All Aboard

The Royal Waiting Room
(picture by Dad)

Waking up this morning was not easy. Luis got up to have breakfast while Jane stayed in bed for a bit longer rest. The plan was to attend a Bus Tour with the whole wedding contingent. After getting ready, we decided it would be best to skip the bus tour and give ourselves a day of doing nothing. As we seldom stay out very late, we were feeling the effects of the previous night celebrations. We needed to catch up on rest. Today was Tom and Erika's wedding and we wanted to feel and look our best for the event. We rested and got ready for what was to be a fabulous event.

Passengers board the train

Around 5:00 pm, we made our way over to Budapest Nyugati palyaudvar (or the Budapest Western Train Station). The impressive Iron structure was built in the late 1800's by the Eiffel company. The station was completed 12 years before construction began on the Eiffel Tower in Paris. The guests gathered at the Royal Waiting Room. This room was built for Emperor Frannz Joseph and his wife. Filled with chandeliers and detailed carved wood trim, the room was incredibly ornate and elegant. We felt as if we had stepped back in time.

The family carriage

Suddenly around 5:30, the doors of the room flew open and the room vibrated with the blast of a train whistle. All the guests were surprised and excited. The whistle surely signaled the start of an adventure. With chills on our arms, we followed the ushers out of the waiting room.

William ready to send off the train

We stepped out onto the station platform, were greeted by the sight of a beautiful old steam train, the Danube Express. Erika's father runs a wonderful train museum in Budapest called Bahnhistorischer Park. He had made all the preparations to give his daughter the most memorable wedding ever. Erika and Tom had hinted that trains would be involved, however, nothing had prepared us for this sight. The train cars were painted a gleaming cream and blue. Leading the cars was an old steam engine, painted in green. Over the Danube Express logo were banners with the train's temporary name - "T & E Wedding - Eskuvo Express". 

Along the platform ran a red carpet with meticulously dressed conductors rushing around boarding the passengers (guests). White steam and hissing chugged from the engine filling the air. At the far end of the station, a huge crowd of on lookers had gathered to take pictures of this grand event. We all felt like royalty.

The steam engine arriving at the park.

The newlyweds are toasted
by the guests

We boarded the first carriage which was for family members. The interior of the train was absolutely beautiful. Mahogany chairs lined the walls along with crisp, white linen covered tables. On each table were lovely flower arrangements and plates filled with delicious Hors d'œuvres. Waiters walked through the carriage handing out glasses of wine and champagne. Jane's cousin William, who is a huge train enthusiast, had been given the honor of sending the train out of the station. For the occasion, he wore a train engineer’s jacket and carried a special flag embossed with the initials E & T for the wedding couple. William waved his flag, the train whistle blew, and we pulled out of the station to the cheers of the gathered crowd. Sitting in the carriage we felt really grand, as if we were characters in an old movie.

The happy couple

About 20 minutes later we arrived at the park station. We stepped off the train and entered the museum. It was amazing! Several train carriages, including one from the actual Orient Express, sat on either end of the large room. In between the carriages, were tables filled with food and every drink you could imagine. We walked around with the other guests admiring the old train carriages and sipping champagne until it was time to find our seats.

The "Debnam express"

The violins soon started to play, signaling the start of the ceremony. Erika appeared at the head of the aisle on her father’s arm in a gorgeous white dress. We all watched with big smiles as she made her way towards Tom, who was beaming from ear to ear. The beautiful ceremony was conducted in both Hungarian and English. The mix of guests varied but were mostly from English, Hungarian, and German backgrounds. Tom and Erika had planned the wedding to make sure all the guests would feel welcomed. The wedding concluded with the traditional kiss, the couple declared husband and wife, and, of course, the waiters carrying trays of champagne for all to toast. The bride and groom turned to the guests and we all raised our glasses to congratulate them and wish them a happy life together.

Soviet era train

After the ceremony was over, we walked outside for group pictures and to explore the park grounds. The park has an extensive collection of trains, including 100 coaches and some very rare locomotives. Our favorite was a really cool soviet era engine. The park even had a mini train and railroad line. Although it was really intended for kids, we all enjoyed taking a ride on it. William even went around twice.



Cousins sipping
wine on the orient express

 The guests spent the next 7 hours eating incredible food and dancing. Even Granny and Tom's "I don't dance" father, Karl, hit the dance floor. At some point between Parlinka toasts and a massive conga line (that involved all the guests) we watched the new couple cut their wedding cake.

Around midnight the cousins all got together and sipped wine at the elegant tables inside the Orient Express. The inside of the carriage was marvelous and very elegant. We briefly contemplated re-enacting an Agatha Christie type murder scene. Around 2:00 am, we reluctantly climbed into a cab to go back to the hotel. This was one amazing wedding for one amazing couple!

The wedding party and guests