The moment: Glory days

Getting hitched took more than a matter of hours when this couple followed their traditions to a T, writes Thembalethu Zulu

When a moPedi weds a moSotho, there's no rush - and it took three days of ceremonies before Lebogang Mogola and Duncan Motloung were officially man and wife.

The groom's family arrived the Friday before the white wedding to honour the tradition of slaughtering a cow as a symbol of agreement between the two families. In the bride's Sepedi tradition, a white flag was hoisted outside her home to announce the pending nuptials - a call the people of Daveyton took to heart. More than 100 uninvited guests made their way to the reception at the Layyen function venue in Benoni.

Afterwards, the bride was taken back to her parents' home to await the final part of the ceremonies the following day. According to the groom's Sesotho tradition, the bride was welcomed by her new family on the Sunday with the slaughter of a sheep. She was then fed the sefuba - a cut from the sheep's chest. "The older women in the family told me this symbolises that what happens in the family home, stays in the family," says the bride.

Lebo is a marketing co-ordinator, and Duncan an entrepreneur. They met when she was in her first year at college and have been together for 13 years. They have a seven-year-old daughter, Reneiloe, who acted as a flower girl for her parents. "She was just as excited as me - if not more!" says Lebo.