting a few shortlisted venues, they began visiting each one for inspection and inquiries. Finally, they chose to hold their wedding at the Wandering Walls on October 7, 2023.
Despite having a year of preparation time, as first-time wedding organizers, we felt nervous. Throughout the year, we communicated with the bride through messaging apps about various wedding details. However, just two days before the wedding, The typhoon Koinu landed on the Hengchun Peninsula on October 5, causing the biggest disaster in Hengchun in nearly 7 years, with all businesses suffering damage and no electricity starting from October 4.
Fortunately, although the Wandering Walls also experienced some damage, it was relatively minor. However, with no power and no water, immediate recovery work couldn't begin. As the wind calmed on the afternoon of the 5th, we urgently contacted the power company to restore electricity quickly. However, with the entire Hengchun Peninsula in blackout, Hengchun town would be the power company's priority, leaving us in remote areas to wait.
After informing Yiling and Lauynas that we couldn't guarantee electricity on the 7th, they decided to proceed as planned. On the 6th, the wedding team began arriving at the Wandering Walls, starting wedding preparations by candlelight. Around 8 p.m., the village chief led power company personnel to repair the power. Power was finally restored at 10 p.m., easing our tension as we could confirm the wedding could proceed as scheduled the next day, although we only had half a day in the morning to restore the venue.
At 5 a.m. on the 7th, Boss Gavin started cleaning the third-floor swimming pool, and all staff began their respective tasks after 8 a.m. With everyone's efforts, the wedding finally took place as planned. All guests arrived, and everyone gathered at the MTG Hall. Following Taiwanese tradition, the bride conducted a farewell ceremony to her parents, then, following Lithuanian tradition, the groom's mother taught the bride and female guests how to make and wear flower crowns. Subsequently, the bride changed her outfit. Throughout the wedding, guests chatted and enjoyed drinks and snacks in the hall and outdoor lounge, resembling a lively scene from a Western movie.
The wedding ceremony commenced, with the bride escorted by her father, walking down the aisle. Surrounded by blessings from family and friends, the couple exchanged vows and promises against the backdrop of the mountains and sea, despite the slightly askew view of the miscanthus, symbolizing rebirth after adversity and highlighting their steadfast commitment to marriage. Seeing the happiness on their faces, we felt all the effort was worth it.
The banquet venue was gorgeously decorated, with professional wedding floral teams adorning the space beautifully. Guests enjoyed fine wines and foods in such a high-quality setting, with laughter filling the air. Following Lithuanian tradition, after dinner, everyone moved to the outdoor lounge area to bless the newlyweds. Each guest grabbed a handful of wood shavings, sprinkled them in the fire pit, and offered blessings to the couple.
Subsequently, the bride and groom danced on the grass outside the hall under the starry sky, opening the dance party mode. Guests gradually joined in. In the final highlight, the newlyweds cut the cake together. Looking into each other's eyes, their happiness and fulfillment spoke volumes without words.
